Olympic officials played down a suggestion that the unified Korean ice hockey team could be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize on Tuesday and said there had been &quot;no formal discussion&quot; about proposing IOC chief Thomas Bach for the honour.

Mark Adams, a spokesman for the International Olympic Committee, said there had been &quot;no consideration whatsoever&quot; within the body of nominating the joint Korean team, following a suggestion by American IOC member Angela Ruggiero.

&quot;From an IOC administrative level, there&#39;s been no consideration whatsoever of this. Obviously, members are able to have their own personal views... but there&#39;s been no discussion,&quot; he said.

When asked if Bach should be proposed for the prize, after helping broker North Korea&#39;s attendance, Adams said: &quot;There&#39;s no formal discussion yet at all.&quot;

Bach is scheduled to visit North Korea after the Games, where their athletes marched together with South Korea at the opening ceremony. The two Koreas also formed their first unified Olympic team in the women&#39;s ice hockey.

North Korea&#39;s participation has triggered a burst of reconciliation with South Korea, including a visit by Kim Jong Un&#39;s sister Kim Yo Jong and an invitation to Pyongyang for South Korean leader Moon Jae-in.

Ruggiero, who is head of the IOC athletes commission and a former Olympic ice hockey gold medallist, said it was a personal opinion that the Korean team should be nominated.

&quot;I have heard a lot of support from other members just saying this is symbolic, this is what the Olympics is all about,&quot; she said.&nbsp;

&quot;It&#39;s not about an individual or&nbsp;sport&nbsp;or country. I&#39;m happy that it&#39;s resonated that way and it&#39;s starting the conversation and encouraged to have that dialogue with other members and all stakeholders for that matter.&quot;

Despite the rapid warming of ties -- which follows months of missile tests and threats of war -- some South Koreans are sceptical and US Vice-President Mike Pence warned the North was trying to &quot;hijack&quot; the Games.

In an interview with AFP on Monday, Bach dismissed fears North Korea was using the Games for political purposes, calling their participation a purely sporting matter.

&quot;This is about the sport&nbsp;and this the IOC made very clear,&quot; Bach said. &quot;This is about the role of&nbsp;sport&nbsp;to build bridges, to open doors and nothing more.&quot;

At the joint team&#39;s opening match -- an 8-0 thrashing by Switzerland -- Bach sat with Moon to his right and the North Korean delegation to his left, and addressed the players afterwards.

&quot;You&#39;ve given everything, you&#39;ve fought well and tomorrow you&#39;ll come to understand the full importance and significance of this,&quot; Adams quoted Bach as telling the team.

&nbsp;

Unified Korean ice hockey team could be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize

Olympic officials played down a suggestion that the unified Korean ice hockey team could be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize on Tuesday and said there had been "no formal discussion" about proposing IOC chief Thomas Bach for the honour. Mark Adams, a spokesman for the International Olympic Committee, said there had been "no consideration whatsoever" within the body of nominating the joint Korean team, following a suggestion by American IOC member Angela Ruggiero. "From an IOC administrative level, there's been no consideration whatsoever of this. Obviously, members are able to have their own personal views... but there's been no discussion," he said. When asked if Bach should be proposed for the prize, after helping broker North Korea's attendance, Adams said: "There's no formal discussion yet at all." Bach is scheduled to visit North Korea after the Games, where their athletes marched together with South Korea at the opening ceremony. The two Koreas also formed their first unified Olympic team in the women's ice hockey. North Korea's participation has triggered a burst of reconciliation with South Korea, including a visit by Kim Jong Un's sister Kim Yo Jong and an invitation to Pyongyang for South Korean leader Moon Jae-in. Ruggiero, who is head of the IOC athletes commission and a former Olympic ice hockey gold medallist, said it was a personal opinion that the Korean team should be nominated. "I have heard a lot of support from other members just saying this is symbolic, this is what the Olympics is all about," she said. "It's not about an individual or sport or country. I'm happy that it's resonated that way and it's starting the conversation and encouraged to have that dialogue with other members and all stakeholders for that matter." Despite the rapid warming of ties -- which follows months of missile tests and threats of war -- some South Koreans are sceptical and US Vice-President Mike Pence warned the North was trying to "hijack" the Games. In an interview with AFP on Monday, Bach dismissed fears North Korea was using the Games for political purposes, calling their participation a purely sporting matter. "This is about the sport and this the IOC made very clear," Bach said. "This is about the role of sport to build bridges, to open doors and nothing more." At the joint team's opening match -- an 8-0 thrashing by Switzerland -- Bach sat with Moon to his right and the North Korean delegation to his left, and addressed the players afterwards. "You've given everything, you've fought well and tomorrow you'll come to understand the full importance and significance of this," Adams quoted Bach as telling the team.

Bach for Nobel peace prize? No 'formal discussion' says IOC

Austrian star Marcel Hirscher finally bagged Olympic gold when he produced a brilliant slalom run to storm to a dominant victory in the men&#39;s alpine combined on Tuesday.

Alexis Pinturault claimed silver for France with his team-mate Victor Muffat-Jeandet taking an astonishing bronze after finishing 29th fastest in the opening downhill.

Hirscher, 28, has been the outstanding skier in the World Cup in recent years, his 55 career wins the bedrock of a startling six consecutive overall crystal globes.

Already guaranteed to go down in alpine history as one of the best skiers of all time, Hirscher had said he was after an &quot;amazing&quot; Olympic gold to cap his career, his previous best a slalom silver from Sochi four years ago.

But he had also played down his expectations in the combined following a couple of mediocre downhill training runs.

There was to be no messing on a downhill course shortened because of blustery winds, however, and the canny Austrian took full advantage of the abbreviated run to finish an impressive 12th fastest, 1.32sec off German Thomas Dressen&#39;s lead time.

Come to the slalom, a discipline in which he has won six times this season on the World Cup circuit, Austria&#39;s favourite sporting son stepped up to the gate and promptly delivered the fastest time of 45.96sec.

It was an aggressive yet measured piece of skiing that gave him a combined time of 2min 06.52sec, 0.23sec ahead of Pinturault, with Muffat-Jeandet at 1.02sec.

&quot;I was the favourite after the downhill,&quot; said Pinturault, who was 10th fastest in the speed event and started his slalom with a 0.28sec lead over Hirscher.

&quot;But after what Marcel has shown since the start of the season, especially in slalom, it was very tough for me to be able to come close.

&quot;I&#39;m just very happy,&quot; said Pinturault, winner of Bormio&#39;s World Cup combined in December. &quot;He was just stronger than me today.&quot;

Muffat-Jeandet laid down a slalom run just one-hundredth of a second slower than Hirscher, paying the price for a big mistake on the top third of the downhill.

&quot;I was so annoyed by the downhill,&quot; he said.

&quot;But at the end of the day I stayed very focused. I always believed in it.&quot;

Austrian slalom specialist Marco Schwarz was fourth, one place ahead of American Ted Ligety, who was seeking a third Olympic gold medal having won the combined back in Torino in 2006.

The Norwegian threat petered out disappointingly despite two-time former world combined champion Aksel Lund Svindal finishing second fastest in the downhill.

Svindal, 35, was a non-starter in the slalom, while team-mate Kjetil Jansrud, fourth fastest in the downhill, eventually came in seventh, 2.15sec off the pace and one place behind a third Frenchman, Thomas Mermillod Blondin.

Among the top eight, Austrian pair Vincent Kriechmayr and reigning Olympic downhill champion Matthias Mayer, along with Italian duo Dominik Paris and Peter Fill, all failed to finish the slalom course.

&nbsp;

Alexis Pinturault claimed silver for France with his team-mate Victor Muffat-Jeandet taking an astonishing bronze after finishing 29th fastest in the opening downhill

Austrian star Marcel Hirscher finally bagged Olympic gold when he produced a brilliant slalom run to storm to a dominant victory in the men's alpine combined on Tuesday. Alexis Pinturault claimed silver for France with his team-mate Victor Muffat-Jeandet taking an astonishing bronze after finishing 29th fastest in the opening downhill. Hirscher, 28, has been the outstanding skier in the World Cup in recent years, his 55 career wins the bedrock of a startling six consecutive overall crystal globes. Already guaranteed to go down in alpine history as one of the best skiers of all time, Hirscher had said he was after an "amazing" Olympic gold to cap his career, his previous best a slalom silver from Sochi four years ago. But he had also played down his expectations in the combined following a couple of mediocre downhill training runs. There was to be no messing on a downhill course shortened because of blustery winds, however, and the canny Austrian took full advantage of the abbreviated run to finish an impressive 12th fastest, 1.32sec off German Thomas Dressen's lead time. Come to the slalom, a discipline in which he has won six times this season on the World Cup circuit, Austria's favourite sporting son stepped up to the gate and promptly delivered the fastest time of 45.96sec. It was an aggressive yet measured piece of skiing that gave him a combined time of 2min 06.52sec, 0.23sec ahead of Pinturault, with Muffat-Jeandet at 1.02sec. "I was the favourite after the downhill," said Pinturault, who was 10th fastest in the speed event and started his slalom with a 0.28sec lead over Hirscher. "But after what Marcel has shown since the start of the season, especially in slalom, it was very tough for me to be able to come close. "I'm just very happy," said Pinturault, winner of Bormio's World Cup combined in December. "He was just stronger than me today." Muffat-Jeandet laid down a slalom run just one-hundredth of a second slower than Hirscher, paying the price for a big mistake on the top third of the downhill. "I was so annoyed by the downhill," he said. "But at the end of the day I stayed very focused. I always believed in it." Austrian slalom specialist Marco Schwarz was fourth, one place ahead of American Ted Ligety, who was seeking a third Olympic gold medal having won the combined back in Torino in 2006. The Norwegian threat petered out disappointingly despite two-time former world combined champion Aksel Lund Svindal finishing second fastest in the downhill. Svindal, 35, was a non-starter in the slalom, while team-mate Kjetil Jansrud, fourth fastest in the downhill, eventually came in seventh, 2.15sec off the pace and one place behind a third Frenchman, Thomas Mermillod Blondin. Among the top eight, Austrian pair Vincent Kriechmayr and reigning Olympic downhill champion Matthias Mayer, along with Italian duo Dominik Paris and Peter Fill, all failed to finish the slalom course.

Austria grabs first Gold as Marcel Hirscher wins men's alpine combined title

Swiss Olympic freestyle skier Fabian Boesch took the less travelled route up an escalator during a break in the team&#39;s pre-Olympic training in Bokwang, South Korea.

Switzerland yet to claim a medal in the ongoing 23rd winter games.

Currently, Germany is leading the medals tally with four Gold, one Silver and two Bronze.

Norway has the&nbsp;maximum number of medals; two Gold, four Silver and three Bronze.

Americans have picked up the pace quite quickly and have reached number two spot with three Gold, one Silver and two bronze till Tuesday.

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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BfFq2VfAcCj/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">After 20 years I still couldn&#39;t figure out how these things work! Am I doing it right? ????: @jonashunziker</a>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/buhsch/" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> Fabian B&ouml;sch</a> (@buhsch) on <time datetime="2018-02-12T07:54:50+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;">Feb 11, 2018 at 11:54pm PST</time>
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Watch another video of&nbsp;Fabian Boesch.

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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BfAo0kDAB1f/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Bobsled Team SUI 1 is ready to get Gold???? w/@jeanpedro #feeltherhythmfeeltherhyme ????: @andriragettli</a>

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&nbsp;

Swiss freestyle skier Fabian Boesch ascends an escalator by hanging from one arm on the outer side

Swiss Olympic freestyle skier Fabian Boesch took the less travelled route up an escalator during a break in the team's pre-Olympic training in Bokwang, South Korea. Switzerland yet to claim a medal in the ongoing 23rd winter games. Currently, Germany is leading the medals tally with four Gold, one Silver and two Bronze. Norway has the maximum number of medals; two Gold, four Silver and three Bronze. Americans have picked up the pace quite quickly and have reached number two spot with three Gold, one Silver and two bronze till Tuesday. After 20 years I still couldn't figure out how these things work! Am I doing it right? ????: @jonashunziker A post shared by Fabian Bösch (@buhsch) on Feb 11, 2018 at 11:54pm PST × Watch another video of Fabian Boesch. Bobsled Team SUI 1 is ready to get Gold???? w/@jeanpedro #feeltherhythmfeeltherhyme ????: @andriragettli A post shared by Fabian Bösch (@buhsch) on Feb 10, 2018 at 12:50am PST ×

Watch: Swiss Olympian Fabian Boesch ascends escalator in a whole new way

A very special dessert was served at the Olympic dinner by South Korea to break the ice between South Korea and North Korea.

Dark chocolate tempered in the shape of barbed wire lay over a map of Korean peninsula rendered in thin blue chocolate, a representation of the heavily militarised border that separates South Korea and its old enemy in the North.

The guests, including leaders of North and South, were invited to pour melted white chocolate on top - and the barbed wire would dissolve.

The dessert, called &quot;A Plate of Hope&quot;, was what South Korean President Moon Jae-in served his dozen VIP guests at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics&#39; pre-opening party.

After the successful visit of lady Kim to South Korea, now time will tell whether the &quot;the chocolate barbed wire&quot; would dissolve or not between the two nations which are technically at war.

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(2/2) &quot;The dessert, called &#39;A Plate of Hope&#39;, was what South Korean President Moon Jae-in planned to serve his dozen VIP guests, which were to include U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics&rsquo; pre-opening party on Friday.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/LAc9YLuxl4">pic.twitter.com/LAc9YLuxl4</a>
&mdash; Arapaho415 (@arapaho415) <a href="https://twitter.com/arapaho415/status/962519349742379008?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 11, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

The dessert, called "A Plate of Hope", was served by South Korean President Moon Jae at an Olympic dinner

A very special dessert was served at the Olympic dinner by South Korea to break the ice between South Korea and North Korea. Dark chocolate tempered in the shape of barbed wire lay over a map of Korean peninsula rendered in thin blue chocolate, a representation of the heavily militarised border that separates South Korea and its old enemy in the North. The guests, including leaders of North and South, were invited to pour melted white chocolate on top - and the barbed wire would dissolve. The dessert, called "A Plate of Hope", was what South Korean President Moon Jae-in served his dozen VIP guests at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics' pre-opening party. After the successful visit of lady Kim to South Korea, now time will tell whether the "the chocolate barbed wire" would dissolve or not between the two nations which are technically at war. (2/2) "The dessert, called 'A Plate of Hope', was what South Korean President Moon Jae-in planned to serve his dozen VIP guests, which were to include U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics’ pre-opening party on Friday." pic.twitter.com/LAc9YLuxl4 — Arapaho415 (@arapaho415) February 11, 2018 ×

Winter Olympics: South Korea served 'Plate of Hope' to northern neighbours

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/24-hours-later-gun-battle-continues-between-security-forces-terrorists-in-srinagar-32678">24 hours later, </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/24-hours-later-gun-battle-continues-between-security-forces-terrorists-in-srinagar-32678">gun</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/24-hours-later-gun-battle-continues-between-security-forces-terrorists-in-srinagar-32678"> battle continues between security forces, terrorists in Srinagar</a>

Heavy firing is still underway between terrorists and security forces in Srinagar&#39;s Karan Nagar area.

One soldier was killed after two terrorists tried to enter a CRPF camp on Monday. The security men immediately opened fire as the terrorists fled the area.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-extends-ban-on-terror-groups-listed-by-un-32676">Pakistan extends ban on terror groups listed by UN</a>

After UN released a list of banned terrorist organisations, Pakistan authorities decided to extend the ban in the country.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/japanese-olympic-speed-skater-tests-positive-for-doping-report-32669">Japanese Olympic speed skater tests positive for doping: CAS</a>

Japanese short-track speed skater Kei Saito has tested positive for doping at the Pyeongchang Olympic Games, the first doping case of the Games, the Court of Arbitration for Sport said Tuesday.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/phillippines-president-orders-soldier-to-shoot-women-rebels-in-their-genitals-32673">Phillippines president Duterte orders soldiers to &#39;shoot women rebels&#39; in genitals: Report</a>

Already reputed for his inappropriate language, Phillippine&#39;s president Rodrigo Duterte has again come under fire for his recent comment about women.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-offers-putin-condolences-over-plane-crash-32668">Trump offers Putin condolences over plane crash</a>

US President Donald Trump called his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Monday to offer his condolences after a deadly plane crash near Moscow, a White House official said.

 
&nbsp;

24 hours later, gun battle continues between security forces, terrorists in Srinagar Heavy firing is still underway between terrorists and security forces in Srinagar's Karan Nagar area. One soldier was killed after two terrorists tried to enter a CRPF camp on Monday. The security men immediately opened fire as the terrorists fled the area. Pakistan extends ban on terror groups listed by UN After UN released a list of banned terrorist organisations, Pakistan authorities decided to extend the ban in the country. Japanese Olympic speed skater tests positive for doping: CAS Japanese short-track speed skater Kei Saito has tested positive for doping at the Pyeongchang Olympic Games, the first doping case of the Games, the Court of Arbitration for Sport said Tuesday. Phillippines president Duterte orders soldiers to 'shoot women rebels' in genitals: Report Already reputed for his inappropriate language, Phillippine's president Rodrigo Duterte has again come under fire for his recent comment about women. Trump offers Putin condolences over plane crash US President Donald Trump called his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Monday to offer his condolences after a deadly plane crash near Moscow, a White House official said.

WION Morning News Brief, February 13, 2018

North Korean leader Kim Jong<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-has-strong-will-to-improve-inter-korean-relations-south-korea-32567"> Un today praised the &quot;impressive features</a> of&nbsp;South Korea expressing &quot;thanks&quot; to Seoul even as Japanese PM Abe said South Korean president Moon HAD agreed to keep &quot;maximum pressure&quot; on North Korea.

The North Korean delegation headed by<a href="http://www.wionews.com/photos/kim-yo-jong-meet-the-ivanka-trump-of-north-korea-684#photo-37445"> Kim&#39;s sister Kim Yo Jong</a> returned to Pyongyang on Monday.

&quot;After receiving the delegation&#39;s report, Kim Jong Un expressed satisfaction over it and said that very impressive were the features of the south side which specially prioritised the visit of the members of the DPRK side who took part in the Winter Olympics,&quot; North Korea&#39;s state-run media KCNA said.

The KCNA report said North Korean leader wished to build on the rapprochement at the Winter Olympics, saying that he felt it &quot;is important to continue making good results by further livening up the warm climate of reconciliation and dialogue&quot;.

Kim Yo Jong returned home after a successful diplomatic outreach with the South as she met President &nbsp;Moon Jae-in and helped cool&nbsp;down the political temperature on the Korean peninsula plagued by months of uncertainty over her brother Kim Jong Un&#39;s ballistic missile tests.

The report added that Kim &quot;set forth in detail the orientation of the improvement of the north-south relations and gave important instructions to the relevant field to take practical measures for it.&quot;

The North Korean delegation headed by Kim's sister Kim Yo Jong returned to Pyongyang on Monday.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un today praised the "impressive features of South Korea expressing "thanks" to Seoul even as Japanese PM Abe said South Korean president Moon HAD agreed to keep "maximum pressure" on North Korea. The North Korean delegation headed by Kim's sister Kim Yo Jong returned to Pyongyang on Monday. "After receiving the delegation's report, Kim Jong Un expressed satisfaction over it and said that very impressive were the features of the south side which specially prioritised the visit of the members of the DPRK side who took part in the Winter Olympics," North Korea's state-run media KCNA said. The KCNA report said North Korean leader wished to build on the rapprochement at the Winter Olympics, saying that he felt it "is important to continue making good results by further livening up the warm climate of reconciliation and dialogue". Kim Yo Jong returned home after a successful diplomatic outreach with the South as she met President Moon Jae-in and helped cool down the political temperature on the Korean peninsula plagued by months of uncertainty over her brother Kim Jong Un's ballistic missile tests. The report added that Kim "set forth in detail the orientation of the improvement of the north-south relations and gave important instructions to the relevant field to take practical measures for it."

'Important to continue good results,' says North Korean leader Kim

One of the main draws of the Winter Olympics is the opportunity to witness some of the most exciting and nail-biting athletic feats.

The daring events include the bobsled and downhill skiing. Then there&rsquo;s the terrifying skeleton: Imagine barreling down a narrow chute of twisted ice-coated concrete at 125 miles per hour. Now imagine doing that head first, like a human battering ram.

Athletes train for years for these events, but most of these elite athletes possess something that helps them succeed during these high-stakes events: their personality.

Some people have a personality trait that helps them focus in highly chaotic environments like the ones you&rsquo;ll see during the Winter Olympics. It&rsquo;s called a high sensation-seeking personality, and it&rsquo;s a trait that, as a psychologist, I&rsquo;ve long been fascinated with.

Calm in the face of danger

To some extent, we all crave complex and new experiences &ndash; that is, we all seek new sensations.

Whether it&rsquo;s our attraction to the latest shiny gadget or the newest fashion trend, novelty tugs at us. But even though we all share an interest in new sensations, what sets high sensation-seeking personalities apart is that they crave these exotic and intense experiences to an extent that they&rsquo;re willing to risk their health.

What&rsquo;s amazing is that some high sensation-seeking individuals experience less stress and are fearless and calm in the face of danger. For example, 2014 Olympic slalom gold medalist Mikaela Shiffrin tears down mountains at speeds of 80 mph. But she recently told Sky Magazine that the experience can feel like it unfolds in slow motion while she&rsquo;s &ldquo;finding a way to control the controllable.&rdquo;

There&rsquo;s neurological evidence to back up the sense of calm that athletes like Shiffrin feel in midst of chaos and danger.

You may have heard of cortisol &ndash; it&rsquo;s the &ldquo;fight or flight&rdquo; hormone, and it can make us feel stressed and overwhelmed.

However, when people with high sensation-seeking personalities have intense experiences, they don&rsquo;t produce that much cortisol. On top of that, they produce higher levels of &ldquo;pleasure&rdquo; chemicals like dopamine.

What&rsquo;s more, researchers have found that people with high sensation-seeking personalities have increased sensitivity to things that could be rewarding (like landing a perfect switch backside 1620) and decreased sensitivity to potential dangers (like the fear of wiping out after doing a triple jump).

High sensation-seeking isn&rsquo;t exclusive to Winter Olympians, of course. It can creep into every aspect of life, influencing the way you interact with other people, the things you do for fun, the music you like, the way you drive and even the jokes you tell.

Leaping before you look

In the 1950s, while studying sensory deprivation, psychologist Robert Zuckerman stumbled upon this sensation-seeking trait. Zuckerman was eventually able to show that sensation-seeking is made up of four distinct components.

Each contributes to an individual&rsquo;s unique way of seeking (or avoiding) sensation. (And you can actually take a test to see where you fall for each of these four components on the sensation-seeking scale.)

The first two &ndash; thrill-seeking and experience-seeking &ndash; were mentioned earlier. But the sensation-seeking personality trait also involves disinhibition and boredom susceptibility.

Disinhibition has to do with our willingness to be spontaneous and our ability to let loose. People with low levels of disinhibition always look before they leap. Those high in disinhibition? They just leap.

Boredom susceptibility boils down to your ability to tolerate the absence of external stimuli. Those with high scores in boredom susceptibility dislike repetition: They tire easily of predictable or dull people, and they get restless when forced to perform mundane tasks.

This last component might be the toughest thing for Olympic athletes who are high-sensation seekers to deal with. In order to be a successful Olympian, you need to spend countless hours practicing dull, repetitive workouts and drills.

It&rsquo;s easy to see how all of these aspects of sensation-seeking personalities might exist in Olympic athletes, whether it&rsquo;s a snowboarder experimenting with a daring new trick or a hockey forward navigating a puck through a maze of defenders.

People with high sensation-seeking personalities don&rsquo;t just crave these situations. In those moments, they&rsquo;re in their element. Where a low sensation-seeking person might crumble, they thrive.

So when you&rsquo;re watching the Winter Olympics and wondering how the athletes can handle the pressures and dangers of competition, just remember: For some of them, chaos and intensity are secret weapons of success.

In the 1950s, while studying sensory deprivation, psychologist Robert Zuckerman stumbled upon this sensation-seeking trait. Zuckerman was eventually able to show that sensation-seeking is made up of four distinct components.

Each contributes to an individual&rsquo;s unique way of seeking (or avoiding) sensation. (And you can actually take a test to see where you fall for each of these four components on the sensation-seeking scale.)

The first two &ndash; thrill-seeking and experience-seeking &ndash; were mentioned earlier. But the sensation-seeking personality trait also involves disinhibition and boredom susceptibility.

Disinhibition has to do with our willingness to be spontaneous and our ability to let loose. People with low levels of disinhibition always look before they leap. Those high in disinhibition? They just leap.

Boredom susceptibility boils down to your ability to tolerate the absence of external stimuli. Those with high scores in boredom susceptibility dislike repetition: They tire easily of predictable or dull people, and they get restless when forced to perform mundane tasks.

This last component might be the toughest thing for Olympic athletes who are high-sensation seekers to deal with. In order to be a successful Olympian, you need to spend countless hours practicing dull, repetitive workouts and drills.

It&rsquo;s easy to see how all of these aspects of sensation-seeking personalities might exist in Olympic athletes, whether it&rsquo;s a snowboarder experimenting with a daring new trick or a hockey forward navigating a puck through a maze of defenders.

People with high sensation-seeking personalities don&rsquo;t just crave these situations. In those moments, they&rsquo;re in their element. Where a low sensation-seeking person might crumble, they thrive.

So when you&rsquo;re watching the Winter Olympics and wondering how the athletes can handle the pressures and dangers of competition, just remember: For some of them, chaos and intensity are secret weapons of success.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" rel="nofollow" target="blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-a-thrill-seeking-personality-helps-olympic-athletes-91210" rel="nofollow" target="blank">original article</a>.

&nbsp;

Some people have a personality trait that helps them focus in highly chaotic environments like the ones you’ll see during the Winter Olympics. It’s called a high sensation-seeking personality.

One of the main draws of the Winter Olympics is the opportunity to witness some of the most exciting and nail-biting athletic feats. The daring events include the bobsled and downhill skiing. Then there’s the terrifying skeleton: Imagine barreling down a narrow chute of twisted ice-coated concrete at 125 miles per hour. Now imagine doing that head first, like a human battering ram. Athletes train for years for these events, but most of these elite athletes possess something that helps them succeed during these high-stakes events: their personality. Some people have a personality trait that helps them focus in highly chaotic environments like the ones you’ll see during the Winter Olympics. It’s called a high sensation-seeking personality, and it’s a trait that, as a psychologist, I’ve long been fascinated with. Calm in the face of danger To some extent, we all crave complex and new experiences – that is, we all seek new sensations. Whether it’s our attraction to the latest shiny gadget or the newest fashion trend, novelty tugs at us. But even though we all share an interest in new sensations, what sets high sensation-seeking personalities apart is that they crave these exotic and intense experiences to an extent that they’re willing to risk their health. What’s amazing is that some high sensation-seeking individuals experience less stress and are fearless and calm in the face of danger. For example, 2014 Olympic slalom gold medalist Mikaela Shiffrin tears down mountains at speeds of 80 mph. But she recently told Sky Magazine that the experience can feel like it unfolds in slow motion while she’s “finding a way to control the controllable.” There’s neurological evidence to back up the sense of calm that athletes like Shiffrin feel in midst of chaos and danger. You may have heard of cortisol – it’s the “fight or flight” hormone, and it can make us feel stressed and overwhelmed. However, when people with high sensation-seeking personalities have intense experiences, they don’t produce that much cortisol. On top of that, they produce higher levels of “pleasure” chemicals like dopamine. What’s more, researchers have found that people with high sensation-seeking personalities have increased sensitivity to things that could be rewarding (like landing a perfect switch backside 1620) and decreased sensitivity to potential dangers (like the fear of wiping out after doing a triple jump). High sensation-seeking isn’t exclusive to Winter Olympians, of course. It can creep into every aspect of life, influencing the way you interact with other people, the things you do for fun, the music you like, the way you drive and even the jokes you tell. Leaping before you look In the 1950s, while studying sensory deprivation, psychologist Robert Zuckerman stumbled upon this sensation-seeking trait. Zuckerman was eventually able to show that sensation-seeking is made up of four distinct components. Each contributes to an individual’s unique way of seeking (or avoiding) sensation. (And you can actually take a test to see where you fall for each of these four components on the sensation-seeking scale.) The first two – thrill-seeking and experience-seeking – were mentioned earlier. But the sensation-seeking personality trait also involves disinhibition and boredom susceptibility. Disinhibition has to do with our willingness to be spontaneous and our ability to let loose. People with low levels of disinhibition always look before they leap. Those high in disinhibition? They just leap. Boredom susceptibility boils down to your ability to tolerate the absence of external stimuli. Those with high scores in boredom susceptibility dislike repetition: They tire easily of predictable or dull people, and they get restless when forced to perform mundane tasks. This last component might be the toughest thing for Olympic athletes who are high-sensation seekers to deal with. In order to be a successful Olympian, you need to spend countless hours practicing dull, repetitive workouts and drills. It’s easy to see how all of these aspects of sensation-seeking personalities might exist in Olympic athletes, whether it’s a snowboarder experimenting with a daring new trick or a hockey forward navigating a puck through a maze of defenders. People with high sensation-seeking personalities don’t just crave these situations. In those moments, they’re in their element. Where a low sensation-seeking person might crumble, they thrive. So when you’re watching the Winter Olympics and wondering how the athletes can handle the pressures and dangers of competition, just remember: For some of them, chaos and intensity are secret weapons of success. In the 1950s, while studying sensory deprivation, psychologist Robert Zuckerman stumbled upon this sensation-seeking trait. Zuckerman was eventually able to show that sensation-seeking is made up of four distinct components. Each contributes to an individual’s unique way of seeking (or avoiding) sensation. (And you can actually take a test to see where you fall for each of these four components on the sensation-seeking scale.) The first two – thrill-seeking and experience-seeking – were mentioned earlier. But the sensation-seeking personality trait also involves disinhibition and boredom susceptibility. Disinhibition has to do with our willingness to be spontaneous and our ability to let loose. People with low levels of disinhibition always look before they leap. Those high in disinhibition? They just leap. Boredom susceptibility boils down to your ability to tolerate the absence of external stimuli. Those with high scores in boredom susceptibility dislike repetition: They tire easily of predictable or dull people, and they get restless when forced to perform mundane tasks. This last component might be the toughest thing for Olympic athletes who are high-sensation seekers to deal with. In order to be a successful Olympian, you need to spend countless hours practicing dull, repetitive workouts and drills. It’s easy to see how all of these aspects of sensation-seeking personalities might exist in Olympic athletes, whether it’s a snowboarder experimenting with a daring new trick or a hockey forward navigating a puck through a maze of defenders. People with high sensation-seeking personalities don’t just crave these situations. In those moments, they’re in their element. Where a low sensation-seeking person might crumble, they thrive. So when you’re watching the Winter Olympics and wondering how the athletes can handle the pressures and dangers of competition, just remember: For some of them, chaos and intensity are secret weapons of success. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

Opinion: Love for thrill may help you to be an Olympic athlete

Call it the effect of salvos between Trump and Kim Jong-un or maybe some good sense prevailed, as a welcome gesture, North and South Korea agreed on Wednesday to march their athletes together under one flag at the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics next month and to field a joint women&rsquo;s ice hockey team.

&nbsp;

Though it is a small event but a seminal one. It may certainly pave the path for a possible political reconciliation between these two nations. The event is significant for the world as it is the sign of ebbing madness of Kin Jong-un who appeared hell-bent to go for a skirmish with the USA and pushing the world to the danger of nuclear war.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Sports and politics, diplomacy and animosity have been in a close relationship for decades, more of a love-hate relationship. Sports, by and large, have been great healer and reconciler. At times it has set the tone for a larger peace narrative. Remember, how in 1987&nbsp; Pakistan&rsquo;s premier Zia-ul-Haq flew to Jaipur to catch the action of India-Pakistan Test match after BCCI extended invitation to him. Zia claimed that his objective was to restore communication and release tension. Later that year, India and Pakistan jointly organised the ICC Cricket World Cup.

&nbsp;

Sports breaks the barrier, brings good sense, embarrasses flag bearers of hatred and serve as the epitome of great human values. In the 1936 Berlin Olympic, Hitler was determined to showcase Germany&#39;s might to the world. However, it was an American black athlete Jesse Owens who stole the show by winning four Gold Medals in Athletics.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Later, Owens revealed something very interesting. In the Long Jump event, Owens was committing regular foul jumps and the threat of omission was looming. Luz Long, a German white, who himself was competing in the Long Jump, went over to Owens and gave him a technical tip. The tip was dead right; as Owens went on to win Gold Medal whereas Luz Long finished second. Long&rsquo;s goodwill gesture had cost him the Gold Medal. After the competition is over, Long strolled back to the dressing room arm-in-arm with Owens in front of Adolf Hitler. Long knew that this gesture would not go well with Nazis but it is the sportsman spirit, which prevailed.

&nbsp;

I remember how spectators during the opening ceremony of 1992 Barcelona Olympics were in tears when the unified Germany team came out for a parade. It was a historic moment and it was possible due to Germany&#39;s unification in 1990.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

When the relationship between India and Pakistan had spoiled badly after the 1965 and the 1971 wars, it was cricket which played a major role in smoothening things. After Cricket Control boards of both nations took initiative, India toured Pakistan in 1978 for a historical Test series after 17 years. Incidentally, it was debut series of the legendary Kapil Dev.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

If sports have been a great healer and reconciler, it has been one of the biggest sufferers of the political and diplomatic slugfest.

During the peak of Cold War, sports became a playground for supremacy. Egos of USA and USSR were clashing in the sports arena, turning it into a battleground. USSR with allies like GDR (better known as East Germany) was giving a tough fight to the USA (with West Germany) at Olympics. It was a matter of huge pride for them that who stood where in the medal tally.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The passion for competition reached a level when Boris Spassky from the USSR met Bobby Fisher of USA for the World Chess title at Reykjavik (Iceland) in 1972; both countries treated it as a pseudo war. It received unprecedented media attention across the world. It reached to such a level that, reportedly, the US National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger phoned reluctant Bobby Fischer from Washington and said &ldquo;America wants you to go over there and beat the Russians. Go to Iceland.&rdquo; It became a fight for pride for two superpowers. Fisher won and the whole US rejoiced as Chess was a game which Soviet had ruled till then.

&nbsp;

The animosity hurt sports festivals badly. The USSR hosted Olympic Games in 1980, which the USA and allied countries boycotted. Four years later, the USSR and allies settled the score by boycotting the 1984 Olympic Games held at Los Angles USA.

&nbsp;

Would wrap this discussion with mention of iconic Cuban boxer Teofilo Stevenson. Teofilo won Gold Medals in boxing in 1972, 1976 and 1980 Olympics. Teofilo was eying his fourth Gold Medal in 1984 Olympics but Cuba boycotted the game. Teofilo started preparing for the 1988 Olympics. The 1988 Olympics was hosted by South Korea. North Korea boycotted the game. To show its solidarity with North Korea, Cuba boycotted the games. Teofilo broke. He gave up and took retirement.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

This year&#39;s Winter Olympics has come as a great messenger of peace and reconciliation. In spite of whatever pain and damage politics and diplomacy have inflicted on sports and sportspersons, sports, as usual, is playing its part to bring harmony to this globe.

&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)&nbsp;&nbsp;

After the 1971 war, Cricket Control boards of Pakistan and India took initiative, India toured Pakistan in 1978 for a historical Test series after 17 years. Incidentally, it was debut series of the legendary Kapil Dev.

Call it the effect of salvos between Trump and Kim Jong-un or maybe some good sense prevailed, as a welcome gesture, North and South Korea agreed on Wednesday to march their athletes together under one flag at the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics next month and to field a joint women’s ice hockey team. Though it is a small event but a seminal one. It may certainly pave the path for a possible political reconciliation between these two nations. The event is significant for the world as it is the sign of ebbing madness of Kin Jong-un who appeared hell-bent to go for a skirmish with the USA and pushing the world to the danger of nuclear war. Sports and politics, diplomacy and animosity have been in a close relationship for decades, more of a love-hate relationship. Sports, by and large, have been great healer and reconciler. At times it has set the tone for a larger peace narrative. Remember, how in 1987 Pakistan’s premier Zia-ul-Haq flew to Jaipur to catch the action of India-Pakistan Test match after BCCI extended invitation to him. Zia claimed that his objective was to restore communication and release tension. Later that year, India and Pakistan jointly organised the ICC Cricket World Cup. Sports breaks the barrier, brings good sense, embarrasses flag bearers of hatred and serve as the epitome of great human values. In the 1936 Berlin Olympic, Hitler was determined to showcase Germany's might to the world. However, it was an American black athlete Jesse Owens who stole the show by winning four Gold Medals in Athletics. Later, Owens revealed something very interesting. In the Long Jump event, Owens was committing regular foul jumps and the threat of omission was looming. Luz Long, a German white, who himself was competing in the Long Jump, went over to Owens and gave him a technical tip. The tip was dead right; as Owens went on to win Gold Medal whereas Luz Long finished second. Long’s goodwill gesture had cost him the Gold Medal. After the competition is over, Long strolled back to the dressing room arm-in-arm with Owens in front of Adolf Hitler. Long knew that this gesture would not go well with Nazis but it is the sportsman spirit, which prevailed. I remember how spectators during the opening ceremony of 1992 Barcelona Olympics were in tears when the unified Germany team came out for a parade. It was a historic moment and it was possible due to Germany's unification in 1990. When the relationship between India and Pakistan had spoiled badly after the 1965 and the 1971 wars, it was cricket which played a major role in smoothening things. After Cricket Control boards of both nations took initiative, India toured Pakistan in 1978 for a historical Test series after 17 years. Incidentally, it was debut series of the legendary Kapil Dev. If sports have been a great healer and reconciler, it has been one of the biggest sufferers of the political and diplomatic slugfest. During the peak of Cold War, sports became a playground for supremacy. Egos of USA and USSR were clashing in the sports arena, turning it into a battleground. USSR with allies like GDR (better known as East Germany) was giving a tough fight to the USA (with West Germany) at Olympics. It was a matter of huge pride for them that who stood where in the medal tally. The passion for competition reached a level when Boris Spassky from the USSR met Bobby Fisher of USA for the World Chess title at Reykjavik (Iceland) in 1972; both countries treated it as a pseudo war. It received unprecedented media attention across the world. It reached to such a level that, reportedly, the US National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger phoned reluctant Bobby Fischer from Washington and said “America wants you to go over there and beat the Russians. Go to Iceland.” It became a fight for pride for two superpowers. Fisher won and the whole US rejoiced as Chess was a game which Soviet had ruled till then. The animosity hurt sports festivals badly. The USSR hosted Olympic Games in 1980, which the USA and allied countries boycotted. Four years later, the USSR and allies settled the score by boycotting the 1984 Olympic Games held at Los Angles USA. Would wrap this discussion with mention of iconic Cuban boxer Teofilo Stevenson. Teofilo won Gold Medals in boxing in 1972, 1976 and 1980 Olympics. Teofilo was eying his fourth Gold Medal in 1984 Olympics but Cuba boycotted the game. Teofilo started preparing for the 1988 Olympics. The 1988 Olympics was hosted by South Korea. North Korea boycotted the game. To show its solidarity with North Korea, Cuba boycotted the games. Teofilo broke. He gave up and took retirement. This year's Winter Olympics has come as a great messenger of peace and reconciliation. In spite of whatever pain and damage politics and diplomacy have inflicted on sports and sportspersons, sports, as usual, is playing its part to bring harmony to this globe. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Enemies in war, friends in sports. Koreas are not the only one

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe Wednesday pledged to attend the&nbsp;Winter Olympics in South Korea, ending speculation he would snub the event after an emotional war of words with Seoul over a deal on wartime sex slavery.

&quot;I would like to attend the opening ceremony of the Pyeongchang Olympics to cheer on Japanese athletes if conditions allow me to do so,&quot; Abe told the conservative Sankei Shimbun newspaper.

&quot;The Olympic Games is a festival for peace and sports and Japan is poised to host Tokyo 2020,&quot; he was quoted as saying, referring to the Summer Games in the Japanese capital.

Jiji Press and the Yomiuri Shimbun daily also reported Abe is set to attend the opening gala of the Winter Olympics hosted by the South Korean city on February 9.

Abe had previously hinted he might skip the event to concentrate on passing a national budget bill, in a move widely seen as posturing after a spat with Seoul over the decades-old row.

The issue of women forced into sexual slavery for Japanese troops in World War II has roiled relations between the neighbours -- both US allies and both threatened by nuclear-armed North Korea.

The issue is a highly emotional one in Seoul while a majority of Japanese feel they have atoned enough for the country&#39;s wartime aggression including the comfort women issue, after numerous apologies and statements on the war.

But South Korea sparked anger in Japan by hinting at a review of a landmark 2015 deal that Tokyo believes buried the issue once and for all.&nbsp;

&quot;I&#39;d like to meet with President Moon (Jae-In),&quot; Abe was quoted as saying, adding: &quot;I would like to tell him directly that we can by no means accept South Korea&#39;s unilateral request for additional measures concerning the deal over the comfort women issue.&quot;

Moon recently urged Japan to offer a &quot;heartfelt apology&quot; to the victims.

Ousted president Park Geun-Hye&#39;s government struck the deal with Japan under Abe, under which both countries said the issue was resolved &quot;finally and irreversibly&quot;.

Under the deal -- that included a fresh Japanese apology -- South Korea promised not to raise the issue again and Japan transferred 1 billion yen (now $9 million) to a foundation dedicated to supporting the victims.

&nbsp;

Media reports claim that Abe is set to attend the opening gala of the Winter Olympics hosted by the South Korean city on February 9

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe Wednesday pledged to attend the Winter Olympics in South Korea, ending speculation he would snub the event after an emotional war of words with Seoul over a deal on wartime sex slavery. "I would like to attend the opening ceremony of the Pyeongchang Olympics to cheer on Japanese athletes if conditions allow me to do so," Abe told the conservative Sankei Shimbun newspaper. "The Olympic Games is a festival for peace and sports and Japan is poised to host Tokyo 2020," he was quoted as saying, referring to the Summer Games in the Japanese capital. Jiji Press and the Yomiuri Shimbun daily also reported Abe is set to attend the opening gala of the Winter Olympics hosted by the South Korean city on February 9. Abe had previously hinted he might skip the event to concentrate on passing a national budget bill, in a move widely seen as posturing after a spat with Seoul over the decades-old row. The issue of women forced into sexual slavery for Japanese troops in World War II has roiled relations between the neighbours -- both US allies and both threatened by nuclear-armed North Korea. The issue is a highly emotional one in Seoul while a majority of Japanese feel they have atoned enough for the country's wartime aggression including the comfort women issue, after numerous apologies and statements on the war. But South Korea sparked anger in Japan by hinting at a review of a landmark 2015 deal that Tokyo believes buried the issue once and for all. "I'd like to meet with President Moon (Jae-In)," Abe was quoted as saying, adding: "I would like to tell him directly that we can by no means accept South Korea's unilateral request for additional measures concerning the deal over the comfort women issue." Moon recently urged Japan to offer a "heartfelt apology" to the victims. Ousted president Park Geun-Hye's government struck the deal with Japan under Abe, under which both countries said the issue was resolved "finally and irreversibly". Under the deal -- that included a fresh Japanese apology -- South Korea promised not to raise the issue again and Japan transferred 1 billion yen (now $9 million) to a foundation dedicated to supporting the victims.

Japan PM Abe 'to attend Olympics' despite sex slave spat

The number of Russian athletes eligible to take part at next month&#39;s Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang has been reduced from a pool of 500 to 389, the International Olympic Committee said on Friday.

The IOC last month banned Russia from taking part at Pyeongchang over state-sponsored doping, but clean Russian competitors will be allowed to participate under strict conditions, and under a neutral flag.

&quot;As of today, the original pre-registration pool of 500 athletes has already been reduced by 111 by the panel,&quot; the IOC said in a statement, following the recommendation of an independent invitation review panel.&nbsp;

&quot;For others in the remaining pool of athletes, pre-conditions such as further pre-Games tests and reanalysis from stored samples have been required,&quot; it said.

&quot;Only if these requirements are met can the athletes be considered for the invitation.&quot;

The IOC added that &quot;more than 80 per cent of the athletes&quot; in the pool did not take part at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, where the level of doping reached its peak.

None of the 42 Russian athletes handed lifetime Olympic bans for doping at Sochi remain on the list, with 39 of them set for an appeal hearing at the Court of Arbitration for Sport&nbsp;next week in Geneva.

The panel also recommended 51 coaches and 10 medical staff cannot be invited to the Olympics which run from February 9 to 25.

&quot;All our decisions were taken by consensus of the panel for each individual athlete, all of which were reviewed anonymously,&quot; said chair panel and former French&nbsp;sports minister Valerie Fourneyron.

&quot;It was not easy to put this list together, but we wanted to be absolutely sure that only clean athletes from Russia can be invited to participate in the Olympic Winter Games.&quot;

The final list of Russian athletes invited to take part in South Korea will not be published until after a delegation registration meeting in Pyeongchang on January 27.

Russia originally topped the medals table in Sochi before losing 13 of 33 medals after an independent report, commissioned by the World Anti-Doping Agency, revealed evidence of widespread doping over several years.

&nbsp;

"The original pre-registration pool of 500 athletes have already been reduced by 111 by the panel," the IOC

The number of Russian athletes eligible to take part at next month's Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang has been reduced from a pool of 500 to 389, the International Olympic Committee said on Friday. The IOC last month banned Russia from taking part at Pyeongchang over state-sponsored doping, but clean Russian competitors will be allowed to participate under strict conditions, and under a neutral flag. "As of today, the original pre-registration pool of 500 athletes has already been reduced by 111 by the panel," the IOC said in a statement, following the recommendation of an independent invitation review panel. "For others in the remaining pool of athletes, pre-conditions such as further pre-Games tests and reanalysis from stored samples have been required," it said. "Only if these requirements are met can the athletes be considered for the invitation." The IOC added that "more than 80 per cent of the athletes" in the pool did not take part at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, where the level of doping reached its peak. None of the 42 Russian athletes handed lifetime Olympic bans for doping at Sochi remain on the list, with 39 of them set for an appeal hearing at the Court of Arbitration for Sport next week in Geneva. The panel also recommended 51 coaches and 10 medical staff cannot be invited to the Olympics which run from February 9 to 25. "All our decisions were taken by consensus of the panel for each individual athlete, all of which were reviewed anonymously," said chair panel and former French sports minister Valerie Fourneyron. "It was not easy to put this list together, but we wanted to be absolutely sure that only clean athletes from Russia can be invited to participate in the Olympic Winter Games." The final list of Russian athletes invited to take part in South Korea will not be published until after a delegation registration meeting in Pyeongchang on January 27. Russia originally topped the medals table in Sochi before losing 13 of 33 medals after an independent report, commissioned by the World Anti-Doping Agency, revealed evidence of widespread doping over several years.

Winter Olympics: IOC cuts number of Russians eligible for Games

North Korea will mark the foundation of its regular army on February 8, its state media said Tuesday -- which will be the day before the Winter Olympics open in the South.

Reports and officials say that Pyongyang could be preparing a military parade as a display of strength ahead of the sporting festival, which has triggered a rare rapprochement between the two halves of the divided peninsula.

In recent years Pyongyang has proclaimed April 25 as the establishment of its army, naming it as the day the country&#39;s founder Kim Il-Sung set up anti-Japanese guerrilla forces in 1932.

It will now mark the foundation on February 8, when Kim launched the Korean People&#39;s Army (KPA) regular armed forces in 1948, the ruling Workers&#39; Party announced.

Until 1978 the anniversary was marked on the February date, and the switch back gives Pyongyang a formal justification if it decides to go ahead with a parade next month, which will be the 70th anniversary of the regular military&#39;s establishment.

Satellite photos have shown troops and military vehicles rehearsing at an airfield near Pyongyang for an event.

A South Korean government official told the Yonhap news agency that they were increasing in numbers.

&quot;At Mirim airfield, 13,000 soldiers and some 200 vehicles were spotted preparing for the parade,&quot; the unidentified official was quoted as saying.

But Pyongyang is bitterly cold in February and the numbers are smaller than those involved in a giant spectacle last April to mark the 105th anniversary of Kim Il-Sung&#39;s birth, which showcased a range of weaponry including what appeared to be a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).

The government and other authorities will take &quot;practical steps to significantly mark&quot; the February 8 anniversary, which was &quot;a historic day&quot;, said the ruling party&#39;s Political Bureau, according to the North&#39;s state news agency KCNA.

April 25 will continue to be marked as the founding anniversary of the Korean People&#39;s Revolutionary Army, it added.

Under current leader Kim Jong-Un, Kim Il-Sung&#39;s grandson, Pyongyang last year rattled the international community with nuclear and missile tests.

But it has agreed to send athletes to the South&#39;s Pyeongchang Winter Olympics,&nbsp;march with the South under one flag at the opening ceremony and form an inter-Korean women&#39;s ice hockey team.

&nbsp;

Satellite photos have shown troops and military vehicles rehearsing at an airfield near Pyongyang for an event

North Korea will mark the foundation of its regular army on February 8, its state media said Tuesday -- which will be the day before the Winter Olympics open in the South. Reports and officials say that Pyongyang could be preparing a military parade as a display of strength ahead of the sporting festival, which has triggered a rare rapprochement between the two halves of the divided peninsula. In recent years Pyongyang has proclaimed April 25 as the establishment of its army, naming it as the day the country's founder Kim Il-Sung set up anti-Japanese guerrilla forces in 1932. It will now mark the foundation on February 8, when Kim launched the Korean People's Army (KPA) regular armed forces in 1948, the ruling Workers' Party announced. Until 1978 the anniversary was marked on the February date, and the switch back gives Pyongyang a formal justification if it decides to go ahead with a parade next month, which will be the 70th anniversary of the regular military's establishment. Satellite photos have shown troops and military vehicles rehearsing at an airfield near Pyongyang for an event. A South Korean government official told the Yonhap news agency that they were increasing in numbers. "At Mirim airfield, 13,000 soldiers and some 200 vehicles were spotted preparing for the parade," the unidentified official was quoted as saying. But Pyongyang is bitterly cold in February and the numbers are smaller than those involved in a giant spectacle last April to mark the 105th anniversary of Kim Il-Sung's birth, which showcased a range of weaponry including what appeared to be a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). The government and other authorities will take "practical steps to significantly mark" the February 8 anniversary, which was "a historic day", said the ruling party's Political Bureau, according to the North's state news agency KCNA. April 25 will continue to be marked as the founding anniversary of the Korean People's Revolutionary Army, it added. Under current leader Kim Jong-Un, Kim Il-Sung's grandson, Pyongyang last year rattled the international community with nuclear and missile tests. But it has agreed to send athletes to the South's Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, march with the South under one flag at the opening ceremony and form an inter-Korean women's ice hockey team.

North Korea says will celebrate military on eve of Olympics

North Korea will send 22 athletes to the Winter Games in the neighbouring South next month and compete in three sports and five disciplines, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said on Saturday.

The IOC said in a statement that the North and South had agreed to march under a single flag at the opening ceremony and would field a united team in the women&rsquo;s ice hockey, confirming earlier reports. The North will also send 24 officials and 21 media representatives.

North Korea&rsquo;s planned involvement in Pyeongchang is viewed as a sign of easing tensions over its nuclear and missile programme.

The IOC said that the United Korean delegation would be led into the Olympic Stadium for the opening ceremony under the Korean Unification Flag which would be carried by two athletes, one from each country.

The three sports in which North Korea will compete are ice skating and skiing in addition to women&rsquo;s ice hockey, the IOC said.

Until Saturday, a figure skating pair were the only North Koreans to have secured a spot at the Games.

&rdquo;Today marks the milestone on a long journey,&ldquo; said IOC president Thomas Bach in a prepared declaration. &rdquo;Since 2014, the IOC has addressed the special situation of having the Olympic Winter Games on the Korean peninsula.

&ldquo;Such an agreement would have seemed impossible only a few weeks ago,&rdquo; he added. &ldquo;The Olympic Winter Games are hopefully opening the door to a brighter future on the Korean peninsula.&rdquo;

North Korea’s planned involvement in Pyeongchang is viewed as a sign of easing tensions over its nuclear and missile programme

North Korea will send 22 athletes to the Winter Games in the neighbouring South next month and compete in three sports and five disciplines, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said on Saturday. The IOC said in a statement that the North and South had agreed to march under a single flag at the opening ceremony and would field a united team in the women’s ice hockey, confirming earlier reports. The North will also send 24 officials and 21 media representatives. North Korea’s planned involvement in Pyeongchang is viewed as a sign of easing tensions over its nuclear and missile programme. The IOC said that the United Korean delegation would be led into the Olympic Stadium for the opening ceremony under the Korean Unification Flag which would be carried by two athletes, one from each country. The three sports in which North Korea will compete are ice skating and skiing in addition to women’s ice hockey, the IOC said. Until Saturday, a figure skating pair were the only North Koreans to have secured a spot at the Games. ”Today marks the milestone on a long journey,“ said IOC president Thomas Bach in a prepared declaration. ”Since 2014, the IOC has addressed the special situation of having the Olympic Winter Games on the Korean peninsula. “Such an agreement would have seemed impossible only a few weeks ago,” he added. “The Olympic Winter Games are hopefully opening the door to a brighter future on the Korean peninsula.”

Winter Olympics 2018: North Korea will send 22 athletes to Pyeongchang

Russia slowly picking up the pace, on Monday, Russian free dance duo grabbed a silver medal for the Olympic Athlete from Russia.&nbsp;Evgenia Medvedeva and Alina Zagitova took their first silver of the Games&nbsp;at the Gangneung Ice Arena.&nbsp;Till Sunday Russia had won just a bronze.

On the other hand, ice dance stars Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir inspired Canada to the figure skating team title to secure the Winter Games heavyweights&#39; first gold at Pyeongchang 2018 on Monday.&nbsp;

Competing in their third Olympics, Virtue and Moir earned a maximum 10 points for their short&nbsp;programme&nbsp;and matched that in the concluding free with an exhilarating four-and-a-half minute performance to the music of Moulin Rouge.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
12FEB Figure Skating - Team Event 
 
????Gold CAN???????? 
????Silver OAR 
????Bronze USA???????? 
 
Congratulations.???? <a href="https://t.co/I3FL4dWwMG">pic.twitter.com/I3FL4dWwMG</a>
&mdash; PyeongChang 2018 (@pyeongchang2018) <a href="https://twitter.com/pyeongchang2018/status/962924020667596800?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 12, 2018</a></blockquote>
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For defending champions Russia, competing in South Korea as OAR after Russia&#39;s state-sponsored doping ban was difficult.

The USA team was third.

&nbsp;

Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir inspired Canada to the figure skating team title to secure the Winter Games heavyweights' first gold, Russia received silver and the USA bronze

Russia slowly picking up the pace, on Monday, Russian free dance duo grabbed a silver medal for the Olympic Athlete from Russia. Evgenia Medvedeva and Alina Zagitova took their first silver of the Games at the Gangneung Ice Arena. Till Sunday Russia had won just a bronze. On the other hand, ice dance stars Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir inspired Canada to the figure skating team title to secure the Winter Games heavyweights' first gold at Pyeongchang 2018 on Monday. Competing in their third Olympics, Virtue and Moir earned a maximum 10 points for their short programme and matched that in the concluding free with an exhilarating four-and-a-half minute performance to the music of Moulin Rouge. 12FEB Figure Skating - Team Event ????Gold CAN???????? ????Silver OAR ????Bronze USA???????? Congratulations.???? pic.twitter.com/I3FL4dWwMG — PyeongChang 2018 (@pyeongchang2018) February 12, 2018 × For defending champions Russia, competing in South Korea as OAR after Russia's state-sponsored doping ban was difficult. The USA team was third.

Winter Olympics: Canada grabs first gold, Russia picks up pace

Things couldn&#39;t get worse for figure skater Yura Min at the Winter Olympics after she suffered a wardrobe malfunction just seconds into her routine.&nbsp;

Min, an American citizen who trains at Novi Ice Arena, had a wardrobe malfunction on Sunday while competing in the figure skating team event for South Korea.

Dancing to the 2017-smash hit Luis Fonsi-Daddy Yankee song &#39;Despasito&#39;, the routine got off to a clean start, but things soon took a turn for the worse.

The 22-year-old wore a low-cut red top when she took to the ice earlier today. A clasp on her dress slipped just seconds into her pairs figure skating routine on Sunday.

Her&nbsp;red dress came off her shoulder as she started her routine with the world watching. She tried to laugh it off and tweeted about the incident: &quot;Despite the wardrobe malfunction, I had an amazing time competing in my home country! I promise to sew myself in for the individual event. ???? I would like to thank the audience for keeping us going until the end. Couldn&#39;t have done it without you guys ❤ #grateful&quot;

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Despite the wardrobe malfunction, I had an amazing time competing in my home country! I promise to sew myself in for the individual event. ???? I would like to thank the audience for keeping us going until the end. Couldn&#39;t have done it without you guys ❤ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/grateful?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#grateful</a> <a href="https://t.co/B8UuRNgRMu">pic.twitter.com/B8UuRNgRMu</a>
&mdash; Yura Min (민유라) (@Yuraxmin) <a href="https://twitter.com/Yuraxmin/status/962586629306122240?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 11, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Oopsie ???? <a href="https://t.co/KP2QlTisCW">pic.twitter.com/KP2QlTisCW</a>
&mdash; Yura Min (민유라) (@Yuraxmin) <a href="https://twitter.com/Yuraxmin/status/962600082120962049?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 11, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Yura was spun around by her partner Alexander Gamelin as they competed in the figure skating team event, although she was seen constantly trying to adjust her top.

It was the first Olympic event and the duo ended up with a score of&nbsp;51.97 points and finished in ninth place. She and Gamelin will compete together again in the individual pairs later this month.

The 22-year-old wore a low-cut red top when she took to the ice earlier today. A clasp on her dress slipped just seconds into her pairs figure skating routine on Sunday

Things couldn't get worse for figure skater Yura Min at the Winter Olympics after she suffered a wardrobe malfunction just seconds into her routine. Min, an American citizen who trains at Novi Ice Arena, had a wardrobe malfunction on Sunday while competing in the figure skating team event for South Korea. Dancing to the 2017-smash hit Luis Fonsi-Daddy Yankee song 'Despasito', the routine got off to a clean start, but things soon took a turn for the worse. The 22-year-old wore a low-cut red top when she took to the ice earlier today. A clasp on her dress slipped just seconds into her pairs figure skating routine on Sunday. Her red dress came off her shoulder as she started her routine with the world watching. She tried to laugh it off and tweeted about the incident: "Despite the wardrobe malfunction, I had an amazing time competing in my home country! I promise to sew myself in for the individual event. ???? I would like to thank the audience for keeping us going until the end. Couldn't have done it without you guys ❤ #grateful" Despite the wardrobe malfunction, I had an amazing time competing in my home country! I promise to sew myself in for the individual event. ???? I would like to thank the audience for keeping us going until the end. Couldn't have done it without you guys ❤ #grateful pic.twitter.com/B8UuRNgRMu — Yura Min (민유라) (@Yuraxmin) February 11, 2018 × Oopsie ???? pic.twitter.com/KP2QlTisCW — Yura Min (민유라) (@Yuraxmin) February 11, 2018 × Yura was spun around by her partner Alexander Gamelin as they competed in the figure skating team event, although she was seen constantly trying to adjust her top. It was the first Olympic event and the duo ended up with a score of 51.97 points and finished in ninth place. She and Gamelin will compete together again in the individual pairs later this month.

Pyeongchang 2018: South Korean figure skater suffers wardrobe malfunction on Olympic debut

Four years ago, American figure skater Mirai Nagasu was heartbroken after being left off the U.S. team for the Sochi Olympics in favour of a woman who ranked lower than she had at a key qualifying event.

But on Monday, the woman whose Japanese immigrant parents run a sushi restaurant and mother hand-sewed her costumes, made skating history by becoming the first American woman - and only the third woman overall - to land the fiendishly difficult triple Axel jump at an Olympics.

Skating a stellar routine in the women&#39;s free skate portion of the team competition, Nagasu began with a clean triple Axel and then went on to nail eight other triple jumps, including a triple flip and triple Salchow combination as she helped America claim bronze.

Clearly overjoyed, the 24-year-old Nagasu, who was skating at her second Olympics, pumped her fists and grinned as she skated off the ice.

&quot;I feel really great,&quot; she said after her performance. &quot;Going into it, I was like a train, get on those tracks and get some speed. To nail it the way I did - and even out of the corner of my eye, I could see my team mates standing in excitement.&quot;

The only other women to land the jump in the Olympics were Japanese skaters Midori Ito and Mao Asada, and Nagasu joked that perhaps her ancestry had played a part.

&quot;Maybe it&#39;s the Japanese genetics - but lucky for me I&#39;m American, so I&#39;ll be the first U.S. lady,&quot; she said after her performance.

She was snubbed for Sochi in 2014 despite finishing third in the U.S. nationals as the selectors handed the Olympic berth to Ashley Wagner, who finished fourth.

&quot;Four years ago I was crying with Adam Rippon because we both didn&#39;t make the team,&quot; she said, referring to the men&#39;s singles skater. &quot;So for both of us to be on the team... is super exciting.&quot;

Nagasu was born to Japanese immigrant parents who run a sushi restaurant in California, where she grew up. Her first name means &#39;future&#39; in Japanese and she reportedly speaks a mixture of Japanese and English at home with her parents.

She began skating at the age of five and idolized two-time Olympic medalist and skater Michelle Kwan. As her career took off, she said it was sometimes difficult to keep going on the income from a restaurant.

HAND-SEWN COSTUMES

&quot;My mom also made a lot of my skating costumes,&quot; Nagasu said on a conference call in January. &quot;She also, like Michelle&#39;s mom, sewed sequins on one by one and I would complain that they were not as shiny as the rocky crystals because we got ours at Target and Michael&#39;s.&quot;

Nagasu says that while in general she turns to comedy and laughter to reduce pressure at big events like the Olympics, overcoming the heartbreak of missing the Sochi team was tough.

&quot;I was very upset for a very long time. But I changed myself and became a better skater,&quot; she told the conference call. &quot;I honestly don&#39;t think that I would have worked as hard on the triple Axel if I didn&#39;t have that time to really contemplate.&quot;

Unfortunately, her parents weren&#39;t there to see her make history. Nagasu has said that her sushi chef father rarely had the chance to see her skate because he almost never closed his restaurant, and now is no different.

&quot;Three weeks is a long time, especially to leave work,&quot; she said. &quot;They&#39;re only coming for the last week but I&#39;m sure they&#39;re home now watching it. I can&#39;t wait to see them.&quot;

Nagasu made skating history by becoming the first American woman — and only the third overall — to land the fiendishly difficult triple Axel jump at an Olympics

Four years ago, American figure skater Mirai Nagasu was heartbroken after being left off the U.S. team for the Sochi Olympics in favour of a woman who ranked lower than she had at a key qualifying event. But on Monday, the woman whose Japanese immigrant parents run a sushi restaurant and mother hand-sewed her costumes, made skating history by becoming the first American woman - and only the third woman overall - to land the fiendishly difficult triple Axel jump at an Olympics. Skating a stellar routine in the women's free skate portion of the team competition, Nagasu began with a clean triple Axel and then went on to nail eight other triple jumps, including a triple flip and triple Salchow combination as she helped America claim bronze. Clearly overjoyed, the 24-year-old Nagasu, who was skating at her second Olympics, pumped her fists and grinned as she skated off the ice. "I feel really great," she said after her performance. "Going into it, I was like a train, get on those tracks and get some speed. To nail it the way I did - and even out of the corner of my eye, I could see my team mates standing in excitement." The only other women to land the jump in the Olympics were Japanese skaters Midori Ito and Mao Asada, and Nagasu joked that perhaps her ancestry had played a part. "Maybe it's the Japanese genetics - but lucky for me I'm American, so I'll be the first U.S. lady," she said after her performance. She was snubbed for Sochi in 2014 despite finishing third in the U.S. nationals as the selectors handed the Olympic berth to Ashley Wagner, who finished fourth. "Four years ago I was crying with Adam Rippon because we both didn't make the team," she said, referring to the men's singles skater. "So for both of us to be on the team... is super exciting." Nagasu was born to Japanese immigrant parents who run a sushi restaurant in California, where she grew up. Her first name means 'future' in Japanese and she reportedly speaks a mixture of Japanese and English at home with her parents. She began skating at the age of five and idolized two-time Olympic medalist and skater Michelle Kwan. As her career took off, she said it was sometimes difficult to keep going on the income from a restaurant. HAND-SEWN COSTUMES "My mom also made a lot of my skating costumes," Nagasu said on a conference call in January. "She also, like Michelle's mom, sewed sequins on one by one and I would complain that they were not as shiny as the rocky crystals because we got ours at Target and Michael's." Nagasu says that while in general she turns to comedy and laughter to reduce pressure at big events like the Olympics, overcoming the heartbreak of missing the Sochi team was tough. "I was very upset for a very long time. But I changed myself and became a better skater," she told the conference call. "I honestly don't think that I would have worked as hard on the triple Axel if I didn't have that time to really contemplate." Unfortunately, her parents weren't there to see her make history. Nagasu has said that her sushi chef father rarely had the chance to see her skate because he almost never closed his restaurant, and now is no different. "Three weeks is a long time, especially to leave work," she said. "They're only coming for the last week but I'm sure they're home now watching it. I can't wait to see them."

Pyeongchang 2018: Triumph after tears as America's Mirai Nagasu makes skating history

North Korea&#39;s band of all-female supporters was unable to inspire the historic joint Korean women&#39;s ice hockey team as they were dumped out of the Pyeongchang Olympics with an 8-0 defeat to Sweden on Monday.

The unified team for the Winter Games in South Korea was the product of a landmark deal between the South and North Korea -- the neighbours still technically at war -- after a year of high tensions over Pyongyang&#39;s nuclear and missile tests.

The home crowd -- seated among them the North Korean cheerleaders -- roared their players as they skated onto the ice in their blue-and-red jerseys, &quot;KOREA&quot; emblazoned over a pale blue silhouette of the peninsula.

The joint team is deeply symbolic, but as a hockey side they were at the Games with little hope of making a serious impression in terms of the competition.

And so it proved as they were hammered 8-0 for the second time in a row, this time to the Swedes, ranked five in the world.

Sweden were 3-0 up in just 10 minutes and the heavy defeat means Korea play Japan on Wednesday in their final match in a deadrubber.

The unified hockey team was hastily assembled only two weeks before the Olympics began -- and it showed in the one-sided losses to Switzerland and now Sweden.&nbsp;

&quot;Adding new players obviously isn&#39;t easy but I think going into this tournament we knew it was going to be tough,&quot; said the joint team&#39;s Canadian coach Sarah Murray.

But even as the home team were being pounded, the 200-strong North Korean cheerleaders in red, blue and white tracksuits chanted, &quot;Cheer up&quot;, clapping and waving mini-unification flags in unison and setting off a Mexican wave.

The unity was interrupted when a four-member South Korean cheering group, in tight white T-shirts and pink shorts, skipped and hopped to Avril Lavigne&#39;s &quot;Girlfriend&quot;.

The North Koreans responded with songs of their own -- mostly old folk numbers, including a ballad longing for one&#39;s home town -- showing a deep cultural divide between the two halves of the divided peninsula.

The Games have triggered a rare moment of reconciliation between the two Koreas.

Only a few months ago, Pyongyang&#39;s missile and nuclear tests and exchanges of threats with Washington were driving tensions sky-high.

But in a whirlwind of Olympic diplomacy, hundreds of North Koreans came South last week to attend the Pyeongchang Games.

And in extraordinary scenes the North Korean leader&#39;s sister Kim Yo Jong cheered the unified team together with the South&#39;s President Moon Jae-in in the defeat on Saturday to Switzerland.

Despite the disappointing consecutive losses local fans at the stadium were more bothered about the significance of the joint team.

&quot;I know we lack skill compared to other teams but I hope they will play with one mind,&quot; said Kim Sang-wook, 62, from Seoul.&nbsp;

Koo Bon-jae, a 20-year-old student from the South Korean capital, added: &quot;I was initially against it but I was touched after seeing them on the ice together.&quot;

Since the division of the peninsula the two Koreas have only competed as unified teams in 1991, when their women won the team gold at the world table tennis championship in Japan, and their under-19 footballers reached the world championship quarter-finals in Portugal.

The unified team for the Winter Games in South Korea was the product of a landmark deal between the South and North Korea -- the neighbours still technically at war -- after a year of high tensions over Pyongyang's nuclear and missile tests

North Korea's band of all-female supporters was unable to inspire the historic joint Korean women's ice hockey team as they were dumped out of the Pyeongchang Olympics with an 8-0 defeat to Sweden on Monday. The unified team for the Winter Games in South Korea was the product of a landmark deal between the South and North Korea -- the neighbours still technically at war -- after a year of high tensions over Pyongyang's nuclear and missile tests. The home crowd -- seated among them the North Korean cheerleaders -- roared their players as they skated onto the ice in their blue-and-red jerseys, "KOREA" emblazoned over a pale blue silhouette of the peninsula. The joint team is deeply symbolic, but as a hockey side they were at the Games with little hope of making a serious impression in terms of the competition. And so it proved as they were hammered 8-0 for the second time in a row, this time to the Swedes, ranked five in the world. Sweden were 3-0 up in just 10 minutes and the heavy defeat means Korea play Japan on Wednesday in their final match in a deadrubber. The unified hockey team was hastily assembled only two weeks before the Olympics began -- and it showed in the one-sided losses to Switzerland and now Sweden. "Adding new players obviously isn't easy but I think going into this tournament we knew it was going to be tough," said the joint team's Canadian coach Sarah Murray. But even as the home team were being pounded, the 200-strong North Korean cheerleaders in red, blue and white tracksuits chanted, "Cheer up", clapping and waving mini-unification flags in unison and setting off a Mexican wave. The unity was interrupted when a four-member South Korean cheering group, in tight white T-shirts and pink shorts, skipped and hopped to Avril Lavigne's "Girlfriend". The North Koreans responded with songs of their own -- mostly old folk numbers, including a ballad longing for one's home town -- showing a deep cultural divide between the two halves of the divided peninsula. The Games have triggered a rare moment of reconciliation between the two Koreas. Only a few months ago, Pyongyang's missile and nuclear tests and exchanges of threats with Washington were driving tensions sky-high. But in a whirlwind of Olympic diplomacy, hundreds of North Koreans came South last week to attend the Pyeongchang Games. And in extraordinary scenes the North Korean leader's sister Kim Yo Jong cheered the unified team together with the South's President Moon Jae-in in the defeat on Saturday to Switzerland. Despite the disappointing consecutive losses local fans at the stadium were more bothered about the significance of the joint team. "I know we lack skill compared to other teams but I hope they will play with one mind," said Kim Sang-wook, 62, from Seoul. Koo Bon-jae, a 20-year-old student from the South Korean capital, added: "I was initially against it but I was touched after seeing them on the ice together." Since the division of the peninsula the two Koreas have only competed as unified teams in 1991, when their women won the team gold at the world table tennis championship in Japan, and their under-19 footballers reached the world championship quarter-finals in Portugal.

Pyeongchang 2018: Olympic hopes over for unified Korean team after 8-0 drubbing

Even as the peace Olympics in Pyeongchang, &nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/photos/kim-yo-jong-meet-the-ivanka-trump-of-north-korea-684">South Korea got underway last week,</a> US defense secretary Jim Mattis said it was &quot;strange&quot; to see that in the midst of the games North Korean leader Kim conducted a military parade.

In a bid to <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/south-koreas-moon-watches-concert-with-kim-jong-uns-sister-32513">further the peace process in the</a> Korean peninsula, North and South Korean athletes entered the Pyeongchang Olympic stadium together to the amazement of the world.

&quot;Clearly it is too early to say... if that is going to have any traction once the Olympics are over,&quot; the US defense secretary said, adding, &quot;in the midst of all of this, he (Kim Jong Un) ran a military parade that highlighted his ballistic missiles.&quot;

However, the US defense secretary wasn&#39;t sure about the exact nature of the North Korean regime and its intentions to take the peace process forward.

&nbsp;&quot;Clearly it is too early to say... if that is going to have any traction once the Olympics are over,&quot; Mattis added. &nbsp;

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un&#39;s sister Kim Yo Jong has been attending the winter games in Pyeongchang, however, top US officials including vice-president Pence avoided meeting the North Korean leader&#39;s sister.

&quot;It is a very strange time if, in fact, he is trying to show a warming to a country that he has attacked repeatedly as an American puppet,&quot; said the US defence chief.

Even as the US kept its distance, South Korean president Moon Jae sat next to Kim&#39;s sister at a concert in Seoul which included musicians from Pyongyang.&nbsp;

Reports said that Yo Jong extended an invite to Moon to visit Pyongyang, however&nbsp;the South Korean government said it hasn&#39;t been officially communicated.

The US defense secretary wasn't sure about the exact nature of the North Korean regime and its intentions

Even as the peace Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea got underway last week, US defense secretary Jim Mattis said it was "strange" to see that in the midst of the games North Korean leader Kim conducted a military parade. In a bid to further the peace process in the Korean peninsula, North and South Korean athletes entered the Pyeongchang Olympic stadium together to the amazement of the world. "Clearly it is too early to say... if that is going to have any traction once the Olympics are over," the US defense secretary said, adding, "in the midst of all of this, he (Kim Jong Un) ran a military parade that highlighted his ballistic missiles." However, the US defense secretary wasn't sure about the exact nature of the North Korean regime and its intentions to take the peace process forward. "Clearly it is too early to say... if that is going to have any traction once the Olympics are over," Mattis added. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's sister Kim Yo Jong has been attending the winter games in Pyeongchang, however, top US officials including vice-president Pence avoided meeting the North Korean leader's sister. "It is a very strange time if, in fact, he is trying to show a warming to a country that he has attacked repeatedly as an American puppet," said the US defence chief. Even as the US kept its distance, South Korean president Moon Jae sat next to Kim's sister at a concert in Seoul which included musicians from Pyongyang. Reports said that Yo Jong extended an invite to Moon to visit Pyongyang, however the South Korean government said it hasn't been officially communicated.

Too early to say Winter Olympics will have any traction: Mattis on North Korea

The Winter Olympics sparked to life in a vivid, colourful ceremony of fire and ice in South Korea on Friday, though the diplomacy was tougher to choreograph in the stadium where leaders from nations that are sworn enemies sat close together.

South Korea, which is using the Pyeongchang Games to break the ice with North Korea, seated its presidential couple alongside US&nbsp;Vice President Mike Pence and his wife, with two of the North&#39;s most senior officials sitting in the row behind.

President Moon Jae-in, who wants to harness the Olympic spirit to pave the way for talks over the North&#39;s weapons programme, warmly shook hands with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un&#39;s smiling sister as well as the North&#39;s nominal head of state.

The South is still technically at war with the North after the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a truce, and the United States and North Korea have recently swapped nuclear threats. Pence vowed only this week to tighten sanctions on the North.

Underlining Moon&#39;s efforts to re-engage with the North, the opening ceremony followed the story line of children wandering through a mythical landscape and discovering a world where people live in peace and harmony.

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach told the crowd that by allowing their athletes to march together under one flag at the ceremony, North and South Korea had shown sport&#39;s &quot;unique power&quot; to unite people.

&quot;All the athletes around me, all the spectators here in the stadium, and all Olympic fans watching around the world ... we are all touched by this wonderful gesture,&quot; he said.

The Olympics have provided some respite from years of tense relations between Seoul and Pyongyang, though just hours before the ceremony hundreds of anti-North Korean protesters scuffled with riot police outside the stadium, burning North Korean flags and pictures of its leader, Kim Jong Un.

South Korea&#39;s frigid February, where temperatures have plummeted to minus 20 degrees Celsius (-4 Fahrenheit) at night, has come as a shock to the system for athletes and visitors alike in the leadup to these Games, prompting concerns about hypothermia at the opening ceremony.

The weather was a little milder than feared on Friday, but spectators still huddled near heaters, holding hot packs and slurping down steaming fishcake soup to ward off the chills.

Bundled up in a scarf, mask and knitted hat, with hot packs tucked into her knee blanket, office worker Shin Hye-sook said she and her three colleagues were coping with the cold.

&quot;We&#39;re sitting as close as we can and trying not to move a lot to save our energy,&quot; said the 60-year-old.

Long wait finally over

Pyeongchang has waited a long time for this moment.

The alpine town first bid for the 2010 Games but narrowly lost out to Vancouver, and suffered similar heartbreak when it was beaten to the 2014 Olympics by Sochi.

After announcing its arrival on the international stage by hosting the 1988 Seoul Olympics, South Korea now wants to show the world just how far it has come over the last 30 years with a Games showcasing its culture and technological prowess.

According to Olympic tradition, the Greek contingent headed the parade of athletes into the open-air stadium, followed by the other delegations in order according to the Korean alphabet.

Pence stood to welcome the U.S. athletes as the Korean pop hit Gangnam Style blared around the stadium, sparking the &#39;Horse Dance&#39; in the crowd and among the volunteers.

The moment failed to elicit even a smile from the two senior North Korean officials in the VIPs box, however, as they sat stony-faced in black fluffy hats and long coats.

Elsewhere in the stadium, a Kim Jong Un impersonator was not made as welcome as the North Koreans in the VIP box and was ejected by security. &quot;Well is my sister getting the same treatment?&quot; he demanded to know.

As the athletes made their way around the track, one of the biggest cheers was reserved for muscle-bound Tongan Pita Taufatofua, who repeated his famed Rio Games entrance by marching in shirtless, oiled up and wearing a traditional skirt -- this time in sub-zero temperatures.

Later, the crowd erupted as athletes from North and South Korea marched together under the unification flag for the first time at an Olympics since 2006.

&quot;It was incredible,&quot; spectator Eim Young-joo said.

North Korean cheerleaders greeted the athletes by waving a controversial version of the flag depicting disputed islands known as Dokdo in Korean and Takeshima in Japanese.

Japanese Foreign Ministry spokesman Norio Maruyama said he had not seen the flag so he did not want to comment.

As the ceremony neared an end, the Olympic flame was carried by a succession of Korean sporting heroes including 2016 Rio Games golf champion Park In-bee and soccer player Ahn Jung-hwan, who scored the winning goal against Italy at the 2002 World Cup.

It finally found its way to figure skating star Kim Yuna, who won gold at the 2010 Vancouver Games and silver in Sochi four years later.

Kim, who travelled the world as a Games ambassador in the run-up to Pyeongchang, performed a short skating routine before sending flames shooting up to light the cauldron.

The Winter Olympics sparked to life in a vivid, colourful ceremony of fire and ice in South Korea on Friday

The Winter Olympics sparked to life in a vivid, colourful ceremony of fire and ice in South Korea on Friday, though the diplomacy was tougher to choreograph in the stadium where leaders from nations that are sworn enemies sat close together. South Korea, which is using the Pyeongchang Games to break the ice with North Korea, seated its presidential couple alongside US Vice President Mike Pence and his wife, with two of the North's most senior officials sitting in the row behind. President Moon Jae-in, who wants to harness the Olympic spirit to pave the way for talks over the North's weapons programme, warmly shook hands with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's smiling sister as well as the North's nominal head of state. The South is still technically at war with the North after the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a truce, and the United States and North Korea have recently swapped nuclear threats. Pence vowed only this week to tighten sanctions on the North. Underlining Moon's efforts to re-engage with the North, the opening ceremony followed the story line of children wandering through a mythical landscape and discovering a world where people live in peace and harmony. International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach told the crowd that by allowing their athletes to march together under one flag at the ceremony, North and South Korea had shown sport's "unique power" to unite people. "All the athletes around me, all the spectators here in the stadium, and all Olympic fans watching around the world ... we are all touched by this wonderful gesture," he said. The Olympics have provided some respite from years of tense relations between Seoul and Pyongyang, though just hours before the ceremony hundreds of anti-North Korean protesters scuffled with riot police outside the stadium, burning North Korean flags and pictures of its leader, Kim Jong Un. South Korea's frigid February, where temperatures have plummeted to minus 20 degrees Celsius (-4 Fahrenheit) at night, has come as a shock to the system for athletes and visitors alike in the leadup to these Games, prompting concerns about hypothermia at the opening ceremony. The weather was a little milder than feared on Friday, but spectators still huddled near heaters, holding hot packs and slurping down steaming fishcake soup to ward off the chills. Bundled up in a scarf, mask and knitted hat, with hot packs tucked into her knee blanket, office worker Shin Hye-sook said she and her three colleagues were coping with the cold. "We're sitting as close as we can and trying not to move a lot to save our energy," said the 60-year-old. Long wait finally over Pyeongchang has waited a long time for this moment. The alpine town first bid for the 2010 Games but narrowly lost out to Vancouver, and suffered similar heartbreak when it was beaten to the 2014 Olympics by Sochi. After announcing its arrival on the international stage by hosting the 1988 Seoul Olympics, South Korea now wants to show the world just how far it has come over the last 30 years with a Games showcasing its culture and technological prowess. According to Olympic tradition, the Greek contingent headed the parade of athletes into the open-air stadium, followed by the other delegations in order according to the Korean alphabet. Pence stood to welcome the U.S. athletes as the Korean pop hit Gangnam Style blared around the stadium, sparking the 'Horse Dance' in the crowd and among the volunteers. The moment failed to elicit even a smile from the two senior North Korean officials in the VIPs box, however, as they sat stony-faced in black fluffy hats and long coats. Elsewhere in the stadium, a Kim Jong Un impersonator was not made as welcome as the North Koreans in the VIP box and was ejected by security. "Well is my sister getting the same treatment?" he demanded to know. As the athletes made their way around the track, one of the biggest cheers was reserved for muscle-bound Tongan Pita Taufatofua, who repeated his famed Rio Games entrance by marching in shirtless, oiled up and wearing a traditional skirt -- this time in sub-zero temperatures. Later, the crowd erupted as athletes from North and South Korea marched together under the unification flag for the first time at an Olympics since 2006. "It was incredible," spectator Eim Young-joo said. North Korean cheerleaders greeted the athletes by waving a controversial version of the flag depicting disputed islands known as Dokdo in Korean and Takeshima in Japanese. Japanese Foreign Ministry spokesman Norio Maruyama said he had not seen the flag so he did not want to comment. As the ceremony neared an end, the Olympic flame was carried by a succession of Korean sporting heroes including 2016 Rio Games golf champion Park In-bee and soccer player Ahn Jung-hwan, who scored the winning goal against Italy at the 2002 World Cup. It finally found its way to figure skating star Kim Yuna, who won gold at the 2010 Vancouver Games and silver in Sochi four years later. Kim, who travelled the world as a Games ambassador in the run-up to Pyeongchang, performed a short skating routine before sending flames shooting up to light the cauldron.

Olympics: Awkward diplomacy on show as 'peace' Games begin

Indian luger Shiva Keshavan has made his final appearance at the 23rd Winter Games as his Olympic journey comes to an end at the Pyeongchang Games this weekend with a familiar lament about the country&#39;s winter sports apathy.

He will compete in his sixth consecutive Games at the Olympic Sliding Centre.

India&#39;s flag bearer at Winter Olympics shared his view exclusively to WION.

&quot;We have made only marginal steps forward as far as Winter Sports are concerned. It&#39;s little unfortunate because the talent is there but you have to invest in the talent because it&#39;s a very competitive field internationally.&quot;

&quot;Sports is lots more than just a competition. It has a big role in society diplomacy and even in ideals and principles. Koreas marching together is a huge step towards diplomacy.&quot;

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Luger Shiva Keshavan carries India&#39;s flag at the opening ceremony of 23rd Winter Games. (Reuters)
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There will be few compatriots to wish him well in the preliminary runs on Saturday, with cross-country skier Jagdish Singh the only other athlete to qualify from the country of 1.25 billion.

He was the nation&#39;s sole athlete at the 1998 and 2002 Games and has never had more than a handful of teammates since.

Four years ago at Sochi, he was unable to compete under his country&#39;s flag due to an IOC ban of the Indian Olympic Association for electing corruption-tainted officials.

The ban was lifted during the Games after the Association held another election but not until after Keshavan&#39;s event.

&quot;It&#39;s hard to give up the sports lifestyle and the Olympic movement, I love it and what it stands for,&quot; he said on Friday.

&quot;But I&#39;m sure I&#39;ll stay involved in the sport because I want to build it up in India now and focus on that.&quot;

Keshavan will carry India&#39;s flag for the fifth time in the opening ceremony.

&quot;It&#39;s part of the bigger problem, let&#39;s say, for sports, and especially winter sports, in India, and it&#39;s why I think it&#39;s time for me to take a step back as an athlete and go and give a much-needed push, because there is no reason why we should not be having a big team and not doing well,&quot; said Keshavan.

Since debuting at the 1964 Games, India has never come close to claiming a Winter Games medal and are unlikely to break the drought in Pyeongchang.

&quot;We have the natural resources, we&#39;re not a poor country, we have a big enough talent pool and there&#39;s a lot of passion as well but something is missing,&quot; Keshavan added.

&quot;We don&#39;t have the culture or the tradition of winter sports so I think I can fill in that role a little bit.&quot;

&nbsp;

Luger Shiva Keshavan carried the Indian flag for the 5th time at 23rd Winter Games, watch his exclusive interview with WION

Indian luger Shiva Keshavan has made his final appearance at the 23rd Winter Games as his Olympic journey comes to an end at the Pyeongchang Games this weekend with a familiar lament about the country's winter sports apathy. He will compete in his sixth consecutive Games at the Olympic Sliding Centre. India's flag bearer at Winter Olympics shared his view exclusively to WION. "We have made only marginal steps forward as far as Winter Sports are concerned. It's little unfortunate because the talent is there but you have to invest in the talent because it's a very competitive field internationally." "Sports is lots more than just a competition. It has a big role in society diplomacy and even in ideals and principles. Koreas marching together is a huge step towards diplomacy." Luger Shiva Keshavan carries India's flag at the opening ceremony of 23rd Winter Games. (Reuters) × There will be few compatriots to wish him well in the preliminary runs on Saturday, with cross-country skier Jagdish Singh the only other athlete to qualify from the country of 1.25 billion. He was the nation's sole athlete at the 1998 and 2002 Games and has never had more than a handful of teammates since. Four years ago at Sochi, he was unable to compete under his country's flag due to an IOC ban of the Indian Olympic Association for electing corruption-tainted officials. The ban was lifted during the Games after the Association held another election but not until after Keshavan's event. "It's hard to give up the sports lifestyle and the Olympic movement, I love it and what it stands for," he said on Friday. "But I'm sure I'll stay involved in the sport because I want to build it up in India now and focus on that." Keshavan will carry India's flag for the fifth time in the opening ceremony. "It's part of the bigger problem, let's say, for sports, and especially winter sports, in India, and it's why I think it's time for me to take a step back as an athlete and go and give a much-needed push, because there is no reason why we should not be having a big team and not doing well," said Keshavan. Since debuting at the 1964 Games, India has never come close to claiming a Winter Games medal and are unlikely to break the drought in Pyeongchang. "We have the natural resources, we're not a poor country, we have a big enough talent pool and there's a lot of passion as well but something is missing," Keshavan added. "We don't have the culture or the tradition of winter sports so I think I can fill in that role a little bit."

Watch: Shiva Keshavan marks last appearance at Winter Olympics

The Winter Olympics got underway on Friday and the first gold has been decided.

Sweden&#39;s Charlotte Kalla claimed the first gold of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.

Kalla won the women&#39;s skiathlon cross country race ahead of Norway&#39;s Marit Bjoergen, preventing her from collecting an unprecedented third straight gold medal in the event.

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10FEB Cross-Country Skiing Ladies&#39; 7.5km + 7.5km Skiathlon 
101 크로스컨트리 스키 &ndash; 여자 7.5km + 7.5km 스키애슬론 
 
Gold???? KALLA Charlotte / SWE ???????? 
Silver???? BJOERGEN Marit / NOR???????? 
Bronze???? PARMAKOSKI Krista / FIN???????? 
 
Congratulations!축하합니다!???? <a href="https://t.co/SLA4NLuEmx">pic.twitter.com/SLA4NLuEmx</a>
&mdash; PyeongChang 2018 (@pyeongchang2018) <a href="https://twitter.com/pyeongchang2018/status/962239601493475330?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 10, 2018</a></blockquote>
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But Bjoergen still became the most decorated woman in Winter Olympics history as she claimed her 11th medal. Third came Finland&#39;s Krista Parmakoski.&nbsp;

Gold medals will also be decided Saturday in speed skating, short-track speed skating, ski jumping and biathlon.

&nbsp;

Charlotte Kalla won the women's skiathlon cross country race ahead of Norway's Marit Bjoergen

The Winter Olympics got underway on Friday and the first gold has been decided. Sweden's Charlotte Kalla claimed the first gold of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. Kalla won the women's skiathlon cross country race ahead of Norway's Marit Bjoergen, preventing her from collecting an unprecedented third straight gold medal in the event. 10FEB Cross-Country Skiing Ladies' 7.5km + 7.5km Skiathlon 101 크로스컨트리 스키 – 여자 7.5km + 7.5km 스키애슬론 Gold???? KALLA Charlotte / SWE ???????? Silver???? BJOERGEN Marit / NOR???????? Bronze???? PARMAKOSKI Krista / FIN???????? Congratulations!축하합니다!???? pic.twitter.com/SLA4NLuEmx — PyeongChang 2018 (@pyeongchang2018) February 10, 2018 × But Bjoergen still became the most decorated woman in Winter Olympics history as she claimed her 11th medal. Third came Finland's Krista Parmakoski. Gold medals will also be decided Saturday in speed skating, short-track speed skating, ski jumping and biathlon.

Sweden's Kalla Charlotte wins first gold medal of Winter Olympics

The Winter Olympics has started, fans are encouraging their country and favourite athletes.

The theme of this years Olympics is unity and peace and even the opening ceremony was marked by a show of unity between North and South Korea.

But unfortunately, people dressed up as U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at the Olympic Games Opening Ceremony on Friday were swiftly being shown out by security staff.

The &#39;fakes&#39;&nbsp;caused a commotion when they appeared in the stands during the Opening Ceremony.

&quot;We&#39;re getting along great,&quot; said the Kim lookalike, who declined to give his name.

&quot;We wanted to surprise everyone and bring world peace and then we&#39;re being escorted out by security guards, which I think is really unfair,&quot; he added. &quot;Doesn&#39;t everyone want peace?&quot;

Athletes from both countries entered the arena under a flag depicting a unified Korea as American Vice President Mike Pence and Kim&#39;s sister, Kim Yo Jong, watched on from a VIP box.

&quot;Is my sister getting the same treatment? &quot; the Kim lookalike said as he was escorted out of the stadium.

&nbsp;

Two people dressed up as U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at the Olympic Games Opening Ceremony on Friday were swiftly being shown out by security staff

The Winter Olympics has started, fans are encouraging their country and favourite athletes. The theme of this years Olympics is unity and peace and even the opening ceremony was marked by a show of unity between North and South Korea. But unfortunately, people dressed up as U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at the Olympic Games Opening Ceremony on Friday were swiftly being shown out by security staff. The 'fakes' caused a commotion when they appeared in the stands during the Opening Ceremony. "We're getting along great," said the Kim lookalike, who declined to give his name. "We wanted to surprise everyone and bring world peace and then we're being escorted out by security guards, which I think is really unfair," he added. "Doesn't everyone want peace?" Athletes from both countries entered the arena under a flag depicting a unified Korea as American Vice President Mike Pence and Kim's sister, Kim Yo Jong, watched on from a VIP box. "Is my sister getting the same treatment? " the Kim lookalike said as he was escorted out of the stadium.

'Trump' and 'Kim' appeared at opening ceremony of Winter Olympics

Google Doodle celebrated Winter Olympics which kicked off in Pyeongchang, South Korea on Friday.

Saturday&#39;s doodle features&nbsp;a turtle winning race at number one spot; the turtle is considered to be a symbol of good luck and divinity in South Korean culture.

Turtle doodle is the second doodle of the series of 17 google doodles for each day of the Olympics.

Friday&#39;s doodle has magpie sitting on google logo covered in ice; the magpie bird also is a good luck symbol.

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The magpie bird is also a good luck symbol. (Others)
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These doodles will be running from February 9 to February 25.

The 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang officially commenced on Friday.

More than 2,000 athletes representing 92 counties are participating in the event.&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

Saturday's doodle features a turtle winning race at number one spot; the turtle is considered to be a symbol of good luck and divinity in South Korean culture

Google Doodle celebrated Winter Olympics which kicked off in Pyeongchang, South Korea on Friday. Saturday's doodle features a turtle winning race at number one spot; the turtle is considered to be a symbol of good luck and divinity in South Korean culture. Turtle doodle is the second doodle of the series of 17 google doodles for each day of the Olympics. Friday's doodle has magpie sitting on google logo covered in ice; the magpie bird also is a good luck symbol. The magpie bird is also a good luck symbol. (Others) × These doodles will be running from February 9 to February 25. The 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang officially commenced on Friday. More than 2,000 athletes representing 92 counties are participating in the event.

Google Doodle: Second-day doodle features another lucky symbol of Korea

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/prime-minister-narendra-modi-in-palestine-all-you-need-to-know-32379">Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Palestine: All you need to know</a>

Prime Minister Narendra Modi&#39;s first engagement after arriving in Ramallah on Saturday morning will be to lay a wreath at the Mausoleum of Late President Yasser Arafat.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-blocks-release-of-russia-memo-drafted-by-democrats-32375">Trump blocks release of Russia memo drafted by Democrats</a>

US President Donald Trump on Friday blocked the release of a classified memo written by congressional Democrats to rebut a Republican document that he allowed to be made public last week that claimed FBI and Justice Department bias against him in the federal probe of Russia and the 2016 U.S. election.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/terrorist-attack-sunjwan-army-camp-in-jammu-and-kashmir-2-injured-32376">2 injured in </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/terrorist-attack-sunjwan-army-camp-in-jammu-and-kashmir-2-injured-32376">terrorist</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/terrorist-attack-sunjwan-army-camp-in-jammu-and-kashmir-2-injured-32376"> attack at Sunjwan Army camp in Jammu and Kashmir</a>

Terrorist attacked Sunjwan Army camp in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday morning. According to Army sources, gunshots were heard early in morning around 4:55 inside Army camp. Two people have sustained injuries in the ongoing operations, according to news agency ANI.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/olympics-awkward-diplomacy-on-show-as-peace-games-begin-32370">Olympics: Awkward diplomacy on show as &#39;peace&#39; Games begin</a>

The Winter Olympics sparked to life in a vivid, colourful ceremony of fire and ice in South Korea on Friday, though the diplomacy was tougher to choreograph in the stadium where leaders from nations that are sworn enemies sat close together.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-wishes-disgraced-aide-well-after-domestic-abuse-allegations-32378">Trump wishes disgraced aide well after domestic abuse allegations</a>

President Donald Trump on Friday praised White House aide Rob Porter, who resigned this week after allegations that he abused two former wives, and stressed that Porter has maintained his innocence.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Palestine: All you need to know Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first engagement after arriving in Ramallah on Saturday morning will be to lay a wreath at the Mausoleum of Late President Yasser Arafat. Trump blocks release of Russia memo drafted by Democrats US President Donald Trump on Friday blocked the release of a classified memo written by congressional Democrats to rebut a Republican document that he allowed to be made public last week that claimed FBI and Justice Department bias against him in the federal probe of Russia and the 2016 U.S. election. 2 injured in terrorist attack at Sunjwan Army camp in Jammu and Kashmir Terrorist attacked Sunjwan Army camp in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday morning. According to Army sources, gunshots were heard early in morning around 4:55 inside Army camp. Two people have sustained injuries in the ongoing operations, according to news agency ANI. Olympics: Awkward diplomacy on show as 'peace' Games begin The Winter Olympics sparked to life in a vivid, colourful ceremony of fire and ice in South Korea on Friday, though the diplomacy was tougher to choreograph in the stadium where leaders from nations that are sworn enemies sat close together. Trump wishes disgraced aide well after domestic abuse allegations President Donald Trump on Friday praised White House aide Rob Porter, who resigned this week after allegations that he abused two former wives, and stressed that Porter has maintained his innocence.

WION Morning News Brief, February 10, 2018

The ice hockey was one of the key&nbsp;events of 23rd Winter Games as for the first time in history joint Korean team was supposed to appear at Olympics.

The first combined Korean team in Olympic history suffered a resounding 8-0 defeat to Switzerland in women&#39;s ice hockey at the Pyeongchang Winter Games on Saturday.

Watched by a high-level North Korean delegation and South Korean President Moon Jae-in -- and a North Korean cheerleading squad -- the team was no match for the Swiss.

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The cheers from the crowed lighted up the atmosphere at the Women&rsquo;s Ice Hockey Game between Team Corea and Switzerland! ????????코리아 팀의 아이스하키 경기에 펼쳐진 열띤 응원전이 펼쳐졌습니다!응원에 힘입어 멋진 경기를 펼치는 선수들! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%EC%BD%94%EB%A6%AC%EC%95%84?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#코리아</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%ED%99%94%EC%9D%B4%ED%8C%85?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#화이팅</a>!????<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PyeongChang2018?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PyeongChang2018</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/pyeongChang?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#pyeongChang</a> <a href="https://t.co/dcFdYi5qa5">pic.twitter.com/dcFdYi5qa5</a>
&mdash; PyeongChang 2018 (@pyeongchang2018) <a href="https://twitter.com/pyeongchang2018/status/962322626310848517?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 10, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Alina Muller scored four while Phoebe Staenz and Lara Stalder both struck twice to rout the Korean team, who had only played together once before and looked out of their depth.

The Koreas also play Japan and Sweden in Group B. It was the first time the Koreas, who marched together at Friday&#39;s opening ceremony, have competed side-by-side at an Olympics.

&nbsp;

The first combined Korean team in Olympic history suffered a resounding 8-0 defeat to Switzerland in women's ice hockey

The ice hockey was one of the key events of 23rd Winter Games as for the first time in history joint Korean team was supposed to appear at Olympics. The first combined Korean team in Olympic history suffered a resounding 8-0 defeat to Switzerland in women's ice hockey at the Pyeongchang Winter Games on Saturday. Watched by a high-level North Korean delegation and South Korean President Moon Jae-in -- and a North Korean cheerleading squad -- the team was no match for the Swiss. The cheers from the crowed lighted up the atmosphere at the Women’s Ice Hockey Game between Team Corea and Switzerland! ????????코리아 팀의 아이스하키 경기에 펼쳐진 열띤 응원전이 펼쳐졌습니다!응원에 힘입어 멋진 경기를 펼치는 선수들! #코리아 #화이팅!????#PyeongChang2018 #pyeongChang pic.twitter.com/dcFdYi5qa5 — PyeongChang 2018 (@pyeongchang2018) February 10, 2018 × Alina Muller scored four while Phoebe Staenz and Lara Stalder both struck twice to rout the Korean team, who had only played together once before and looked out of their depth. The Koreas also play Japan and Sweden in Group B. It was the first time the Koreas, who marched together at Friday's opening ceremony, have competed side-by-side at an Olympics.

Switzerland trounces unified Korean ice hockey team

Pyeongchang Winter Olympics organisers said on Saturday that 11 new cases of a virus that causes vomiting and diarrhoea had been confirmed at the Games, bringing the total to 139.

The number of new norovirus cases is a steep drop-off from the 42 new cases confirmed on Thursday and 54 a day earlier.

The virus had broken out in the leadup to Friday`s opening ceremony in Pyeongchang and led to some 1,200 security staff being quarantined. Organisers had to call in military personnel to replace them. 
 
As yet, no athletes have been confirmed to have contracted the highly contagious virus. An outbreak at last year`s World Athletics Championship in London forced competitors from several countries to miss events.

POCOG said several agencies were cooperating to stifle the outbreak, with water quality being tested and inspections taking place at venues, restaurants, hotels and worker accommodation.

The number of new norovirus cases is a steep drop-off from the 42 new cases confirmed on Thursday and 54 a day earlier

Pyeongchang Winter Olympics organisers said on Saturday that 11 new cases of a virus that causes vomiting and diarrhoea had been confirmed at the Games, bringing the total to 139. The number of new norovirus cases is a steep drop-off from the 42 new cases confirmed on Thursday and 54 a day earlier. The virus had broken out in the leadup to Friday`s opening ceremony in Pyeongchang and led to some 1,200 security staff being quarantined. Organisers had to call in military personnel to replace them. As yet, no athletes have been confirmed to have contracted the highly contagious virus. An outbreak at last year`s World Athletics Championship in London forced competitors from several countries to miss events. POCOG said several agencies were cooperating to stifle the outbreak, with water quality being tested and inspections taking place at venues, restaurants, hotels and worker accommodation.

Olympics: Norovirus outbreak tapers off as Games get underway

When North Korea&rsquo;s Samjiyon Band took to the stage on the first night of the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, the 800-strong audience may have expected the orchestra to perform a repertoire designed to extol the virtues of life in the People&rsquo;s Republic. Perhaps they would start with No Motherland Without You, a well-known standard about the country&rsquo;s former leader, Kim Jong-il? Or something about the current incumbent: He&rsquo;s Our Comrade Kim Jong-un being the obvious choice.

But instead of musical agitprop, the 140-member band &ndash; comprising an orchestra and a troupe of highly choreographed dancers &ndash; kicked off their 90-minute performance with the North Korean pop song Glad To Meet You &ndash; a catchy tune familiar to many in the South. From there it was a mix of traditional Korean tunes, some 1980s South Korean pop, and a bit of Western classical music thrown in for good measure.

The Samjiyon Band is a well-known fixture on North Korea&rsquo;s cultural scene. It is part of the larger Mansudae Art Troupe, formed in 1969, and is reputed to be a particular favourite of Kim Jong-un.

The group is not a conventional symphony orchestra, notwithstanding that it uses many of the same forces. Familiar string, wind and brass instruments abound, but they are frequently combined with synthesizers, drum kits, saxophones and electric guitars, to produce a &ldquo;classical crossover&rdquo; sound that mixes classical music, arrangements of traditional Korean songs and, unsurprisingly, lashings of patriotic propaganda music.

Korean girl power?

The YouTube videos uploaded by North Korean state media, the matching and fashionable costumes, the saccharine musical arrangements, the garish colours and soft-focus camerawork, all serve to underpin a distinctively middle-of-the-road musical orientation, of the kind that James Last or Bert Kaempfert might have produced had they been secretly smuggled to North Korea in the 1970s.

The orchestra frequently supports small groups of female soloists, who display particular technical competence alongside their slightly revealing &ndash; by North Korean standards &ndash; costumes.

The stage layout of the orchestra further emphasises the display of femininity for the male gaze. Whereas symphony orchestras generally use a loosely semi-circular stage layout with the conductor at the centre, the Samjiyon Band puts the string players &ndash; comprised mainly of young woman, attractively dressed &ndash; in a line at the front, with the winds and brass &ndash; largely comprised of men &ndash; in lines behind them.

The gendering of the musical instruments is stark, even more so than in Euro-American contexts, and the stage layout deliberately forefronts the women, perhaps particularly for the one male gaze it must especially satisfy, that of Kim Jon-un. And for all the female emancipation seemingly on display, the conductor of the orchestra is, as ever, male.

It is easy to mock this obvious display of patriarchal control over collections of female bodies for musical ends, but similar cases are easily found in the West. For example, groups of female musicians were widespread in the vaudeville and dance band era.

Groups such as The Ingenues, an all-girl band based in Chicago in the 1920s and 1930s, were similarly skilled multi-instrumentalists whose curiosity value arose in part from their femininity. And like the Samjiyon Band, notwithstanding the prominence of the female performers, it was the men behind the scenes who were calling the shots, particularly their agent and manager, William Morris.

There are also more contemporary resonances. One YouTube clip of the Samjiyon Band shows several of the soloists performing on electric string instruments, thus replicating the same mix of feminine allure, classical/popular music crossover and modern music technology as today&rsquo;s more familiar Bond Quartet.

<figure><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ByJpWubSsCI?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" width="440"></iframe></figure>

There are also many differences with these comparisons &ndash; the main one being that, while groups such as The Ingenues and Bond Quartet are undoubtedly musically skilled, they are also at the service of a music industry whose primary motivation is to increase the profits for its corporate shareholders. Musical quality may be important, but only inasmuch as it can be used to underpin financial success.

Sell-out performance

The Samjiyon Band is certainly popular. The online lottery to buy tickets for its South Korean concerts was heavily oversubscribed. And their popularity with North Korea&rsquo;s ruling elite is especially evident &ndash; another resonance with symphony orchestras in the West. But the group&rsquo;s principal function is surely to portray the ideological glories of the North Korean state.

This seems a particular aspect of totalitarian regimes. Following the demise of the Berlin Wall and the Iron Curtain, we perhaps forget how widespread this state manipulation of both classical and folk music used to be among similar regimes in Eastern Europe. The longstanding Soviet support for the USSR State Symphony Orchestra &ndash; now officially the State Academic Symphony Orchestra &ldquo;Evgeny Svetlanov&rdquo; &ndash; provides one well-known example. The manipulation for political ends of Romanian folk music ensembles by the dictator Nicolae Ceausescu provides another. There are many more.

Music, sex and politics: a heady brew. But not one that is unique to North Korea, nor to the personality cult surrounding Kim Jong-un.

&nbsp;

This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" rel="nofollow" target="blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/glad-to-meet-you-north-koreas-pop-orchestra-warms-hearts-in-the-south-91499" rel="nofollow" target="blank">original article</a>.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;

North Korea’s Samjiyon Band gave a surprisingly different kind of performance at the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympic.

When North Korea’s Samjiyon Band took to the stage on the first night of the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, the 800-strong audience may have expected the orchestra to perform a repertoire designed to extol the virtues of life in the People’s Republic. Perhaps they would start with No Motherland Without You, a well-known standard about the country’s former leader, Kim Jong-il? Or something about the current incumbent: He’s Our Comrade Kim Jong-un being the obvious choice. But instead of musical agitprop, the 140-member band – comprising an orchestra and a troupe of highly choreographed dancers – kicked off their 90-minute performance with the North Korean pop song Glad To Meet You – a catchy tune familiar to many in the South. From there it was a mix of traditional Korean tunes, some 1980s South Korean pop, and a bit of Western classical music thrown in for good measure. The Samjiyon Band is a well-known fixture on North Korea’s cultural scene. It is part of the larger Mansudae Art Troupe, formed in 1969, and is reputed to be a particular favourite of Kim Jong-un. The group is not a conventional symphony orchestra, notwithstanding that it uses many of the same forces. Familiar string, wind and brass instruments abound, but they are frequently combined with synthesizers, drum kits, saxophones and electric guitars, to produce a “classical crossover” sound that mixes classical music, arrangements of traditional Korean songs and, unsurprisingly, lashings of patriotic propaganda music. Korean girl power? The YouTube videos uploaded by North Korean state media, the matching and fashionable costumes, the saccharine musical arrangements, the garish colours and soft-focus camerawork, all serve to underpin a distinctively middle-of-the-road musical orientation, of the kind that James Last or Bert Kaempfert might have produced had they been secretly smuggled to North Korea in the 1970s. The orchestra frequently supports small groups of female soloists, who display particular technical competence alongside their slightly revealing – by North Korean standards – costumes. The stage layout of the orchestra further emphasises the display of femininity for the male gaze. Whereas symphony orchestras generally use a loosely semi-circular stage layout with the conductor at the centre, the Samjiyon Band puts the string players – comprised mainly of young woman, attractively dressed – in a line at the front, with the winds and brass – largely comprised of men – in lines behind them. The gendering of the musical instruments is stark, even more so than in Euro-American contexts, and the stage layout deliberately forefronts the women, perhaps particularly for the one male gaze it must especially satisfy, that of Kim Jon-un. And for all the female emancipation seemingly on display, the conductor of the orchestra is, as ever, male. It is easy to mock this obvious display of patriarchal control over collections of female bodies for musical ends, but similar cases are easily found in the West. For example, groups of female musicians were widespread in the vaudeville and dance band era. Groups such as The Ingenues, an all-girl band based in Chicago in the 1920s and 1930s, were similarly skilled multi-instrumentalists whose curiosity value arose in part from their femininity. And like the Samjiyon Band, notwithstanding the prominence of the female performers, it was the men behind the scenes who were calling the shots, particularly their agent and manager, William Morris. There are also more contemporary resonances. One YouTube clip of the Samjiyon Band shows several of the soloists performing on electric string instruments, thus replicating the same mix of feminine allure, classical/popular music crossover and modern music technology as today’s more familiar Bond Quartet. There are also many differences with these comparisons – the main one being that, while groups such as The Ingenues and Bond Quartet are undoubtedly musically skilled, they are also at the service of a music industry whose primary motivation is to increase the profits for its corporate shareholders. Musical quality may be important, but only inasmuch as it can be used to underpin financial success. Sell-out performance The Samjiyon Band is certainly popular. The online lottery to buy tickets for its South Korean concerts was heavily oversubscribed. And their popularity with North Korea’s ruling elite is especially evident – another resonance with symphony orchestras in the West. But the group’s principal function is surely to portray the ideological glories of the North Korean state. This seems a particular aspect of totalitarian regimes. Following the demise of the Berlin Wall and the Iron Curtain, we perhaps forget how widespread this state manipulation of both classical and folk music used to be among similar regimes in Eastern Europe. The longstanding Soviet support for the USSR State Symphony Orchestra – now officially the State Academic Symphony Orchestra “Evgeny Svetlanov” – provides one well-known example. The manipulation for political ends of Romanian folk music ensembles by the dictator Nicolae Ceausescu provides another. There are many more. Music, sex and politics: a heady brew. But not one that is unique to North Korea, nor to the personality cult surrounding Kim Jong-un. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Music, sex and politics at Winter Olympics

When the International Olympic Committee (IOC) <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2011/jul/06/ioc-pyeongchang-2018-winter-olympics">announced</a> that PyeongChang would host the 2018 Winter Olympic Games, most people outside of South Korea had probably never heard of it, let alone knew that the eastern part of the country had snow and mountains.

The shift in the type of place capable of hosting such a mega sporting event demonstrated how much the Winter Olympics has grown &ndash; but this change also brought with it a set of problems unforseen when the event began in 1924.

Figure skating first appeared on the Olympic programme in 1908, and ice hockey in 1920, but these events were part of the summer games. The first Winter Olympics took place in the French Alpine village of Chamonix in 1924. The organisers of the Paris Olympics that year wanted to offer an International Sports Week at the beginning of the year with solely winter sports as an experiment. Only after its success did the IOC decide to call the Chamonix event the Winter Olympics.

<figure><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GNkQMvuEIEA?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" width="440"></iframe></figure>

&nbsp;

The first few Winter Olympics took place in ski resort towns known to winter sport enthusiasts: St. Moritz, Switzerland in 1928, Lake Placid, US in 1932 and Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany in 1936. In the 1930s the US and Germany hosted both the Summer and Winter Olympics because the IOC allowed the country which won the right to host the summer games to decide whether they wanted to organise the winter ones too. If they did not &ndash; or could not in the case of the Netherlands in 1928 &ndash; then the IOC opened up the bidding to other countries.

The Winter Olympics has always been significantly smaller than its summer counterpart in terms of the number of sports contested and number of countries competing. Just over 250 athletes competed in Chamonix, and it took until the 1964 games in Innsbruck, Austria, for more than 1,000 athletes to compete. Fewer than 3,000 athletes competed in Sochi in 2014, whereas more than 11,000 athletes competed in the 2016 Rio Olympics.

No more village ski resorts

Although still significantly smaller than the summer event, the growth of the Winter Olympics to include 102 events across 15 sports at PyeongChang, alongside its global media coverage, means that the games no longer take place in small ski resort villages. Instead, larger cities have bid for and hosted the Winter Games in the past few decades.

Urban centres provide many of the required amenities for a successful Olympics: huge venues for the opening and closing ceremonies, sizeable indoor arenas for ice hockey and figure skating, facilities to accommodate the world&rsquo;s media, and thousands of hotel rooms for all of the spectators. However, those same larger cities tend to be further away from tall mountains and the higher altitudes needed to ensure sufficient snowfall and cold temperatures for the outdoor events of skiing, snowboarding, and the sliding sports of bobsled, skeleton, and luge.

At the 2010 Vancouver games, even with the widening of the highway that leads from the city to the mountains at Whistler, it still took nearly two hours to reach the mountain venues. The organisers put on buses for those spectators who purchased tickets to events in the mountain to minimise traffic on the highway. After the initial ticket allocation, only Canadians with a postal code within a small radius of Whistler were permitted to purchase the remaining tickets to some of the mountain events.

Further and further from the mountains

One of the reasons the IOC selected the Korean city for the 2018 event was to spread winter sport to a new part of the world which had not held the Winter Olympics. But aside from concerns about the post-Olympic use of these venues in a country where participation in skiing has declined, logistics for spectators will be challenging.

The PyeongChang organisers recommend that visitors use the high-speed train from Seoul which opened in December 2017. However, a major Korean holiday falls during the Winter Olympics and the majority of seats on the train have already been reserved. International spectators who purchased special train passes for the games are now unable to book seats on trains to take them to the Olympic events. There have also been concerns about accommodation shortages.

The next Winter Olympics in Beijing in 2022 will be ever more spread out between venues. As larger cities further away from the mountains host the Winter Olympics, the games feel more disjointed for both athletes and spectators. Fans must decide where to stay and may decide not even to bother attending any mountain events. The organisers for recent Winter Games have built two Olympic villages, one in the city and another in the mountains, separating athletes instead of them all living together.

Future hosts for the Winter Olympics have to find a way to balance the interests of athletes, spectators, and post-event use of facilities. This challenge will not be easily solved, although recent past host cities &ndash; such as Salt Lake City &ndash; putting their hat in the ring to host the Winter Olympics again may be one solution.

&nbsp;

This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" rel="nofollow" target="blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-the-winter-olympics-expanded-and-brought-growing-pains-with-them-90411" rel="nofollow" target="blank">original article</a>.

As larger cities further away from the mountains host the Winter Olympics, the games feel more disjointed for both athletes and spectators.

When the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that PyeongChang would host the 2018 Winter Olympic Games, most people outside of South Korea had probably never heard of it, let alone knew that the eastern part of the country had snow and mountains. The shift in the type of place capable of hosting such a mega sporting event demonstrated how much the Winter Olympics has grown – but this change also brought with it a set of problems unforseen when the event began in 1924. Figure skating first appeared on the Olympic programme in 1908, and ice hockey in 1920, but these events were part of the summer games. The first Winter Olympics took place in the French Alpine village of Chamonix in 1924. The organisers of the Paris Olympics that year wanted to offer an International Sports Week at the beginning of the year with solely winter sports as an experiment. Only after its success did the IOC decide to call the Chamonix event the Winter Olympics. The first few Winter Olympics took place in ski resort towns known to winter sport enthusiasts: St. Moritz, Switzerland in 1928, Lake Placid, US in 1932 and Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany in 1936. In the 1930s the US and Germany hosted both the Summer and Winter Olympics because the IOC allowed the country which won the right to host the summer games to decide whether they wanted to organise the winter ones too. If they did not – or could not in the case of the Netherlands in 1928 – then the IOC opened up the bidding to other countries. The Winter Olympics has always been significantly smaller than its summer counterpart in terms of the number of sports contested and number of countries competing. Just over 250 athletes competed in Chamonix, and it took until the 1964 games in Innsbruck, Austria, for more than 1,000 athletes to compete. Fewer than 3,000 athletes competed in Sochi in 2014, whereas more than 11,000 athletes competed in the 2016 Rio Olympics. No more village ski resorts Although still significantly smaller than the summer event, the growth of the Winter Olympics to include 102 events across 15 sports at PyeongChang, alongside its global media coverage, means that the games no longer take place in small ski resort villages. Instead, larger cities have bid for and hosted the Winter Games in the past few decades. Urban centres provide many of the required amenities for a successful Olympics: huge venues for the opening and closing ceremonies, sizeable indoor arenas for ice hockey and figure skating, facilities to accommodate the world’s media, and thousands of hotel rooms for all of the spectators. However, those same larger cities tend to be further away from tall mountains and the higher altitudes needed to ensure sufficient snowfall and cold temperatures for the outdoor events of skiing, snowboarding, and the sliding sports of bobsled, skeleton, and luge. At the 2010 Vancouver games, even with the widening of the highway that leads from the city to the mountains at Whistler, it still took nearly two hours to reach the mountain venues. The organisers put on buses for those spectators who purchased tickets to events in the mountain to minimise traffic on the highway. After the initial ticket allocation, only Canadians with a postal code within a small radius of Whistler were permitted to purchase the remaining tickets to some of the mountain events. Further and further from the mountains One of the reasons the IOC selected the Korean city for the 2018 event was to spread winter sport to a new part of the world which had not held the Winter Olympics. But aside from concerns about the post-Olympic use of these venues in a country where participation in skiing has declined, logistics for spectators will be challenging. The PyeongChang organisers recommend that visitors use the high-speed train from Seoul which opened in December 2017. However, a major Korean holiday falls during the Winter Olympics and the majority of seats on the train have already been reserved. International spectators who purchased special train passes for the games are now unable to book seats on trains to take them to the Olympic events. There have also been concerns about accommodation shortages. The next Winter Olympics in Beijing in 2022 will be ever more spread out between venues. As larger cities further away from the mountains host the Winter Olympics, the games feel more disjointed for both athletes and spectators. Fans must decide where to stay and may decide not even to bother attending any mountain events. The organisers for recent Winter Games have built two Olympic villages, one in the city and another in the mountains, separating athletes instead of them all living together. Future hosts for the Winter Olympics have to find a way to balance the interests of athletes, spectators, and post-event use of facilities. This challenge will not be easily solved, although recent past host cities – such as Salt Lake City – putting their hat in the ring to host the Winter Olympics again may be one solution. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

Opinion: Why Winter Olympics have become painful for spectators

Google celebrates winter games as the opening ceremony has started.

Winter Olympics is already underway,&nbsp;PyeongChang 2018 will host the XXIII Olympic Winter Games. It is a major international multi-sport event which is scheduled to take place from February 9 to 25.

The 23rd Winter Olympics will feature 102 events in 15 sports and athletes from all over the world.

The organisers of the upcoming Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic games had already warned spectators that they will face sub-zero temperatures during the tournament.

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<div class="media-description">
Google celebrates the 23rd Winter Olympics. (Others)
</div>
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This year&#39;s Winter Olympic games may set a new record for being the coldest since the 1994 Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway.

The opening and closing ceremonies will be held at the roofless Olympic Stadium, a pentagonal arena that can accommodate around 40,000 people.

Freezing weather at the Winter Olympics may force some athletes and staff to pull out of Friday&#39;s opening ceremony as Pyeongchang shivers in temperatures plunging to minus 20 degrees Celsius.

&nbsp;

The 23rd Winter Olympics will feature 102 events in 15 sports and athletes from all over the world

Google celebrates winter games as the opening ceremony has started. Winter Olympics is already underway, PyeongChang 2018 will host the XXIII Olympic Winter Games. It is a major international multi-sport event which is scheduled to take place from February 9 to 25. The 23rd Winter Olympics will feature 102 events in 15 sports and athletes from all over the world. The organisers of the upcoming Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic games had already warned spectators that they will face sub-zero temperatures during the tournament. Google celebrates the 23rd Winter Olympics. (Others) × This year's Winter Olympic games may set a new record for being the coldest since the 1994 Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway. The opening and closing ceremonies will be held at the roofless Olympic Stadium, a pentagonal arena that can accommodate around 40,000 people. Freezing weather at the Winter Olympics may force some athletes and staff to pull out of Friday's opening ceremony as Pyeongchang shivers in temperatures plunging to minus 20 degrees Celsius.

Google celebrates 23rd Winter Olympics

North Korean athletes at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics refused to accept smartphones offered on condition they returned them after the Games, news reports said, as the IOC backed down over a similar demand for Iranians.

The IOC is providing Galaxy Note 8 devices from Olympic sponsor Samsung to all athletes and officials at the Games, loaded with essential logistical and competition information.

Organisers initially said the North Koreans and Iranians would be denied the devices due to UN sanctions on their countries.

Then the IOC said they would be provided for the Games, but the two countries&#39; representatives would be asked to return them afterwards rather than keep them.

It was not clear how the IOC would ensure compliance with the request.

But Yonhap news agency said the North Koreans at the Games had refused the phones. No reason was given, but Internet access is strictly limited in the North.

Pyongyang has sent 22 athletes to the Olympics, along with several officials.

An IOC spokesman was unable to confirm the reports when contacted by AFP.

The ban on Iranians keeping the phones had provoked a furious reaction in Teheran, with authorities blaming the manufacturer for the situation.

Iran&#39;s foreign ministry summoned South Korea&#39;s ambassador Kim Seung-ho to lodge a &quot;strong protest&quot; over what it called Samsung&#39;s &quot;dishonest conduct that is contrary to the spirit of the Olympic Games&quot;.

The ambassador was warned that &quot;if Samsung does not make its excuses... this affair will have strong repercussions on commercial relations between the Samsung Group and the Islamic Republic of Iran&quot;.

Samsung, the world&#39;s biggest smartphone and memory chip manufacturer, is a crucial part of South Korea&#39;s economy, with the group&#39;s turnover equivalent to a fifth of the national GDP.

The IOC later backed down.

&quot;Regarding Iran, we can confirm that all participants will be able to keep the phones,&quot; it said in a statement late Thursday.

&quot;Regarding North Korea, all participants are requested not to take the phones back to their home country but to only use them during their stay in Pyeongchang,&quot; it added.

The Galaxy Note 8 retails for around 1,000,000 South Korean won ($920) and so could fall foul of UN measures banning supplies of luxury goods to the North.

A Samsung spokeswoman stressed the electronics giant had nothing to do with the distribution of the handsets and all decisions were by the IOC.

The IOC is providing Galaxy Note 8 devices from Olympic sponsor Samsung to all athletes and officials at the Games, loaded with essential logistical and competition information

North Korean athletes at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics refused to accept smartphones offered on condition they returned them after the Games, news reports said, as the IOC backed down over a similar demand for Iranians. The IOC is providing Galaxy Note 8 devices from Olympic sponsor Samsung to all athletes and officials at the Games, loaded with essential logistical and competition information. Organisers initially said the North Koreans and Iranians would be denied the devices due to UN sanctions on their countries. Then the IOC said they would be provided for the Games, but the two countries' representatives would be asked to return them afterwards rather than keep them. It was not clear how the IOC would ensure compliance with the request. But Yonhap news agency said the North Koreans at the Games had refused the phones. No reason was given, but Internet access is strictly limited in the North. Pyongyang has sent 22 athletes to the Olympics, along with several officials. An IOC spokesman was unable to confirm the reports when contacted by AFP. The ban on Iranians keeping the phones had provoked a furious reaction in Teheran, with authorities blaming the manufacturer for the situation. Iran's foreign ministry summoned South Korea's ambassador Kim Seung-ho to lodge a "strong protest" over what it called Samsung's "dishonest conduct that is contrary to the spirit of the Olympic Games". The ambassador was warned that "if Samsung does not make its excuses... this affair will have strong repercussions on commercial relations between the Samsung Group and the Islamic Republic of Iran". Samsung, the world's biggest smartphone and memory chip manufacturer, is a crucial part of South Korea's economy, with the group's turnover equivalent to a fifth of the national GDP. The IOC later backed down. "Regarding Iran, we can confirm that all participants will be able to keep the phones," it said in a statement late Thursday. "Regarding North Korea, all participants are requested not to take the phones back to their home country but to only use them during their stay in Pyeongchang," it added. The Galaxy Note 8 retails for around 1,000,000 South Korean won ($920) and so could fall foul of UN measures banning supplies of luxury goods to the North. A Samsung spokeswoman stressed the electronics giant had nothing to do with the distribution of the handsets and all decisions were by the IOC.

North Koreans decline Olympic phones: reports

In December, the IOC had suspended Russia over a state-sponsored doping conspiracy culminating in its hosting of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.

The CAS drew criticism last week when it lifted life Olympic bans imposed on 28 Russians. But when 15 of them applied to take part in Pyeongchang, the IOC refused to give them invitations.

Now, forty-seven Russian athletes and staff implicated in doping have lost a last-minute court bid to take part in the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, the Court of Arbitration for Sport said on Friday.

&quot;The applications filed by Russian athletes and coaches have been dismissed,&quot; CAS said in a statement, issued just hours before the Games&#39; opening ceremony.

Russia&#39;s team has been suspended from the Olympics over a systemic doping scandal, but the International Olympic Committee has allowed a group of Russians considered as clean athletes to take part.

Earlier, a&nbsp;group of 13 Russians lost a last-ditch bid to beat their country&#39;s doping ban.

&nbsp;

47 Russian athletes and staff implicated in doping have lost a last-minute court bid to take part in the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, the Court of Arbitration for Sport said on Friday

In December, the IOC had suspended Russia over a state-sponsored doping conspiracy culminating in its hosting of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. The CAS drew criticism last week when it lifted life Olympic bans imposed on 28 Russians. But when 15 of them applied to take part in Pyeongchang, the IOC refused to give them invitations. Now, forty-seven Russian athletes and staff implicated in doping have lost a last-minute court bid to take part in the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, the Court of Arbitration for Sport said on Friday. "The applications filed by Russian athletes and coaches have been dismissed," CAS said in a statement, issued just hours before the Games' opening ceremony. Russia's team has been suspended from the Olympics over a systemic doping scandal, but the International Olympic Committee has allowed a group of Russians considered as clean athletes to take part. Earlier, a group of 13 Russians lost a last-ditch bid to beat their country's doping ban.

47 Russians lose late court bid to compete at Olympics

It was a scrambled start for Norway at the Winter Olympics as they accidentally ordered 15,000 eggs, but nevertheless they are aiming for 30 medals at the Pyeongchong Games which kick off on Friday (February 9).

When ordering eggs for the team, a zero was accidentally added to the order, resulting in a delivery of 15,000 eggs.

But the Chef de mission of the Norwegian Olympic team, Tore Ovrebo, was not overly concerned saying it was not a big issue.

The target of 30 medals surpasses the country&#39;s current record of 26 medals, set in 1994 at Lillehammer, Norway, and equaled at the 2014 Games in Sochi, Russia.

Despite a population of just 5.2 million people, the Nordic country has often featured in the top three nations at the Winter Olympics, last ranking first at the 2002 Games in Salt Lake City in the United States with 13 gold medals.

In Sochi, only Russia won more medals than Norway with 33 medals in total.

But the Chef de mission of the Norwegian Olympic team, Tore Ovrebo, was not overly concerned saying it was not a big issue.

It was a scrambled start for Norway at the Winter Olympics as they accidentally ordered 15,000 eggs, but nevertheless they are aiming for 30 medals at the Pyeongchong Games which kick off on Friday (February 9). When ordering eggs for the team, a zero was accidentally added to the order, resulting in a delivery of 15,000 eggs. But the Chef de mission of the Norwegian Olympic team, Tore Ovrebo, was not overly concerned saying it was not a big issue. The target of 30 medals surpasses the country's current record of 26 medals, set in 1994 at Lillehammer, Norway, and equaled at the 2014 Games in Sochi, Russia. Despite a population of just 5.2 million people, the Nordic country has often featured in the top three nations at the Winter Olympics, last ranking first at the 2002 Games in Salt Lake City in the United States with 13 gold medals. In Sochi, only Russia won more medals than Norway with 33 medals in total.

Winter Olympics: Norway team accidentally orders 15,000 eggs

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