North Korea has no intention of meeting US&nbsp;officials during the Winter Olympics that start in South Korea on Friday, state media reported, dampening hopes the Games will help resolve a tense standoff over the North`s nuclear weapons programme.

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, who described North Korea as the world`s most tyrannical regime on Wednesday, flies into South Korea on Thursday ahead of the opening ceremony in the mountain resort of Pyeongchang, just 80 km (50 miles) from the heavily armed border with the reclusive North.&nbsp;

The ceremony will also be attended by a senior delegation of North Korean officials, including the younger sister of leader Kim Jong Un and the North`s nominal head of state, Kim Yong Nam.

The sister, Kim Yo Jong, and other members of her entourage will travel by private jet to Seoul`s Incheon International Airport on Friday afternoon, North Korea informed the South on Thursday.

&quot;We have never begged for dialogue with the U.S. nor in the future, too,&quot; the North`s KCNA news agency reported, citing Jo Yong Sam, director-general of the North American department of North Korea`s foreign ministry.

&quot;Explicitly speaking, we have no intention to meet with the U.S. side during the stay in South Korea ... Our delegation`s visit to South Korea is only to take part in the Olympics and hail its successful holding.&quot;

Pence said the United States had not requested talks with North Korean officials but left open the possibility of some contact.

&quot;But if I have any contact with them, in any context, over the next two days, my message will be the same as it was here today: North Korea needs to, once and for all, abandon its nuclear and ballistic missile ambition,&quot; Pence told reporters as he left Japan.&nbsp;

South Korea wants to use the Olympics to re-engage with North Korea and open the way for talks to resolve one of the world`s most dangerous crises, in which U.S. President Donald Trump and Pyongyang have swapped bellicose threats of nuclear war.

Pence had said after meeting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo on Wednesday that Washington would soon unveil &quot;the toughest and most aggressive round of economic sanctions on North Korea ever&quot;.

In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told reporters that China saw the Olympics as a first step towards &quot;everyday, uninterrupted&quot; dialogue.

All sides, not just the two Koreas, needed to work hard and dialogue between the United States and North Korea should be expanded for this to happen, Wang said.

&quot;You can&rsquo;t have it that one person opens the door and another closes it,&quot; he said.&nbsp;

Military parade

North Korea marked the founding anniversary of its army with a large military parade in Pyongyang on Thursday, a government official told Reuters, having last month changed the date of the celebration to the eve of the Olympics.

The official asked not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the issue.

Domestic media reports said the parade was smaller than those of previous years.

Pence will meet South Korean President Moon Jae-in in Seoul on Thursday. On Friday, before he attends the Olympic opening ceremony, he will visit a memorial for 46 South Korean sailors killed in 2010 in the sinking of a warship that Seoul blamed on a North Korean torpedo attack.

Pence is taking the father of Otto Warmbier, an American student who died last year after being imprisoned in North Korea for 17 months.

Kim Yo Jong, the 28-year-old sister of the North Korean leader, will be sitting in the same stadium as VIP guests along with ceremonial head of state Kim Yong Nam.

She will be the first member of the Kim family to cross the border into the South. Kim Yo Jong is a propaganda official and was blacklisted last year by the U.S. Treasury Department over alleged human rights abuses and censorship.

Japan`s Abe, whose nation has been within range of North Korean missiles for decades, will also attend the ceremony, adding to seating complications for the hosts.

South Korea asked the United Nations on Wednesday for an exemption to allow a U.N.-sanctioned North Korean official, Choe Hwi, to attend the opening ceremony with Kim Yo Jong.

The Unification Ministry in Seoul said no decision had been made yet on Choe and Pyongyang had not mentioned any change in their plans to send him.

The U.N. Security Council, which has slapped a series of sanctions on North Korea for its weapons programmes, imposed a travel ban and asset freeze Choe last year when he was vice director of the Workers` Party of Korea Propaganda and Agitation Department.

A group of 280 North Koreans arrived in South Korea on Wednesday, including a 229-member cheer squad, taekwondo performers, journalists and the sports minister.

Preliminary competition at the Games began on Thursday, with events including curling and ski jumping.

Organisers have already been battling some challenges, including a stomach virus that has hit dozens of staff and a fire near the Olympic media village on Thursday that produced thick black smoke but was quickly extinguished.

The ceremony will also be attended by a senior delegation of North Korean officials, including the younger sister of leader Kim Jong Un and the North`s nominal head of state, Kim Yong Nam.

North Korea has no intention of meeting US officials during the Winter Olympics that start in South Korea on Friday, state media reported, dampening hopes the Games will help resolve a tense standoff over the North`s nuclear weapons programme. U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, who described North Korea as the world`s most tyrannical regime on Wednesday, flies into South Korea on Thursday ahead of the opening ceremony in the mountain resort of Pyeongchang, just 80 km (50 miles) from the heavily armed border with the reclusive North. The ceremony will also be attended by a senior delegation of North Korean officials, including the younger sister of leader Kim Jong Un and the North`s nominal head of state, Kim Yong Nam. The sister, Kim Yo Jong, and other members of her entourage will travel by private jet to Seoul`s Incheon International Airport on Friday afternoon, North Korea informed the South on Thursday. "We have never begged for dialogue with the U.S. nor in the future, too," the North`s KCNA news agency reported, citing Jo Yong Sam, director-general of the North American department of North Korea`s foreign ministry. "Explicitly speaking, we have no intention to meet with the U.S. side during the stay in South Korea ... Our delegation`s visit to South Korea is only to take part in the Olympics and hail its successful holding." Pence said the United States had not requested talks with North Korean officials but left open the possibility of some contact. "But if I have any contact with them, in any context, over the next two days, my message will be the same as it was here today: North Korea needs to, once and for all, abandon its nuclear and ballistic missile ambition," Pence told reporters as he left Japan. South Korea wants to use the Olympics to re-engage with North Korea and open the way for talks to resolve one of the world`s most dangerous crises, in which U.S. President Donald Trump and Pyongyang have swapped bellicose threats of nuclear war. Pence had said after meeting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo on Wednesday that Washington would soon unveil "the toughest and most aggressive round of economic sanctions on North Korea ever". In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told reporters that China saw the Olympics as a first step towards "everyday, uninterrupted" dialogue. All sides, not just the two Koreas, needed to work hard and dialogue between the United States and North Korea should be expanded for this to happen, Wang said. "You can’t have it that one person opens the door and another closes it," he said. Military parade North Korea marked the founding anniversary of its army with a large military parade in Pyongyang on Thursday, a government official told Reuters, having last month changed the date of the celebration to the eve of the Olympics. The official asked not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the issue. Domestic media reports said the parade was smaller than those of previous years. Pence will meet South Korean President Moon Jae-in in Seoul on Thursday. On Friday, before he attends the Olympic opening ceremony, he will visit a memorial for 46 South Korean sailors killed in 2010 in the sinking of a warship that Seoul blamed on a North Korean torpedo attack. Pence is taking the father of Otto Warmbier, an American student who died last year after being imprisoned in North Korea for 17 months. Kim Yo Jong, the 28-year-old sister of the North Korean leader, will be sitting in the same stadium as VIP guests along with ceremonial head of state Kim Yong Nam. She will be the first member of the Kim family to cross the border into the South. Kim Yo Jong is a propaganda official and was blacklisted last year by the U.S. Treasury Department over alleged human rights abuses and censorship. Japan`s Abe, whose nation has been within range of North Korean missiles for decades, will also attend the ceremony, adding to seating complications for the hosts. South Korea asked the United Nations on Wednesday for an exemption to allow a U.N.-sanctioned North Korean official, Choe Hwi, to attend the opening ceremony with Kim Yo Jong. The Unification Ministry in Seoul said no decision had been made yet on Choe and Pyongyang had not mentioned any change in their plans to send him. The U.N. Security Council, which has slapped a series of sanctions on North Korea for its weapons programmes, imposed a travel ban and asset freeze Choe last year when he was vice director of the Workers` Party of Korea Propaganda and Agitation Department. A group of 280 North Koreans arrived in South Korea on Wednesday, including a 229-member cheer squad, taekwondo performers, journalists and the sports minister. Preliminary competition at the Games began on Thursday, with events including curling and ski jumping. Organisers have already been battling some challenges, including a stomach virus that has hit dozens of staff and a fire near the Olympic media village on Thursday that produced thick black smoke but was quickly extinguished.

North Korea says no US talks planned at Olympics as Pence heads to Seoul

&nbsp;US&nbsp;Vice President Mike Pence vowed tough new sanctions against North Korea and called it the world&#39;s most tyrannical regime on Wednesday, two days before he is due to attend the winter Olympics, along with two of the North&#39;s most senior officials.

Speaking in Tokyo on his way to South Korea, which is hosting the Games over the next three weeks, Pence said he would soon announce the stepped-up sanctions in an effort to pressure the North to abandon its nuclear and missile programmes.

US&nbsp;Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a tweet that the sanctions would be unveiled &quot;in the coming weeks&quot; and urged all countries to fully implement existing UN&nbsp;sanctions and to back the U.S. pressure campaign by expelling North Korean &quot;financial facilitators and trade reps&quot;.

The Games, being staged 80 km (50 miles) from the heavily militarised border between the Koreas, is set for an awkward political encounter, with Pence as well as the North Korean leader&#39;s younger sister attending Friday&#39;s opening ceremony.

South Korea wants to use the event to re-engage with North Korea and open the way for talks to resolve one of the world&#39;s most dangerous crises, in which U.S. President Donald Trump and Pyongyang have swapped nuclear threats.

&quot;I&#39;m announcing today the United States of America will soon unveil the toughest and most aggressive round of economic sanctions on North Korea ever,&quot; Pence said after meeting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

&quot;We will continue to isolate North Korea until it abandons its nuclear and ballistic missile program once and for all.&quot;

Washington has led a global campaign to force North Korea to give up development of nuclear missiles capable of hitting the United States and has taken a tougher line recently than its allies in Seoul, exposing tensions that South Korean President Moon Jae-in could struggle to conceal at the Olympics.

Pence has voiced scepticism that the North Korea will use the Games for crude propaganda. As his guest at the opening ceremony, he is taking the father of Otto Warmbier, an American student who died last year after being imprisoned in North Korea for 17 months.

Sitting in the same stadium as VIP guests will be Kim Yo Jong, 28-year-old sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, and Kim Yong Nam, North Korea&#39;s nominal head of state.

Japan&#39;s Abe, whose nation has been within range of North Korean missiles for decades, will also attend the ceremony.

Kim Yo Jong would be the first member of the Kim family to cross the border to the South. She is a propaganda official and was blacklisted last year by the U.S. Treasury Department over alleged human rights abuses and censorship.

&quot;It shows the North&#39;s resolve to defuse tension on the Korean peninsula,&quot; Blue House spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom told a news briefing.

Pence has not ruled out the prospect of meeting North Korean officials during the Games, but President Trump, whose daughter and adviser Ivanka will attend the Olympic closing ceremony, has cast doubt on the value of U.S. talks with Pyongyang anytime soon.

&quot;We will not allow North Korea to hide behind the Olympic banner the reality that they enslave their people and threaten the wider region,&quot; Pence said.

The White House has also cautioned against reading too much into remarks Pence made en route to Japan.

Analysts said that while Seoul appeared keen to set up a US-North Korea meeting, the chances of this happening did not look high.

&quot;The fact that the U.S. is bringing along Otto Warmbier&rsquo;s father suggests that their interest in engaging with the North Koreans while in Korea is pretty low,&quot; Abraham Denmark, a senior defence official under former President Barack Obama, told a conference call organised by the Wilson Center think tank.

The United States has said repeatedly that any future talks with North Korea must have the aim of North Korea&#39;s denuclearisation, something Pyongyang has rejected.

US&nbsp;Secretary of State Rex Tillerson told reporters travelling with him on a visit to Jamaica that he did not anticipate a meeting at the Olympics, but &quot;it just depends on the circumstances as to whether this is the right time or not.&quot;

He added that sanctions pressure would continue &quot;until North Korea gets on a pathway to giving up its nuclear weapons&quot;.

&quot;That is an important message for the North Koreans to understand. Until you do something meaningful - sending some athletes and an orchestra down to Seoul, to show us that yes, you can play sports and you enjoy music - that doesn&rsquo;t change anything,&quot; he said.

South Korea asked the United Nations on Wednesday for an exemption to allow a UN&nbsp;sanctioned North Korean official, Choe Hwi, to attend the opening ceremony with Kim Yo Jong.

Pyongyang told Seoul that Choe Hwi, chairman of the National Sports Guidance Committee, would travel to Pyeongchang as part of its delegation.

The UN&nbsp;Security Council imposed a travel ban and asset freeze on Choe on June 2 last year when he was vice director of the Workers&#39; Party of Korea Propaganda and Agitation Department, which controls ideological messaging through the media, arts and culture. Kim Yo Jong now holds that position.

Abe said he and Pence had agreed in talks that they could &quot;never accept a nuclear-armed North Korea&quot;.

Pence visited a Patriot PAC-3 missile battery, Japan&#39;s last line of defence against any strike from North Korea, which fired ballistic missiles over the country last year.

A group of 280 North Koreans arrived in South Korea on Wednesday to spur on athletes from the two sides at the Games. They included a 229-member cheer squad, taekwondo performers, journalists and the sports minister.

On Tuesday, a ferry carrying a North Korean orchestra arrived for the Games. Since it docked, North Korea has asked the South to provide oil for refuelling.

Oil has taken centre stage in global efforts to curb Pyongyang&#39;s nuclear and missile programmes, with Washington urging a drastic cut in energy supplies to the isolated country.

Speaking in Tokyo on his way to South Korea, which is hosting the Games over the next three weeks, Pence said he would soon announce the stepped-up sanctions in an effort to pressure the North to abandon its nuclear and missile programmes.

US Vice President Mike Pence vowed tough new sanctions against North Korea and called it the world's most tyrannical regime on Wednesday, two days before he is due to attend the winter Olympics, along with two of the North's most senior officials. Speaking in Tokyo on his way to South Korea, which is hosting the Games over the next three weeks, Pence said he would soon announce the stepped-up sanctions in an effort to pressure the North to abandon its nuclear and missile programmes. US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a tweet that the sanctions would be unveiled "in the coming weeks" and urged all countries to fully implement existing UN sanctions and to back the U.S. pressure campaign by expelling North Korean "financial facilitators and trade reps". The Games, being staged 80 km (50 miles) from the heavily militarised border between the Koreas, is set for an awkward political encounter, with Pence as well as the North Korean leader's younger sister attending Friday's opening ceremony. South Korea wants to use the event to re-engage with North Korea and open the way for talks to resolve one of the world's most dangerous crises, in which U.S. President Donald Trump and Pyongyang have swapped nuclear threats. "I'm announcing today the United States of America will soon unveil the toughest and most aggressive round of economic sanctions on North Korea ever," Pence said after meeting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. "We will continue to isolate North Korea until it abandons its nuclear and ballistic missile program once and for all." Washington has led a global campaign to force North Korea to give up development of nuclear missiles capable of hitting the United States and has taken a tougher line recently than its allies in Seoul, exposing tensions that South Korean President Moon Jae-in could struggle to conceal at the Olympics. Pence has voiced scepticism that the North Korea will use the Games for crude propaganda. As his guest at the opening ceremony, he is taking the father of Otto Warmbier, an American student who died last year after being imprisoned in North Korea for 17 months. Sitting in the same stadium as VIP guests will be Kim Yo Jong, 28-year-old sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, and Kim Yong Nam, North Korea's nominal head of state. Japan's Abe, whose nation has been within range of North Korean missiles for decades, will also attend the ceremony. Kim Yo Jong would be the first member of the Kim family to cross the border to the South. She is a propaganda official and was blacklisted last year by the U.S. Treasury Department over alleged human rights abuses and censorship. "It shows the North's resolve to defuse tension on the Korean peninsula," Blue House spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom told a news briefing. Pence has not ruled out the prospect of meeting North Korean officials during the Games, but President Trump, whose daughter and adviser Ivanka will attend the Olympic closing ceremony, has cast doubt on the value of U.S. talks with Pyongyang anytime soon. "We will not allow North Korea to hide behind the Olympic banner the reality that they enslave their people and threaten the wider region," Pence said. The White House has also cautioned against reading too much into remarks Pence made en route to Japan. Analysts said that while Seoul appeared keen to set up a US-North Korea meeting, the chances of this happening did not look high. "The fact that the U.S. is bringing along Otto Warmbier’s father suggests that their interest in engaging with the North Koreans while in Korea is pretty low," Abraham Denmark, a senior defence official under former President Barack Obama, told a conference call organised by the Wilson Center think tank. The United States has said repeatedly that any future talks with North Korea must have the aim of North Korea's denuclearisation, something Pyongyang has rejected. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson told reporters travelling with him on a visit to Jamaica that he did not anticipate a meeting at the Olympics, but "it just depends on the circumstances as to whether this is the right time or not." He added that sanctions pressure would continue "until North Korea gets on a pathway to giving up its nuclear weapons". "That is an important message for the North Koreans to understand. Until you do something meaningful - sending some athletes and an orchestra down to Seoul, to show us that yes, you can play sports and you enjoy music - that doesn’t change anything," he said. South Korea asked the United Nations on Wednesday for an exemption to allow a UN sanctioned North Korean official, Choe Hwi, to attend the opening ceremony with Kim Yo Jong. Pyongyang told Seoul that Choe Hwi, chairman of the National Sports Guidance Committee, would travel to Pyeongchang as part of its delegation. The UN Security Council imposed a travel ban and asset freeze on Choe on June 2 last year when he was vice director of the Workers' Party of Korea Propaganda and Agitation Department, which controls ideological messaging through the media, arts and culture. Kim Yo Jong now holds that position. Abe said he and Pence had agreed in talks that they could "never accept a nuclear-armed North Korea". Pence visited a Patriot PAC-3 missile battery, Japan's last line of defence against any strike from North Korea, which fired ballistic missiles over the country last year. A group of 280 North Koreans arrived in South Korea on Wednesday to spur on athletes from the two sides at the Games. They included a 229-member cheer squad, taekwondo performers, journalists and the sports minister. On Tuesday, a ferry carrying a North Korean orchestra arrived for the Games. Since it docked, North Korea has asked the South to provide oil for refuelling. Oil has taken centre stage in global efforts to curb Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programmes, with Washington urging a drastic cut in energy supplies to the isolated country.

Ahead of Olympics face-off, Mike Pence vows new North Korea sanctions

Hundreds of angry South Koreans protested Tuesday as a ship from North Korea carrying around 120 performers bound for the Olympics docked at the port of Donghae City.

Some were carrying pictures of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un with a huge X across his face while others crumpled the images and stamped them underfoot.

&quot;We are at a state of war and we are inviting the prostitutes of our enemy,&quot; one of the protesters said as the North Korean ship &#39;Mangyongbon 92&#39; docked at Mukho port

Earlier the protesters, carrying South Korean flags, marched around the port, chanting into amplified speakers: &quot;We oppose Pyongyang Olympics!&quot;&nbsp;

&quot;Why can&#39;t we carry our own flag at the opening ceremony -- because it&#39;s Pyongyang Olympics!&quot; a protester who came from Incheon told AFP.

North and South Korea will march as a unified team under a neutral Korean peninsula flag at the opening ceremony of the Olympics on Friday.

Protesters believe North Korea has been allowed to hijack the Pyeongchang Games, and refer to them instead as the Pyongyang Olympics after the North Korean capital.

The Olympics have triggered an apparent rapprochement on the divided peninsula, where tensions have been high over the nuclear-armed North&#39;s weapons ambitions.

In a rare high-level meeting last month, the two Koreas agreed that North Korean athletes, cheerleaders, artistic troupes and other delegates would attend the Games beginning in the South&#39;s ski resort of Pyeongchang on Friday.

The troupe were seen off on their journey to the South on Monday from a train station in Pyongyang by officials including supreme leader Kim Jong-Un&#39;s sister, Yo-Jong, smiling broadly and wearing a black coat and grey fur scarf.

The North&#39;s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said the art troupe, led by Hyon Song-Wol, head of the Samjiyon Orchestra, would hold a &quot;congratulatory performance&quot; for the Games in South Korea.

The orchestra will hold two performances at the Gangneung Art Centre on the eve of the opening ceremony of the February 9-25 Pyeongchang Olympics and at the National Theatre of Korea in Seoul on February 11.

&nbsp;

Amid all the chaos, North and South Korea will march as an unified team under a neutral Korean peninsula flag at the opening ceremony of the Olympics on Friday

Hundreds of angry South Koreans protested Tuesday as a ship from North Korea carrying around 120 performers bound for the Olympics docked at the port of Donghae City. Some were carrying pictures of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un with a huge X across his face while others crumpled the images and stamped them underfoot. "We are at a state of war and we are inviting the prostitutes of our enemy," one of the protesters said as the North Korean ship 'Mangyongbon 92' docked at Mukho port Earlier the protesters, carrying South Korean flags, marched around the port, chanting into amplified speakers: "We oppose Pyongyang Olympics!" "Why can't we carry our own flag at the opening ceremony -- because it's Pyongyang Olympics!" a protester who came from Incheon told AFP. North and South Korea will march as a unified team under a neutral Korean peninsula flag at the opening ceremony of the Olympics on Friday. Protesters believe North Korea has been allowed to hijack the Pyeongchang Games, and refer to them instead as the Pyongyang Olympics after the North Korean capital. The Olympics have triggered an apparent rapprochement on the divided peninsula, where tensions have been high over the nuclear-armed North's weapons ambitions. In a rare high-level meeting last month, the two Koreas agreed that North Korean athletes, cheerleaders, artistic troupes and other delegates would attend the Games beginning in the South's ski resort of Pyeongchang on Friday. The troupe were seen off on their journey to the South on Monday from a train station in Pyongyang by officials including supreme leader Kim Jong-Un's sister, Yo-Jong, smiling broadly and wearing a black coat and grey fur scarf. The North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said the art troupe, led by Hyon Song-Wol, head of the Samjiyon Orchestra, would hold a "congratulatory performance" for the Games in South Korea. The orchestra will hold two performances at the Gangneung Art Centre on the eve of the opening ceremony of the February 9-25 Pyeongchang Olympics and at the National Theatre of Korea in Seoul on February 11.

Winter Olympics: North Korean art troupe hit by protests in South

With all the ethical and political problems facing the Olympics, do they still matter?

As someone who proudly wears his Olympic heart on his sleeve &mdash; I competed in the 1964 Games in Tokyo and have been involved in a variety of roles ever since &mdash; I get asked that question all the time, especially when another Games approach. And my answer is still in the affirmative.

While circumstances change, and I&rsquo;d like to think I make a fresh calculation each time, I still believe the Olympics contribute a net benefit to humanity. I&rsquo;m excited about the forthcoming Winter Olympic and Winter Paralympic Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

For those of us who pursue and watch sports, it&rsquo;s the only forum where the entire world gets to compete on a multi-sport basis. While it&rsquo;s the polar countries that excel, the Winter Olympics and Paralympics will attract competitors from an estimated 90 national communities, representing more than two-thirds of the world&rsquo;s population.

In an increasingly privatized sports place, with a hardening monoculture of fewer and fewer sports and competitors, the Olympics provide the greatest range of national and regional accessibility.

Provides support, visibility

For Canadians, it&rsquo;s the primary place where athletes in the rarely publicized but culturally important sports of skiing, skating, luge, skeleton and bobsled have recognized opportunities &mdash; and with few exceptions, the only time Canadian women and para-athletes get any significant support and visibility.

If it wasn&rsquo;t for the Olympics to stimulate government investment in women&rsquo;s and para sports and the worldwide coverage to attract advertisers, women and para-athletes would be even more underfunded and invisible in mainstream sports coverage than they are now.

So for those who believe in an equitable, broadly based and accessible sports system, the Olympics provide a very important incentive &mdash;and even legitimization.

It&rsquo;s also fantastic sport, and gives us a chance to see remarkable athletes from all across Canada go up against the best from other countries, and represent Canada to the world. I&rsquo;ll be glued to my television.

<figure class="align-right zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/204333/original/file-20180131-157470-1w1c2qw.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/204333/original/file-20180131-157470-1w1c2qw.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=237&amp;fit=clip" /></a>

<figcaption>
Author and former Olympian Bruce Kidd, seen here in a 1963 race in Philadelphia. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP

What&rsquo;s more, the Olympics make a genuine effort to affirm and encourage humanitarian international and intercultural education and exchange &mdash; no mean contribution in this increasingly war-torn, nativist and xenophobic world.
</figcaption>
</figure>

Bringing people together

In my long experience, this is real and sets the tone for the millions of sporting exchanges between people of widely different backgrounds that occur around the world throughout the year.

The joint North and South Korean team that will march and compete together in Pyeongchang, and the resumption of communication that it has initiated, is just one example where the Olympics and international sport have brought bitterly divided people into the same room for peaceful exchange.

The Olympics contribute significantly to the development of sports around the world, especially among the poorest countries, distributing a big share of its television revenue &mdash; US$509 million from 2017-20.

One priority is sport for refugees. The very first Refugee Olympic Team, made up of athletes from refugee camps in four different countries, competed in Rio in 2016. Many Olympic athletes, such as Canada&rsquo;s Rosie MacLennan, have been inspired by their experiences to contribute to sport for development across the Global South.

To be sure, the Olympics face a host of daunting challenges, including the ginormous costs of staging games, corruption in governance, human rights abuses and doping.

<figure class="align-left zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/204334/original/file-20180131-157491-1w07cdf.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/204334/original/file-20180131-157491-1w07cdf.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=237&amp;fit=clip" /></a>

<figcaption>
Calgary is considering a bid for the 2026 Winter Olympics, which would return the Games to the Prairies city for the first time since 1988. Here figure skater Brian Orser carries the Canadian flag at opening ceremonies of the Winter Olympics in Calgary. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson)
</figcaption>
</figure>

The issues are so formidable that fewer and fewer cities are interested in hosting them, and in some liberal-democratic countries, voters have turned back bids. It remains to be seen whether Calgary will actually go ahead with plans <a href="http://www.calgary.ca/CSPS/Recreation/Pages/Calgary-2026-Olympic-bid/Olympics-Bid-2026.aspx">to bid for the 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympics</a>.

Addressing many challenges

But I would also say the Olympic leadership is preoccupied with addressing these challenges. One solution to rising costs is to use existing facilities as much as possible, spread out new facilities, placing them where they are most needed as Toronto did for the 2015 Pan American and Parapan American Games, and reduce seating for spectators, recognizing that most of the world watches on television. The Olympics vigorously tries to prevent and punish doping, as the current spat with Russia readily indicates.

While the Olympics have introduced important reforms in recent years, including transparent financial accounting and an affirmation against discrimination based on an athlete&rsquo;s sexual orientation, it&rsquo;s not easy to introduce and implement progressive change in way that keeps the entire world together.

I am enraged by the Russians&rsquo; state-directed doping in Sochi and support Canadian Olympic leaders who call for them to be banned from Pyeongchang. Yet I have European friends who fear Russian isolation and applaud IOC president Thomas Bach&rsquo;s diplomatic gymnastics to balance sanctions and representation.

A big-tent approach requires a low threshold if you want everyone there. If we only competed with countries that shared our values, we would have very few competitors indeed. But it makes the world of Olympic sports very difficult to govern.

I&rsquo;m quite happy if people continue to be critical of Olympic practices or blind spots &mdash; I&rsquo;m critical of some of them too &mdash; but to give up on the project because the international sports world is not perfect would be really short-sighted. It would also deny Canadians an opportunity to participate in, and contribute to, a humanitarian movement that&rsquo;s still very important.

&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/do-the-olympics-still-matter-90215" rel="nofollow" target="blank">original article</a>.

&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)&nbsp;&nbsp;

In an increasingly privatised sports place, with a hardening monoculture of fewer and fewer sports and competitors, the Olympics provide the greatest range of national and regional accessibility.

With all the ethical and political problems facing the Olympics, do they still matter? As someone who proudly wears his Olympic heart on his sleeve — I competed in the 1964 Games in Tokyo and have been involved in a variety of roles ever since — I get asked that question all the time, especially when another Games approach. And my answer is still in the affirmative. While circumstances change, and I’d like to think I make a fresh calculation each time, I still believe the Olympics contribute a net benefit to humanity. I’m excited about the forthcoming Winter Olympic and Winter Paralympic Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea. For those of us who pursue and watch sports, it’s the only forum where the entire world gets to compete on a multi-sport basis. While it’s the polar countries that excel, the Winter Olympics and Paralympics will attract competitors from an estimated 90 national communities, representing more than two-thirds of the world’s population. In an increasingly privatized sports place, with a hardening monoculture of fewer and fewer sports and competitors, the Olympics provide the greatest range of national and regional accessibility. Provides support, visibility For Canadians, it’s the primary place where athletes in the rarely publicized but culturally important sports of skiing, skating, luge, skeleton and bobsled have recognized opportunities — and with few exceptions, the only time Canadian women and para-athletes get any significant support and visibility. If it wasn’t for the Olympics to stimulate government investment in women’s and para sports and the worldwide coverage to attract advertisers, women and para-athletes would be even more underfunded and invisible in mainstream sports coverage than they are now. So for those who believe in an equitable, broadly based and accessible sports system, the Olympics provide a very important incentive —and even legitimization. It’s also fantastic sport, and gives us a chance to see remarkable athletes from all across Canada go up against the best from other countries, and represent Canada to the world. I’ll be glued to my television. Author and former Olympian Bruce Kidd, seen here in a 1963 race in Philadelphia. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP What’s more, the Olympics make a genuine effort to affirm and encourage humanitarian international and intercultural education and exchange — no mean contribution in this increasingly war-torn, nativist and xenophobic world. Bringing people together In my long experience, this is real and sets the tone for the millions of sporting exchanges between people of widely different backgrounds that occur around the world throughout the year. The joint North and South Korean team that will march and compete together in Pyeongchang, and the resumption of communication that it has initiated, is just one example where the Olympics and international sport have brought bitterly divided people into the same room for peaceful exchange. The Olympics contribute significantly to the development of sports around the world, especially among the poorest countries, distributing a big share of its television revenue — US$509 million from 2017-20. One priority is sport for refugees. The very first Refugee Olympic Team, made up of athletes from refugee camps in four different countries, competed in Rio in 2016. Many Olympic athletes, such as Canada’s Rosie MacLennan, have been inspired by their experiences to contribute to sport for development across the Global South. To be sure, the Olympics face a host of daunting challenges, including the ginormous costs of staging games, corruption in governance, human rights abuses and doping. Calgary is considering a bid for the 2026 Winter Olympics, which would return the Games to the Prairies city for the first time since 1988. Here figure skater Brian Orser carries the Canadian flag at opening ceremonies of the Winter Olympics in Calgary. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson) The issues are so formidable that fewer and fewer cities are interested in hosting them, and in some liberal-democratic countries, voters have turned back bids. It remains to be seen whether Calgary will actually go ahead with plans to bid for the 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympics. Addressing many challenges But I would also say the Olympic leadership is preoccupied with addressing these challenges. One solution to rising costs is to use existing facilities as much as possible, spread out new facilities, placing them where they are most needed as Toronto did for the 2015 Pan American and Parapan American Games, and reduce seating for spectators, recognizing that most of the world watches on television. The Olympics vigorously tries to prevent and punish doping, as the current spat with Russia readily indicates. While the Olympics have introduced important reforms in recent years, including transparent financial accounting and an affirmation against discrimination based on an athlete’s sexual orientation, it’s not easy to introduce and implement progressive change in way that keeps the entire world together. I am enraged by the Russians’ state-directed doping in Sochi and support Canadian Olympic leaders who call for them to be banned from Pyeongchang. Yet I have European friends who fear Russian isolation and applaud IOC president Thomas Bach’s diplomatic gymnastics to balance sanctions and representation. A big-tent approach requires a low threshold if you want everyone there. If we only competed with countries that shared our values, we would have very few competitors indeed. But it makes the world of Olympic sports very difficult to govern. I’m quite happy if people continue to be critical of Olympic practices or blind spots — I’m critical of some of them too — but to give up on the project because the international sports world is not perfect would be really short-sighted. It would also deny Canadians an opportunity to participate in, and contribute to, a humanitarian movement that’s still very important. 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: Do the Olympics still matter?

More than 1,200 security guards have been withdrawn from the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics because of a norovirus outbreak, organisers said Tuesday.

Out of the group, 41 suffered a sudden onset of vomiting and diarrhoea on Sunday.

They were transferred to hospital and most were diagnosed with a norovirus infection.

Norovirus is highly contagious and can also be spread through food or water contamination.

&quot;The 1,200-odd people were pulled out from their duties,&quot; an official of the Pyeongchang Olympic Organizing Committee told AFP. &quot;They were replaced by some 900 military soldiers.&quot;

Health authorities were investigating the origin of the virus, he said.

The security guards, all employees from a security company, had been accommodated at a youth training centre in Pyeongchang, separate from the athletes&#39; village.

&nbsp;

Security guards have been withdrawn from the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics because of a norovirus outbreak, Norovirus is highly contagious and can also be spread through food or water contamination

More than 1,200 security guards have been withdrawn from the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics because of a norovirus outbreak, organisers said Tuesday. Out of the group, 41 suffered a sudden onset of vomiting and diarrhoea on Sunday. They were transferred to hospital and most were diagnosed with a norovirus infection. Norovirus is highly contagious and can also be spread through food or water contamination. "The 1,200-odd people were pulled out from their duties," an official of the Pyeongchang Olympic Organizing Committee told AFP. "They were replaced by some 900 military soldiers." Health authorities were investigating the origin of the virus, he said. The security guards, all employees from a security company, had been accommodated at a youth training centre in Pyeongchang, separate from the athletes' village.

Winter Olympics: 1,200 guards withdraw over virus outbreak

Korean-born speed skater Victor An and 31 other Russian athletes launched a last-ditch appeal on Tuesday against their suspensions from the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics following a widespread doping scandal.

Just three days before the start of the Games, the Court of Arbitration for Sport&nbsp;(CAS) said it opened arbitration proceedings following an urgent request from the 32.

As well as An, the six-time short-track Olympic champion, the group includes Sochi 2014 biathlon gold medallist Anton Shipulin and Sergei Ustyugov, a cross-country skiing world champion.

&quot;The applicants challenge the IOC decision refusing to invite them to participate in the 2018 Olympic Winter Games,&quot; a CAS statement said.&nbsp;

&quot;They request that CAS overturn the IOC decision and allow them to participate in these Games as Olympic Athletes from Russia.&quot;

The late appeal will raise hopes that An, who switched allegiance to Russia in 2011 after falling out with South Korea&#39;s skating authorities, can make an emotional end to his Olympic career in his native country.

Last week, 28 Russians had life bans from the Olympics overturned by CAS, prompting 15 of them to apply to take part in Pyeongchang. However, the International Olympic Committee refused to give them invitations.

Russia&#39;s team has been banned from Pyeongchang, although 168 &quot;clean&quot; Russian athletes were cleared to take part under a neutral flag as &quot;Olympic Athletes from Russia&quot;.

A 32, Shipulin and Ustyugov were not included on the list of allowed athletes, although Stanislav Pozdnyakov, vice-president of the Russian Olympic Committee, has insisted they had &quot;never been implicated in any type of doping affair&quot;.

Russia was suspended from Pyeongchang after the discovery of a systemic doping conspiracy culminating at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics -- where, as the host nation, they topped the medals table.

The confusion over Russia&#39;s participation echoes the build-up to Rio 2016, when the IOC stopped short of banning Russia and instead left it up to individual sports federations to accept or deny Russian athletes.

&nbsp;

Just three days before the start of the Games, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) said it opened arbitration proceedings following an urgent request from the 32

Korean-born speed skater Victor An and 31 other Russian athletes launched a last-ditch appeal on Tuesday against their suspensions from the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics following a widespread doping scandal. Just three days before the start of the Games, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) said it opened arbitration proceedings following an urgent request from the 32. As well as An, the six-time short-track Olympic champion, the group includes Sochi 2014 biathlon gold medallist Anton Shipulin and Sergei Ustyugov, a cross-country skiing world champion. "The applicants challenge the IOC decision refusing to invite them to participate in the 2018 Olympic Winter Games," a CAS statement said. "They request that CAS overturn the IOC decision and allow them to participate in these Games as Olympic Athletes from Russia." The late appeal will raise hopes that An, who switched allegiance to Russia in 2011 after falling out with South Korea's skating authorities, can make an emotional end to his Olympic career in his native country. Last week, 28 Russians had life bans from the Olympics overturned by CAS, prompting 15 of them to apply to take part in Pyeongchang. However, the International Olympic Committee refused to give them invitations. Russia's team has been banned from Pyeongchang, although 168 "clean" Russian athletes were cleared to take part under a neutral flag as "Olympic Athletes from Russia". A 32, Shipulin and Ustyugov were not included on the list of allowed athletes, although Stanislav Pozdnyakov, vice-president of the Russian Olympic Committee, has insisted they had "never been implicated in any type of doping affair". Russia was suspended from Pyeongchang after the discovery of a systemic doping conspiracy culminating at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics -- where, as the host nation, they topped the medals table. The confusion over Russia's participation echoes the build-up to Rio 2016, when the IOC stopped short of banning Russia and instead left it up to individual sports federations to accept or deny Russian athletes.

Victor An among 32 Russians to appeal for Olympic spot

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on Monday blasted the International Olympic Committee&#39;s decision not to invite 15 Russian athletes and staff who had their life bans for doping lifted to the Pyeongchang Games.

&quot;The IOC Commission has taken a shameful decision. This decision is unfair, unlawful, immoral and politically charged,&quot; Medvedev wrote on his Facebook page.

&quot;The court has taken a decision in this case. After that, its decision has been overturned by a group of people who have placed themselves above the court, the IOC, the athletes and fans.&quot;

He added: &quot;This decision has little in common with&nbsp;sports. Its goal is to do political damage to Russia.&quot;

&quot;And now politics has defeated the rules of law and decency.&quot;

Earlier on Monday, the IOC ruled that 15 Russian athletes and staff who controversially had their life bans for doping lifted last week will not be invited to Pyeongchang.

The decision was taken after a special panel &quot;unanimously recommended that the IOC not extend an invitation to the Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang 2018 to the 15 individuals&quot;, a statement said.

&quot;The OAR IG (Olympic Athlete from Russia Implementation Group) confirmed that no additional invitations will be extended to these 15 individuals,&quot; the IOC said.

The 15 were among a group of 28 Russians who had been banned for life from the Olympics for doping, but whose suspensions were overturned at the Court of Arbitration for&nbsp;Sport&nbsp;on Thursday.

They included 13 athletes and two ex-athletes now working as support staff. The other members of the 28 have either retired or are unavailable for undisclosed reasons.

The IOC has barred Russia from the Pyeongchang Olympics, which open on Friday, over a widespread doping conspiracy. But 169 Russians who have passed strict anti-doping protocols will compete under a neutral flag.

The IOC announcement comes after the body&#39;s president, Thomas Bach, slammed the CAS decision as &quot;extremely disappointing and surprising&quot; and called for reforms to the independent&nbsp;sports&nbsp;tribunal.

&quot;We have some concerns about the quality of this decision,&quot; Bach told reporters on Sunday, questioning why the court didn&#39;t take into account the &quot;systemic manipulation of the anti-doping system in Russia&quot;.

&nbsp;

Dmitry Medvedev on Monday blasted the International Olympic Committee's decision not to invite 15 Russian athletes and staff who had their life bans for doping lifted to the Pyeongchang Games

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on Monday blasted the International Olympic Committee's decision not to invite 15 Russian athletes and staff who had their life bans for doping lifted to the Pyeongchang Games. "The IOC Commission has taken a shameful decision. This decision is unfair, unlawful, immoral and politically charged," Medvedev wrote on his Facebook page. "The court has taken a decision in this case. After that, its decision has been overturned by a group of people who have placed themselves above the court, the IOC, the athletes and fans." He added: "This decision has little in common with sports. Its goal is to do political damage to Russia." "And now politics has defeated the rules of law and decency." Earlier on Monday, the IOC ruled that 15 Russian athletes and staff who controversially had their life bans for doping lifted last week will not be invited to Pyeongchang. The decision was taken after a special panel "unanimously recommended that the IOC not extend an invitation to the Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang 2018 to the 15 individuals", a statement said. "The OAR IG (Olympic Athlete from Russia Implementation Group) confirmed that no additional invitations will be extended to these 15 individuals," the IOC said. The 15 were among a group of 28 Russians who had been banned for life from the Olympics for doping, but whose suspensions were overturned at the Court of Arbitration for Sport on Thursday. They included 13 athletes and two ex-athletes now working as support staff. The other members of the 28 have either retired or are unavailable for undisclosed reasons. The IOC has barred Russia from the Pyeongchang Olympics, which open on Friday, over a widespread doping conspiracy. But 169 Russians who have passed strict anti-doping protocols will compete under a neutral flag. The IOC announcement comes after the body's president, Thomas Bach, slammed the CAS decision as "extremely disappointing and surprising" and called for reforms to the independent sports tribunal. "We have some concerns about the quality of this decision," Bach told reporters on Sunday, questioning why the court didn't take into account the "systemic manipulation of the anti-doping system in Russia".

Russian PM Medvedev slams IOC verdict

Olympics chief Thomas Bach on Monday said the Pyeongchang Winter Games brought &quot;real hope&quot; to the divided Korean peninsula and conceded there was no &quot;Plan B&quot; even when nuclear tensions put them under threat.

Bach was speaking four days ahead of the opening of the Games, which received a major boost when isolated North Korea ended months of bellicose posturing by agreeing to send a contingent of athletes.

&quot;The Olympic Winter Games Pyeongchang 2018 have allowed another new beginning on the Korean peninsula,&quot; Bach told delegates at the opening ceremony for this week&#39;s International Olympic Committee (IOC) session.&nbsp;

&quot;They have opened the door for a peaceful dialogue between the Republic of Korea (South) and the Democratic People&#39;s Republic of Korea (North).

&quot;The Olympic spirit has brought two sides together that for too long were divided by mistrust and animosity.&nbsp;

&quot;The Olympic spirit has brought real hope for a brighter future for everyone on the Korean peninsula.&quot;

Bach said it had been a &quot;long and difficult journey&quot; to organise an Olympics in Korea, whose two sides are divided by a heavily fortified border -- just 30 miles (50 kilometres) from the Games site -- and remain technically at war.

Officials from France, Germany and Austria all expressed concerns about sending athletes as tensions spiralled last year, when North Korea fired a series of missile tests and exchanged threats of war with the United States.

But Bach said: &quot;In all the conversations we had, the Olympic Winter Games Pyeongchang 2018 were never put in doubt. On the contrary, we could always feel support.&quot;

&quot;Despite the sometimes worrying political circumstances, we were always standing at the side of our Korean hosts and never talked of a Plan B,&quot; he added.

&#39;Impossible dream&#39;

South Korean President Moon Jae-In has long argued for engagement to bring the North to the negotiating table over its nuclear ambitions.

But not all of his countrymen agree and there is a public perception that Moon&#39;s administration made too many concessions to the North to secure its participation at the Olympics.&nbsp;

Chiming with Bach, Moon said: &quot;Something truly wonderful is taking place in the divided and war-torn nation... throughout the world the message of peace is echoing.&quot;

&quot;One or two months ago, many countries were concerned with the safety of the Pyeongchang Olympic Games. North Korea&#39;s participating in the Games and a unified team under the banner of peace seemed like an impossible dream then,&quot; he added.

North Korea is sending 22 athletes to Pyeongchang, along with a large number of officials and an all-female cheer squad.

A unified Korean women&#39;s ice hockey team, whose squad includes 12 players from the North, on Sunday made its debut ahead of the Games, losing 3-1 to Sweden in a practice match.

The team has proved polarising in South Korea, where it has been blamed for a sudden drop in Moon&#39;s approval ratings.

While enthusiastic supporters cheered on the joint team, protesters chanting &quot;Pyongyang Olympics!&quot; also gathered outside, stamping on a picture of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un and ripping up the blue-and-white Korean unification flag.

&nbsp;

Bach said it had been a "long and difficult journey" to organise an Olympics in Korea, whose two sides are divided and remain technically at war

Olympics chief Thomas Bach on Monday said the Pyeongchang Winter Games brought "real hope" to the divided Korean peninsula and conceded there was no "Plan B" even when nuclear tensions put them under threat. Bach was speaking four days ahead of the opening of the Games, which received a major boost when isolated North Korea ended months of bellicose posturing by agreeing to send a contingent of athletes. "The Olympic Winter Games Pyeongchang 2018 have allowed another new beginning on the Korean peninsula," Bach told delegates at the opening ceremony for this week's International Olympic Committee (IOC) session. "They have opened the door for a peaceful dialogue between the Republic of Korea (South) and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North). "The Olympic spirit has brought two sides together that for too long were divided by mistrust and animosity. "The Olympic spirit has brought real hope for a brighter future for everyone on the Korean peninsula." Bach said it had been a "long and difficult journey" to organise an Olympics in Korea, whose two sides are divided by a heavily fortified border -- just 30 miles (50 kilometres) from the Games site -- and remain technically at war. Officials from France, Germany and Austria all expressed concerns about sending athletes as tensions spiralled last year, when North Korea fired a series of missile tests and exchanged threats of war with the United States. But Bach said: "In all the conversations we had, the Olympic Winter Games Pyeongchang 2018 were never put in doubt. On the contrary, we could always feel support." "Despite the sometimes worrying political circumstances, we were always standing at the side of our Korean hosts and never talked of a Plan B," he added. 'Impossible dream' South Korean President Moon Jae-In has long argued for engagement to bring the North to the negotiating table over its nuclear ambitions. But not all of his countrymen agree and there is a public perception that Moon's administration made too many concessions to the North to secure its participation at the Olympics. Chiming with Bach, Moon said: "Something truly wonderful is taking place in the divided and war-torn nation... throughout the world the message of peace is echoing." "One or two months ago, many countries were concerned with the safety of the Pyeongchang Olympic Games. North Korea's participating in the Games and a unified team under the banner of peace seemed like an impossible dream then," he added. North Korea is sending 22 athletes to Pyeongchang, along with a large number of officials and an all-female cheer squad. A unified Korean women's ice hockey team, whose squad includes 12 players from the North, on Sunday made its debut ahead of the Games, losing 3-1 to Sweden in a practice match. The team has proved polarising in South Korea, where it has been blamed for a sudden drop in Moon's approval ratings. While enthusiastic supporters cheered on the joint team, protesters chanting "Pyongyang Olympics!" also gathered outside, stamping on a picture of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un and ripping up the blue-and-white Korean unification flag.

Pyeongchang Olympics brings 'real hope' to divided Koreas, says Bach

Jordan Greenway, the first African-American US Olympic ice hockey player, hopes to inspire black youth to his sport the way Tiger Woods did in golf or Serena Williams has in tennis.

&quot;I just really want kids out there to do something different, go against the colour barrier in the sports world,&quot; Greenway said. &quot;You see African-American players in other sports like basketball and football. I want kids to feel all right to go try something different.&quot;

The 20-year-old Boston University star forward is one of four collegians on the US roster and helped the Americans win the 2017 World Junior Championships, scoring three goals and setting up five more.

&quot;It&#39;s a proud feeling to win a gold medal for the USA and I want to have that feeling again on the biggest stage,&quot; Greenway said.

&quot;Winning a gold medal is a feeling you can&#39;t put into words. That&#39;s motivating me every day to work hard. I couldn&#39;t be more excited. I always had a dream to play in the Olympics. I didn&#39;t think it was going to happen.&quot;

Greenway has his chance because the National Hockey League, which had shut down for every Winter Olympics since 1998 so players could compete in the Games, decided against the move this season, opening the door for Europe-based talent, minor-leaguers and top collegians.

Not that Greenway isn&#39;t good enough for the NHL. He was a 2015 second-round NHL Draft pick by Minnesota, 50th overall, and at 6-foot-6 (1.97m) and 227 (103kg) pounds he&#39;s the largest player on the US Olympic roster.

&quot;Jordan&#39;s size and ability will be a big factor in penalty kills and power play,&quot; US coach Tony Granato said. &quot;His versatility will bring something special as a player.&quot;

Jordan accepts his racial pioneer role with pride and responsibility.

&quot;Being the first African-American, I&#39;m really honoured by that. Hopefully, I&#39;ve been a role model to other African-American kids to go out and do something different.

You don&#39;t see a lot of African-Americans playing hockey. Hopefully, I can inspire them.&quot;

Greenway has 24 goals and 57 assists in under three seasons with a perennial college power and could play a major role in the American men&#39;s quest for their first gold since 1980.

&quot;Our college guys, I think they can compete in the NHL right now,&quot; Granato said. &quot;They are going to have a major impact on how we do.&quot;

Greenway wouldn&#39;t have it any other way.

&quot;I want to make an impact any way I can,&quot; Greenway said. &quot;I&#39;ll put in all the effort I&#39;ve got.&quot;

&nbsp;

"I just really want kids out there to do something different, go against the colour barrier in the sports world," says Jordan Greenway.

Jordan Greenway, the first African-American US Olympic ice hockey player, hopes to inspire black youth to his sport the way Tiger Woods did in golf or Serena Williams has in tennis. "I just really want kids out there to do something different, go against the colour barrier in the sports world," Greenway said. "You see African-American players in other sports like basketball and football. I want kids to feel all right to go try something different." The 20-year-old Boston University star forward is one of four collegians on the US roster and helped the Americans win the 2017 World Junior Championships, scoring three goals and setting up five more. "It's a proud feeling to win a gold medal for the USA and I want to have that feeling again on the biggest stage," Greenway said. "Winning a gold medal is a feeling you can't put into words. That's motivating me every day to work hard. I couldn't be more excited. I always had a dream to play in the Olympics. I didn't think it was going to happen." Greenway has his chance because the National Hockey League, which had shut down for every Winter Olympics since 1998 so players could compete in the Games, decided against the move this season, opening the door for Europe-based talent, minor-leaguers and top collegians. Not that Greenway isn't good enough for the NHL. He was a 2015 second-round NHL Draft pick by Minnesota, 50th overall, and at 6-foot-6 (1.97m) and 227 (103kg) pounds he's the largest player on the US Olympic roster. "Jordan's size and ability will be a big factor in penalty kills and power play," US coach Tony Granato said. "His versatility will bring something special as a player." Jordan accepts his racial pioneer role with pride and responsibility. "Being the first African-American, I'm really honoured by that. Hopefully, I've been a role model to other African-American kids to go out and do something different. You don't see a lot of African-Americans playing hockey. Hopefully, I can inspire them." Greenway has 24 goals and 57 assists in under three seasons with a perennial college power and could play a major role in the American men's quest for their first gold since 1980. "Our college guys, I think they can compete in the NHL right now," Granato said. "They are going to have a major impact on how we do." Greenway wouldn't have it any other way. "I want to make an impact any way I can," Greenway said. "I'll put in all the effort I've got."

Olympics: Hockey pioneer hopes to inspire black kids

The 2018 Winter Olympics or PyeongChang 2018, is a major international multi-sport event scheduled to take place from 9 to 25 February 2018 in Pyeongchang County, South Korea.

Just a few days before the main event, South Korean security agencies have banned visitors to enter South Korea due to security reasons.

South Korea has banned 36,000 foreigners from entering the country ahead of the Winter Olympics, citing security concerns, Yonhap News Agency said on Monday.

Yonhap cited a South Korean lawmaker as saying the spy agency had told lawmakers it was working with foreign intelligence agencies to beef up foreign nationals&#39; identity checks as an anti-terrorism plan for the Olympics.

&nbsp;

South Korea has banned 36,000 foreigners from entering the country ahead of the Winter Olympics, citing security concerns

The 2018 Winter Olympics or PyeongChang 2018, is a major international multi-sport event scheduled to take place from 9 to 25 February 2018 in Pyeongchang County, South Korea. Just a few days before the main event, South Korean security agencies have banned visitors to enter South Korea due to security reasons. South Korea has banned 36,000 foreigners from entering the country ahead of the Winter Olympics, citing security concerns, Yonhap News Agency said on Monday. Yonhap cited a South Korean lawmaker as saying the spy agency had told lawmakers it was working with foreign intelligence agencies to beef up foreign nationals' identity checks as an anti-terrorism plan for the Olympics.

Winter Olympics: South Korea bans entry of 36k foreigners due to 'security concern'

The International <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/instances-doping-use-in-russia-admits-putin-31242">Olympic Committee said today </a>that the 13 Russian athletes whose life bans for doping was lifted will not be invited for the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics starting on Friday.

&quot;The OAR <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-secret-services-control-doping-whistleblower-rodchenkov-putin-26760">IG (Olympic Athlete from Russia Implementation Group) </a>confirmed that no additional invitations will be extended to these 15 individuals,&quot; the IOC said.

Earlier, the IOC had said the athletes may be allowed to attend the Winter Games after spokesman Mark Adams said the cases of the athletes would be examined by a specialist IOC panel.

Last week the Court for Arbitration in Sport(CAS) had overturned the life bans on 28 Russian athletes linked to doping.

However, &nbsp;169 Russians who have passed strict anti-doping protocols will compete under a neutral flag.

The IOC announcement comes after the body&#39;s president, Thomas Bach, slammed the CAS decision as &quot;extremely disappointing and surprising&quot; and called for reforms to the independent sports tribunal.

&quot;We have some concerns about the quality of this decision,&quot; Bach said.

Russian officials had said last Tuesday that short track speed skating star Victor An has been excluded from the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics due to doping allegations.

Olympic champion biathlete Anton Shipulin and world champion skier Sergei Ustyugov were also absent from the list of athletes invited by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the statement said.

Earlier, the IOC had said the athletes may be allowed to attend the Winter Games

The International Olympic Committee said today that the 13 Russian athletes whose life bans for doping was lifted will not be invited for the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics starting on Friday. "The OAR IG (Olympic Athlete from Russia Implementation Group) confirmed that no additional invitations will be extended to these 15 individuals," the IOC said. Earlier, the IOC had said the athletes may be allowed to attend the Winter Games after spokesman Mark Adams said the cases of the athletes would be examined by a specialist IOC panel. Last week the Court for Arbitration in Sport(CAS) had overturned the life bans on 28 Russian athletes linked to doping. However, 169 Russians who have passed strict anti-doping protocols will compete under a neutral flag. The IOC announcement comes after the body's president, Thomas Bach, slammed the CAS decision as "extremely disappointing and surprising" and called for reforms to the independent sports tribunal. "We have some concerns about the quality of this decision," Bach said. Russian officials had said last Tuesday that short track speed skating star Victor An has been excluded from the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics due to doping allegations. Olympic champion biathlete Anton Shipulin and world champion skier Sergei Ustyugov were also absent from the list of athletes invited by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the statement said.

No Winter Olympics for Russians whose life bans have been lifted, rules IOC

North Korea&#39;s ceremonial head of state will visit the South this week and attend the Winter Olympics opening ceremony as the divided peninsula witnesses a rare thaw after a year of high tensions over Pyongyang&#39;s nuclear programme.

Kim Yong-Nam will be the most senior official from the North for years to travel to the other side of the Demilitarized Zone that has divided the two Koreas for decades.

His trip will be the diplomatic high point of the rapprochement between the two Koreas triggered by the Pyeongchang Olympics in the South, which have their opening ceremony on Friday &mdash; although analysts warn that their newly warmed relations may not last long beyond the Games.

Tensions spiralled last year as the North carried out multiple weapons tests, including intercontinental ballistic missiles it says are capable of reaching the mainland United States, and its most powerful nuclear blast to date.

For months Pyongyang ignored Seoul&#39;s entreaties to take part in a &quot;peace Olympics&quot;, until leader Kim Jong-Un indicated his willingness to do so in his New Year speech.

That set off a rapid series of meetings which saw the two agree to march together at the opening ceremony and form a unified women&#39;s ice hockey team, their first for 27 years.

The North&#39;s Olympic participation would include a visit by a high-level delegation, they agreed.

It will be led by Kim Yong-Nam, who is leader of the Presidium of the Supreme People&#39;s Assembly, the North&#39;s ruling party-controlled parliament, Seoul&#39;s unification ministry said in a statement late Sunday.

The North&#39;s state-run news agency KCNA said the high-level delegation led by Kim Yong-Nam would &quot;soon visit south Korea to attend the opening ceremony of the 23rd Winter Olympics&quot;. 
Kim &mdash; who is not a close blood relative of leader Kim Jong-Un &mdash; will arrive on Friday for a three-day visit, accompanied by three other officials and 18 support staff, the ministry said it had been told by Pyongyang.

The South Korean ministry did not explicitly say whether Kim would go to the Pyeongchang opening ceremony &mdash; which will be attended by the US Vice President Mike Pence.Kim Yong-Nam will be the highest-level Northern official to visit the South since 2014.

But it may be seen as disappointing by some if he proves to be the most important member of the delegation, as he is largely considered a figurehead whose public diplomatic role leaves it unclear how much political power he really has.

He is regarded as the ceremonial head of state, but does not hold the title of national president &mdash; and nor does Kim Jong-Un.

Instead it is retained by Kim Jong-Un&#39;s grandfather, the North&#39;s founder Kim Il-Sung, who remains Eternal President of the Democratic People&#39;s Republic of Korea &mdash; the country&#39;s official name &mdash; despite dying in 1994.

Speculation about who could lead the delegation had been rife in the South for weeks, with some analysts pointing to Choe Ryong-Hae, who is the vice chairman of the Central Committee of the ruling Workers&#39; Party and seen as Kim Jong-Un&#39;s right-hand man.

Others had even suggested the leader&#39;s younger sister Kim Yo-Jong, who was recently promoted to a senior political position.

Choe was one of three senior Pyongyang officials who made a surprise visit to the South during the 2014 Asian Games along with former military chief Hwang Pyong-So and Kim Yang-Gon, a top official on inter-Korea affairs who died in a car crash in 2015.

They did not meet any senior officials of the government in Seoul, but it may be different on this occasion.

The South&#39;s new President Moon Jae-In has long argued for engagement to bring the North to the negotiating table over its nuclear ambitions, which have seen it subjected to multiple sets of United Nations Security Council sanctions.

Seoul and Washington have agreed to delay annual large-scale joint military exercises which always infuriate Pyongyang, but only until the end of the Paralympics in late March.

North Korea is to send its highest ranking official for years to the South amid an easing of tensions during the Winter Olympics

North Korea's ceremonial head of state will visit the South this week and attend the Winter Olympics opening ceremony as the divided peninsula witnesses a rare thaw after a year of high tensions over Pyongyang's nuclear programme. Kim Yong-Nam will be the most senior official from the North for years to travel to the other side of the Demilitarized Zone that has divided the two Koreas for decades. His trip will be the diplomatic high point of the rapprochement between the two Koreas triggered by the Pyeongchang Olympics in the South, which have their opening ceremony on Friday — although analysts warn that their newly warmed relations may not last long beyond the Games. Tensions spiralled last year as the North carried out multiple weapons tests, including intercontinental ballistic missiles it says are capable of reaching the mainland United States, and its most powerful nuclear blast to date. For months Pyongyang ignored Seoul's entreaties to take part in a "peace Olympics", until leader Kim Jong-Un indicated his willingness to do so in his New Year speech. That set off a rapid series of meetings which saw the two agree to march together at the opening ceremony and form a unified women's ice hockey team, their first for 27 years. The North's Olympic participation would include a visit by a high-level delegation, they agreed. It will be led by Kim Yong-Nam, who is leader of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, the North's ruling party-controlled parliament, Seoul's unification ministry said in a statement late Sunday. The North's state-run news agency KCNA said the high-level delegation led by Kim Yong-Nam would "soon visit south Korea to attend the opening ceremony of the 23rd Winter Olympics". Kim — who is not a close blood relative of leader Kim Jong-Un — will arrive on Friday for a three-day visit, accompanied by three other officials and 18 support staff, the ministry said it had been told by Pyongyang. The South Korean ministry did not explicitly say whether Kim would go to the Pyeongchang opening ceremony — which will be attended by the US Vice President Mike Pence.Kim Yong-Nam will be the highest-level Northern official to visit the South since 2014. But it may be seen as disappointing by some if he proves to be the most important member of the delegation, as he is largely considered a figurehead whose public diplomatic role leaves it unclear how much political power he really has. He is regarded as the ceremonial head of state, but does not hold the title of national president — and nor does Kim Jong-Un. Instead it is retained by Kim Jong-Un's grandfather, the North's founder Kim Il-Sung, who remains Eternal President of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea — the country's official name — despite dying in 1994. Speculation about who could lead the delegation had been rife in the South for weeks, with some analysts pointing to Choe Ryong-Hae, who is the vice chairman of the Central Committee of the ruling Workers' Party and seen as Kim Jong-Un's right-hand man. Others had even suggested the leader's younger sister Kim Yo-Jong, who was recently promoted to a senior political position. Choe was one of three senior Pyongyang officials who made a surprise visit to the South during the 2014 Asian Games along with former military chief Hwang Pyong-So and Kim Yang-Gon, a top official on inter-Korea affairs who died in a car crash in 2015. They did not meet any senior officials of the government in Seoul, but it may be different on this occasion. The South's new President Moon Jae-In has long argued for engagement to bring the North to the negotiating table over its nuclear ambitions, which have seen it subjected to multiple sets of United Nations Security Council sanctions. Seoul and Washington have agreed to delay annual large-scale joint military exercises which always infuriate Pyongyang, but only until the end of the Paralympics in late March.

Top North Korean official to visit South Korea for Winter Olympics

Thirteen Russian athletes and two coaches whose life bans linked to doping were lifted by a top&nbsp;sports&nbsp;court may be allowed to take part in the Pyeongchang Olympics, the IOC said Saturday.

Just six days from the opening ceremony of the February 9-25 Games, International Olympic Committee spokesman Mark Adams said the cases of the 15 would be examined by a specialist IOC panel.

On Thursday the Court for Arbitration in&nbsp;Sport&nbsp;overturned the life bans on 28 Russian athletes linked to doping, ruling them eligible for participation in the winter Olympics.

However, of the 28, 13 have retired from the sport, leaving only 15 still able to take part, Adams said.

The spokesman said that the IOC&#39;s invitation review panel will examine each case before making a decision.

&quot;We will take an individual view of each of these athletes before reaching a decision,&quot; he told a press conference.

Recently, Court for Arbitration in Sport overturned the life bans on 28 Russian athletes linked to doping, ruling them eligible for participation in the winter Olympics.

Thirteen Russian athletes and two coaches whose life bans linked to doping were lifted by a top sports court may be allowed to take part in the Pyeongchang Olympics, the IOC said Saturday. Just six days from the opening ceremony of the February 9-25 Games, International Olympic Committee spokesman Mark Adams said the cases of the 15 would be examined by a specialist IOC panel. On Thursday the Court for Arbitration in Sport overturned the life bans on 28 Russian athletes linked to doping, ruling them eligible for participation in the winter Olympics. However, of the 28, 13 have retired from the sport, leaving only 15 still able to take part, Adams said. The spokesman said that the IOC's invitation review panel will examine each case before making a decision. "We will take an individual view of each of these athletes before reaching a decision," he told a press conference.

IOC: 13 Russians cleared of doping eligible for Games

Cross-country skier Jagdish Singh has qualified for the Winter Olympics, one of only two Indian athletes who will be seen in action at Pyeongchang, South Korea.

Singh and veteran luger Shiva Keshavan will comprise the Indian contingent for the Games starting February 9, Indian Olympic Association (IOA) secretary-general Rajeev Mehta told AFP on Saturday.

It will be a maiden Olympic appearance for 26-year-old Singh, who booked his place with just one point over the qualification mark.&nbsp;

He will be participating in the 15-km Nordic skiing freestyle event that is scheduled for February 16.

The Winter Games Federation of India (WGFI) is not recognised by the IOA, which has made it tough for Indian athletes to break through to the big stage.

Keshavan, 36, has been India&#39;s only regular face in the Winter Games since making his debut in 1998.

In the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, India was represented by three athletes: Keshavan, Himanshu Thakur (alpine skiing) and Nadeem Iqbal (cross-country skiing).

Cricket-crazy India has never won a medal at the winter games and has only ever scooped one individual gold at an Olympics, with Abhinav Bindra taking the honours in a rifle shooting event at the 2008 Beijing summer games.

&nbsp;

Jagdish Singh will participate in the 15-km Nordic skiing freestyle event that is scheduled for February 16

Cross-country skier Jagdish Singh has qualified for the Winter Olympics, one of only two Indian athletes who will be seen in action at Pyeongchang, South Korea. Singh and veteran luger Shiva Keshavan will comprise the Indian contingent for the Games starting February 9, Indian Olympic Association (IOA) secretary-general Rajeev Mehta told AFP on Saturday. It will be a maiden Olympic appearance for 26-year-old Singh, who booked his place with just one point over the qualification mark. He will be participating in the 15-km Nordic skiing freestyle event that is scheduled for February 16. The Winter Games Federation of India (WGFI) is not recognised by the IOA, which has made it tough for Indian athletes to break through to the big stage. Keshavan, 36, has been India's only regular face in the Winter Games since making his debut in 1998. In the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, India was represented by three athletes: Keshavan, Himanshu Thakur (alpine skiing) and Nadeem Iqbal (cross-country skiing). Cricket-crazy India has never won a medal at the winter games and has only ever scooped one individual gold at an Olympics, with Abhinav Bindra taking the honours in a rifle shooting event at the 2008 Beijing summer games.

Jagdish Singh books India rare Winter Olympics berth

The Court of Arbitration for&nbsp;Sport&nbsp;on Thursday lifted life bans on 28 of the 43 Russians accused of doping at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.

In a decision that could allow some of them to compete in this month&#39;s Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang,&nbsp;sport&#39;s top court ruled there was &quot;insufficient&quot; evidence that the athletes had benefited from a system of state-sponsored doping at the last Winter Games, hosted by Russia.

CAS said in its judgement: &quot;In 28 cases, the evidence collected was found to be insufficient to establish that an anti-doping rule violation (ADRV) was committed by the athletes concerned.&quot;

The International Olympic Committee has banned Russia from competing at Pyeongchang as a team over the doping scandal, although 169 Russian competitors have been cleared to take part as neutrals.

Putin&#39;s spokesman says &#39;very glad&#39; at the lifting of the ban on 28 Russian athletes.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/putin-orders-alternative-olympic-games-for-banned-athletes-31401">Putin orders alternative Olympic Games for banned athletes</a>

The decision given by Court of Arbitration for Sport could allow some of the athletes to compete in this month's Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang

The Court of Arbitration for Sport on Thursday lifted life bans on 28 of the 43 Russians accused of doping at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. In a decision that could allow some of them to compete in this month's Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, sport's top court ruled there was "insufficient" evidence that the athletes had benefited from a system of state-sponsored doping at the last Winter Games, hosted by Russia. CAS said in its judgement: "In 28 cases, the evidence collected was found to be insufficient to establish that an anti-doping rule violation (ADRV) was committed by the athletes concerned." The International Olympic Committee has banned Russia from competing at Pyeongchang as a team over the doping scandal, although 169 Russian competitors have been cleared to take part as neutrals. Putin's spokesman says 'very glad' at the lifting of the ban on 28 Russian athletes. Also read: Putin orders alternative Olympic Games for banned athletes

CAS clears 28 Russians athletes of doping, Putin 'very glad'

Russian President <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/instances-doping-use-in-russia-admits-putin-31242">Vladimir Putin today said &quot;sorry&quot;&nbsp;on </a>behalf of his government for not being able &quot;shield&quot; athletes after the doping scandal hit the country.

The president said athletes faced &quot;very difficult conditions&quot; as a result of the scandal.

&quot;Forgive us for not having been able to shield you from this,&quot; Putin said.

On Wednesday, the Russian president had admitted to &quot;instances&quot; of doping in Russia.

However, Putin dismissed whistleblower Grigory Rodchenkov as an &quot;idiot&quot; after he reportedly said that the Russian president must have known about state-sponsored doping program.

The International Olympic Committee has banned Russia from the 2018 Olympics after reports of large-scale doping in previous games.

Only 169 of Russian athletes have been allowed to take part in the Winter Olympics next month under a neutral flag as&nbsp;&quot;Olympic Athlete from Russia&quot;.

&quot;For us certain things are truly strange,&quot; Putin said, adding, &quot;Hundreds of thousands, millions of fans who love you are watching you.&quot;

Meanwhile, Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) said the verdicts on appeals from 39 Russian athletes who were given lifetime Olympic bans for doping violations at the 2014 Sochi Games will be announced on Thursday.

The athletes were disqualified from their events, banned from participating in future Olympics and in some cases stripped of their medals following the International Olympic Committee&rsquo;s investigation of widespread doping in Sochi.

The president said athletes faced "very difficult conditions" as a result of the scandal.

Russian President Vladimir Putin today said "sorry" on behalf of his government for not being able "shield" athletes after the doping scandal hit the country. The president said athletes faced "very difficult conditions" as a result of the scandal. "Forgive us for not having been able to shield you from this," Putin said. On Wednesday, the Russian president had admitted to "instances" of doping in Russia. However, Putin dismissed whistleblower Grigory Rodchenkov as an "idiot" after he reportedly said that the Russian president must have known about state-sponsored doping program. The International Olympic Committee has banned Russia from the 2018 Olympics after reports of large-scale doping in previous games. Only 169 of Russian athletes have been allowed to take part in the Winter Olympics next month under a neutral flag as "Olympic Athlete from Russia". "For us certain things are truly strange," Putin said, adding, "Hundreds of thousands, millions of fans who love you are watching you." Meanwhile, Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) said the verdicts on appeals from 39 Russian athletes who were given lifetime Olympic bans for doping violations at the 2014 Sochi Games will be announced on Thursday. The athletes were disqualified from their events, banned from participating in future Olympics and in some cases stripped of their medals following the International Olympic Committee’s investigation of widespread doping in Sochi.

Sorry for not being able to shield you from doping scam: Putin to Russian athletes

The 2018 Winter Olympics is a major international multi-sport event which is scheduled to take place from February 9 to 25.

The 23rd Winter Olympics will open in Pyeongchang, South Korea, on February 9, featuring 102 events in 15 sports and athletes from all over the world.

The Winter Olympic torch relay visited the South Korean city of Chuncheon on Monday.

With less than two weeks to go until the opening ceremony for the 2018 Pyeongchang Games, the excitement level is very high among the fans and spectators.

The Olympic torch survived a ride with one torchbearer in a hot air balloon over scenic lakes and mountains, while another torchbearer received the Olympic flame in front of the iconic Statue of Soyanggang Maid - a seven-metre tall bronze statue which was erected in 2005.

A further torchbearer carried the flame across the Soyanggang Skywalk - a transparent 156-metre glass walkway over a lake.

The torch relay kicked off under the slogan &#39;Let Everyone Shine&#39; on 1st November 2017.

As many as 7,500 torchbearers will cover a total distance of 2,018 kilometres through nine provinces and eight major cities across South Korea, before the torch arrives in Pyeongchang for the Winter Olympics opening ceremony on 9th February.

&nbsp;

The torch relay kicked off under the slogan 'Let Everyone Shine' on 1st November 2017

The 2018 Winter Olympics is a major international multi-sport event which is scheduled to take place from February 9 to 25. The 23rd Winter Olympics will open in Pyeongchang, South Korea, on February 9, featuring 102 events in 15 sports and athletes from all over the world. The Winter Olympic torch relay visited the South Korean city of Chuncheon on Monday. With less than two weeks to go until the opening ceremony for the 2018 Pyeongchang Games, the excitement level is very high among the fans and spectators. The Olympic torch survived a ride with one torchbearer in a hot air balloon over scenic lakes and mountains, while another torchbearer received the Olympic flame in front of the iconic Statue of Soyanggang Maid - a seven-metre tall bronze statue which was erected in 2005. A further torchbearer carried the flame across the Soyanggang Skywalk - a transparent 156-metre glass walkway over a lake. The torch relay kicked off under the slogan 'Let Everyone Shine' on 1st November 2017. As many as 7,500 torchbearers will cover a total distance of 2,018 kilometres through nine provinces and eight major cities across South Korea, before the torch arrives in Pyeongchang for the Winter Olympics opening ceremony on 9th February.

The Winter Olympic torch relay: From land to sky 'Let Everyone Shine'

The unified Korean women&#39;s ice hockey team faced an unexpected challenge at their first joint training session, reports said Monday -- vastly different hockey terminology on either side of the divided peninsula.

Seven decades of almost total separation after the 1950-53 Korean War, with all ordinary civilian contact blocked between North and South, has seen their once common language diverge in many respects.

The two Koreas still share the same writing system, known as Hangul -- an alphabet developed in the 15th century to replace Chinese characters.

But different words are emerging as they develop separately, and in the capitalist South, ice hockey players adapted the sounds of English words for most sporting terms.

Skating is called &quot;seu-ke-ee-ting&quot; and a &quot;t-push&quot; -- a defensive technique by a goalie -- is &quot;tee-pu-sh&quot;. &nbsp;

But the North created its own Korean-language words for each move, calling skating &quot;apuro jee chee gee&quot;, while a &quot;t-push&quot; is a &quot;moonjeegee eedong&quot;, literally meaning &quot;a move by a gatekeeper&quot;.

To overcome communication issues the South&#39;s&nbsp;sports&nbsp;authorities put together a list of the different vocabularies and distributed it to the players ahead of their first skate together on Sunday.

It also includes the English pronunciation of the North Korean terms -- apparently for the use of the South Korean team&#39;s Canadian coach Sarah Murray.

The list was intended &quot;to help players understand&quot;, one official of the Korea Ice Hockey Association (KIHA) told the South&#39;s top-selling Chosun daily.

&quot;But people are still in the process of getting used to it, so we hear a mishmash of terms from both sides during practice.&quot;

Three letter code

The joint team was forged as part of peace efforts by Seoul to use the Pyeongchang Winter Games in the South to ease tension on the flashpoint peninsula. &nbsp;

The atmosphere at the first practice was &quot;serious but amicable&quot;, Seoul&#39;s News1 news agency said, citing an KIHA official, adding many Northern players had demonstrated &quot;great focus and fighting spirit&quot;. &nbsp;

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.

North and South have their own three-letter Olympic country codes -- PRK and KOR respectively, for People&#39;s Republic of Korea and Korean Republic -- and the unified team has been accorded its own country code, COR, from the French word for Korea, Cor&eacute;e.&nbsp;

The ice hockey squad is made up of 23 South Korean players and 12 Northerners, who crossed the Demilitarized Zone last week. They are scheduled to hold a warm-up match against Sweden on Sunday.

But the last-minute creation of the team sparked controversy among many South Koreans who accused Seoul of using athletes for political purposes and robbing Southern players of opportunities to compete at the Olympics.&nbsp;

The North will send another 10 athletes to take part in the Games in other&nbsp;sports including cross-country skiing and figure skating after its leader Kim Jong-Un announced a plan to join the event in his New Year speech.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

To overcome communication issues the South's sports authorities put together a list of the different vocabularies and distributed it to the players

The unified Korean women's ice hockey team faced an unexpected challenge at their first joint training session, reports said Monday -- vastly different hockey terminology on either side of the divided peninsula. Seven decades of almost total separation after the 1950-53 Korean War, with all ordinary civilian contact blocked between North and South, has seen their once common language diverge in many respects. The two Koreas still share the same writing system, known as Hangul -- an alphabet developed in the 15th century to replace Chinese characters. But different words are emerging as they develop separately, and in the capitalist South, ice hockey players adapted the sounds of English words for most sporting terms. Skating is called "seu-ke-ee-ting" and a "t-push" -- a defensive technique by a goalie -- is "tee-pu-sh". But the North created its own Korean-language words for each move, calling skating "apuro jee chee gee", while a "t-push" is a "moonjeegee eedong", literally meaning "a move by a gatekeeper". To overcome communication issues the South's sports authorities put together a list of the different vocabularies and distributed it to the players ahead of their first skate together on Sunday. It also includes the English pronunciation of the North Korean terms -- apparently for the use of the South Korean team's Canadian coach Sarah Murray. The list was intended "to help players understand", one official of the Korea Ice Hockey Association (KIHA) told the South's top-selling Chosun daily. "But people are still in the process of getting used to it, so we hear a mishmash of terms from both sides during practice." Three letter code The joint team was forged as part of peace efforts by Seoul to use the Pyeongchang Winter Games in the South to ease tension on the flashpoint peninsula. The atmosphere at the first practice was "serious but amicable", Seoul's News1 news agency said, citing an KIHA official, adding many Northern players had demonstrated "great focus and fighting spirit". 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. North and South have their own three-letter Olympic country codes -- PRK and KOR respectively, for People's Republic of Korea and Korean Republic -- and the unified team has been accorded its own country code, COR, from the French word for Korea, Corée. The ice hockey squad is made up of 23 South Korean players and 12 Northerners, who crossed the Demilitarized Zone last week. They are scheduled to hold a warm-up match against Sweden on Sunday. But the last-minute creation of the team sparked controversy among many South Koreans who accused Seoul of using athletes for political purposes and robbing Southern players of opportunities to compete at the Olympics. The North will send another 10 athletes to take part in the Games in other sports including cross-country skiing and figure skating after its leader Kim Jong-Un announced a plan to join the event in his New Year speech.

Winter Olympics: Unified Korean ice hockey team lost in translation

South Korea said today that North Korea <a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/winter-olympics-unified-korean-ice-hockey-team-lost-in-translation-31075">has called off joint Olympic performance</a> on its soil, the South Korean government said today.

North Korea had <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-imposes-more-north-korea-sanctions-urges-china-russia-expulsions-30761">earlier agreed to form a unified </a>women&#39;s ice hockey team with the South in what the authorities have dubbed&nbsp;the &quot;peace Olympics&quot;. The two teams have already begun practicing together for the Winter Games.

The ice hockey squad comprises of &nbsp;23 South Korean players and 12 North Koreans.

The North Koreans are due to send another 10 athletes to take part in the Winter Games in other sports including cross-country skiing and figure skating.

The Winter Olympics due to start in Pyeongchang next month has been the center of North and South Korean peace moves for the last one month although South&#39;s unification minister had urged North Korea last week that Pyongyang should seize the opportunity to talk to Washington.&nbsp;

Both South Korea and the US have decided to put military exercises on hold till the Winter Olympics and Paralympics end on March 25th.

Amid the peace moves, reports say North Korea is preparing a military parade in Pyongyang on February 8th, a day before the Winter Olympics&#39; opening ceremony.

The ice hockey squad comprises of 23 South Korean players and 12 North Koreans.

South Korea said today that North Korea has called off joint Olympic performance on its soil, the South Korean government said today. North Korea had earlier agreed to form a unified women's ice hockey team with the South in what the authorities have dubbed the "peace Olympics". The two teams have already begun practicing together for the Winter Games. The ice hockey squad comprises of 23 South Korean players and 12 North Koreans. The North Koreans are due to send another 10 athletes to take part in the Winter Games in other sports including cross-country skiing and figure skating. The Winter Olympics due to start in Pyeongchang next month has been the center of North and South Korean peace moves for the last one month although South's unification minister had urged North Korea last week that Pyongyang should seize the opportunity to talk to Washington. Both South Korea and the US have decided to put military exercises on hold till the Winter Olympics and Paralympics end on March 25th. Amid the peace moves, reports say North Korea is preparing a military parade in Pyongyang on February 8th, a day before the Winter Olympics' opening ceremony.

North Korea won't hold joint Olympic performance on own soil: South Korea

North Korea will send around 230 people as a single cheering squad to the Winter Olympics in the South next month, South Korea&#39;s unification ministry said in a statement after officials from the two Koreas held talks on Wednesday.

North and South Korea have been talking since last week regarding Pyongyang&#39;s participation in the Olympics. The ministry said the two sides exchanged opinions on several issues, including the size of the North Korean athletics team, joint cultural events and use of the Masikryong ski report in North Korea.

There were reports of both countries coming together to host a joint skating and ice-hockey team but it hasn&#39;t been confirmed.

Kim Jong Un regime had decided to send athletes, officials, performers including its famed skating team for Pyeongchang Games which is situated 80 kilometres from the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).

&quot;Inter-Korean relations have been strained for almost 10 years,&quot; the North&#39;s chief delegate Jon Jong-Su said, adding,&quot;We hope that ties can open.&quot;

There were reports of both countries coming together to host a joint skating and ice-hockey team but it hasn't been confirmed.

North Korea will send around 230 people as a single cheering squad to the Winter Olympics in the South next month, South Korea's unification ministry said in a statement after officials from the two Koreas held talks on Wednesday. North and South Korea have been talking since last week regarding Pyongyang's participation in the Olympics. The ministry said the two sides exchanged opinions on several issues, including the size of the North Korean athletics team, joint cultural events and use of the Masikryong ski report in North Korea. There were reports of both countries coming together to host a joint skating and ice-hockey team but it hasn't been confirmed. Kim Jong Un regime had decided to send athletes, officials, performers including its famed skating team for Pyeongchang Games which is situated 80 kilometres from the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). "Inter-Korean relations have been strained for almost 10 years," the North's chief delegate Jon Jong-Su said, adding,"We hope that ties can open."

North Korea to send 230 cheerleaders for Winter Olympics

The two&nbsp;Koreas agreed during rare talks on Wednesday to form a combined women&#39;s ice hockey team to take part in next month&#39;s Winter Olympics in the South, and march together under a unified peninsula flag at the opening ceremony, a joint statement released by Seoul&#39;s unification ministry said.

North&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;will send a 550-member delegation, including 230 cheerleaders, 140 artists and 30 Taekwondo players for a demonstration, the statement said.

The delegation is scheduled to begin arriving in South&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;on Jan. 25, the statement said.

The delegation is scheduled to begin arriving in South Korea on Jan 25

The two Koreas agreed during rare talks on Wednesday to form a combined women's ice hockey team to take part in next month's Winter Olympics in the South, and march together under a unified peninsula flag at the opening ceremony, a joint statement released by Seoul's unification ministry said. North Korea will send a 550-member delegation, including 230 cheerleaders, 140 artists and 30 Taekwondo players for a demonstration, the statement said. The delegation is scheduled to begin arriving in South Korea on Jan. 25, the statement said.

Koreas to form unified ice hockey team, march together at Winter Olympics

As a South Korean delegation started preparations for another round of talks with North Koran officials on participation in the Winter Olympics next month, top Japanese and US officials said North Korea&#39;s &quot;charm offensive&quot; should not be underestimated.

At a meeting in Vancouver&nbsp;where top officials from 20 countries have gathered, Japanese foreign minister Taro Kono said: &quot;It is not the time to ease pressure, or to reward North Korea,&quot; adding, &quot;The fact that North Korea is engaging in dialogue could be interpreted as proof that the sanctions are working,&quot; the minister said.

&quot;The world should not be naive about North Korea&#39;s &quot;charm offensive&quot;, the minister added.

Agreeing with Japan, US secretary of state Rex Tillerson said: &quot;We must increase the costs of the regime&#39;s behaviour to the point that North Korea must come to the table for credible negotiations.&quot;

Tillerson said North Korea must not be allowed &quot;to drive a wedge&quot; through allied resolve or solidarity and rejected China and Russia&#39;s proposal of stopping military exercises around the Korean peninsula.

The United States and close allies agreed on tougher &quot;maritime interdiction&quot; to prevent North Korea from evading nuclear sanctions.

Tillerson&nbsp;said at the talks in Vancouver that the allies do not want to interfere with &quot;legitimate shipping&quot; but warned that action would be taken to stop sanctions-busting &quot;ship-to-ship&quot; transfers at sea.&nbsp;The US moved three B-2 bombers along the Korean peninsula ahead of the Winter Olympics in what the US officials said was &quot;deterrent options to maintain regional stability.&quot;

The US government has sent the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier to the western Pacific including the USS Wasp which reached southern Japan recently.&nbsp;USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier has also been stationed by the US along the Japanese coastline.

Tillerson added that countries attending the Vancouver conference aimed to improve the effectiveness of &quot;maximum pressure&quot; campaign on Pyongyang while urging North Korea&#39;s principal ally China and Russia to fully implement UN sanctions.

&quot;We cannot abide lapses or sanctions evasion,&quot; Tillerson said.&nbsp;

&quot;We will continue to call attention to, and designate, entities and individuals complicit in such actions,&quot; the US secretary of state added.

The United States and close allies agreed on tougher "maritime interdiction" to prevent North Korea from evading nuclear sanctions

As a South Korean delegation started preparations for another round of talks with North Koran officials on participation in the Winter Olympics next month, top Japanese and US officials said North Korea's "charm offensive" should not be underestimated. At a meeting in Vancouver where top officials from 20 countries have gathered, Japanese foreign minister Taro Kono said: "It is not the time to ease pressure, or to reward North Korea," adding, "The fact that North Korea is engaging in dialogue could be interpreted as proof that the sanctions are working," the minister said. "The world should not be naive about North Korea's "charm offensive", the minister added. Agreeing with Japan, US secretary of state Rex Tillerson said: "We must increase the costs of the regime's behaviour to the point that North Korea must come to the table for credible negotiations." Tillerson said North Korea must not be allowed "to drive a wedge" through allied resolve or solidarity and rejected China and Russia's proposal of stopping military exercises around the Korean peninsula. The United States and close allies agreed on tougher "maritime interdiction" to prevent North Korea from evading nuclear sanctions. Tillerson said at the talks in Vancouver that the allies do not want to interfere with "legitimate shipping" but warned that action would be taken to stop sanctions-busting "ship-to-ship" transfers at sea. The US moved three B-2 bombers along the Korean peninsula ahead of the Winter Olympics in what the US officials said was "deterrent options to maintain regional stability." The US government has sent the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier to the western Pacific including the USS Wasp which reached southern Japan recently. USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier has also been stationed by the US along the Japanese coastline. Tillerson added that countries attending the Vancouver conference aimed to improve the effectiveness of "maximum pressure" campaign on Pyongyang while urging North Korea's principal ally China and Russia to fully implement UN sanctions. "We cannot abide lapses or sanctions evasion," Tillerson said. "We will continue to call attention to, and designate, entities and individuals complicit in such actions," the US secretary of state added.

World should not be naive about North Korea's 'charm offensive': Japan

US has moved three B-2 bombers around the Korean Peninsula along with several hundred military personnel ahead of the Winter Olympics to be held in South Korea next month, reports said.

The military build-up comes even as both Koreas engage in talks over the&nbsp;Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Trump administration had earlier postponed military drills with South Korea but had continued its military presence even as it welcomed talks between the two countries.

In a statement, the US government said the deployment is intended to provide leaders with &quot;deterrent options to maintain regional stability.&quot;

The US government has sent the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier to the western Pacific. The Navy called it a &quot;regular scheduled deployment&quot;.

Meanwhile, the USS Wasp reached southern Japan. USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier is also in the region off Japan.&nbsp;The 40,00-ton, 844-foot-long Wasp is an aircraft carrier built in the 80s. It hosts Marine Corps F-35B stealth fighter jets.

In addition, several thousand marines are also deployed in the area. 
 
The North Korean government in a statement said: &quot;Such moves are an unpardonable military provocation chilling the atmosphere for improved inter-Korean relations.&quot;

The military build-up comes even as both Koreas engage in talks over the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.

US has moved three B-2 bombers around the Korean Peninsula along with several hundred military personnel ahead of the Winter Olympics to be held in South Korea next month, reports said. The military build-up comes even as both Koreas engage in talks over the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. The Trump administration had earlier postponed military drills with South Korea but had continued its military presence even as it welcomed talks between the two countries. In a statement, the US government said the deployment is intended to provide leaders with "deterrent options to maintain regional stability." The US government has sent the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier to the western Pacific. The Navy called it a "regular scheduled deployment". Meanwhile, the USS Wasp reached southern Japan. USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier is also in the region off Japan. The 40,00-ton, 844-foot-long Wasp is an aircraft carrier built in the 80s. It hosts Marine Corps F-35B stealth fighter jets. In addition, several thousand marines are also deployed in the area. The North Korean government in a statement said: "Such moves are an unpardonable military provocation chilling the atmosphere for improved inter-Korean relations."

US moves aircraft carries, B-2 bombers to Pacific ahead of Winter Olympics in South Korea

The purpose of Olympic games is to spread the philosophy of creating a peaceful and better world.

Many times we have seen sports mixing with the politics and diplomacy, be it India vs Pakistan cricket match or England vs Wales football match, the rivalry is very evident among players as well as among fans.

The sports diplomacy in Olympic games is something which has a global impact. Sports is definitely considered as &#39;Soft Power&#39; and sometimes such diplomacy may bring peace to many conflicting nations.

Sports diplomacy has the capacity to tackle many international political problems and it may provide a way forward but considering the current situation when North Korea was privileged by IOC, the &#39;other&#39; side of sports diplomacy was seen.

Recently, the International Olympic Committee had &#39;extended the deadline&#39; for North Korea&#39;s participation in the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea and finally, a few days back, North Korea had announced that it will&nbsp;participate in the event. They are also initiating talks to send an art troupe to the Olympics.

International Olympics Committee (IOC) is very strict when it comes to its rules and guidelines. Recently, they banned Russia from the 2018 Winter Olympic&nbsp;because it was found guilty of state-sponsored doping, as doping might snag a healthy competition and could hamper the prestige of the Olympics.

Though the doping case may not be a grievous crime against humanity or it might not cause a war.

In past, the nations which were engaged in a war-like situation or violated human rights were banished from the games. Let us recall the events when countries were banned from participating. For example:

In 1920, before World War I, five countries Austria, Hungary, Germany, Turkey and Bulgaria were banned, as they were not invited to the Olympics games in Antwerp, Belgium.

In 1948, after World War II, Germany and Japan were also banned due to their inhumane treatment of prisoners of war.

In 1960, North Korea participated in The Games of the New Emerging Forces (GANEFO) and in the result, the athletes who participated were banned by IOC.

In 1964, a 30 years ban was imposed on South Africa for its racist apartheid regime.

In 1980, the US boycotted Moscow games because of Russian intervention in Afghanistan.

In response to that in 1984, the then-Soviet Union voluntarily did not participate in the Los Angeles Olympic games.

Afghanistan was barred from the 2000 Sydney games for the Taliban regime&rsquo;s discrimination against women.

Kuwait was banned at the 2016 Rio games because of its government&#39;s involvement in Olympic affairs.

IOC stood up for not only for social causes&nbsp;to advocate its stand when it comes to society and humanity, they also remained very firm against corruption as in 2012 London games and in 2014 Sochi games, India was banned due to corruption in the Indian Olympic Association.

When it comes to something which is causing danger to not only humanity but also to the world, nuclear threats, IOC seemed lenient. If banning a country for corruption and barring another for doping is genuine then why a country which is violating the nuclear code of conduct is getting such leverage.

The International Olympic Committee is showing two extremes, one side is appreciated worldwide and the other is questionable.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL).

&nbsp;

North Korea has violated the nuclear code of conduct constantly but IOC appeared to be lenient. If banning a country for corruption and barring another for doping is genuine then why is North Korea getting such leverage

The purpose of Olympic games is to spread the philosophy of creating a peaceful and better world. Many times we have seen sports mixing with the politics and diplomacy, be it India vs Pakistan cricket match or England vs Wales football match, the rivalry is very evident among players as well as among fans. The sports diplomacy in Olympic games is something which has a global impact. Sports is definitely considered as 'Soft Power' and sometimes such diplomacy may bring peace to many conflicting nations. Sports diplomacy has the capacity to tackle many international political problems and it may provide a way forward but considering the current situation when North Korea was privileged by IOC, the 'other' side of sports diplomacy was seen. Recently, the International Olympic Committee had 'extended the deadline' for North Korea's participation in the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea and finally, a few days back, North Korea had announced that it will participate in the event. They are also initiating talks to send an art troupe to the Olympics. International Olympics Committee (IOC) is very strict when it comes to its rules and guidelines. Recently, they banned Russia from the 2018 Winter Olympic because it was found guilty of state-sponsored doping, as doping might snag a healthy competition and could hamper the prestige of the Olympics. Though the doping case may not be a grievous crime against humanity or it might not cause a war. In past, the nations which were engaged in a war-like situation or violated human rights were banished from the games. Let us recall the events when countries were banned from participating. For example: In 1920, before World War I, five countries Austria, Hungary, Germany, Turkey and Bulgaria were banned, as they were not invited to the Olympics games in Antwerp, Belgium. In 1948, after World War II, Germany and Japan were also banned due to their inhumane treatment of prisoners of war. In 1960, North Korea participated in The Games of the New Emerging Forces (GANEFO) and in the result, the athletes who participated were banned by IOC. In 1964, a 30 years ban was imposed on South Africa for its racist apartheid regime. In 1980, the US boycotted Moscow games because of Russian intervention in Afghanistan. In response to that in 1984, the then-Soviet Union voluntarily did not participate in the Los Angeles Olympic games. Afghanistan was barred from the 2000 Sydney games for the Taliban regime’s discrimination against women. Kuwait was banned at the 2016 Rio games because of its government's involvement in Olympic affairs. IOC stood up for not only for social causes to advocate its stand when it comes to society and humanity, they also remained very firm against corruption as in 2012 London games and in 2014 Sochi games, India was banned due to corruption in the Indian Olympic Association. When it comes to something which is causing danger to not only humanity but also to the world, nuclear threats, IOC seemed lenient. If banning a country for corruption and barring another for doping is genuine then why a country which is violating the nuclear code of conduct is getting such leverage. The International Olympic Committee is showing two extremes, one side is appreciated worldwide and the other is questionable. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL).

Opinion: When politics & Olympics collide: Games IOC loves to play

The Winter Olympics due to <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/south-korean-president-willing-to-hold-summit-with-kim-jong-un-29072">begin in&nbsp;Pyeongchang, South Korea next month </a>has been overtaken by events on the Korean peninsula with North Korea set to send a delegation to participate in the games.

North Korean figure <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-to-send-team-to-winter-games-south-to-consider-easing-bans-after-talks-28995">skaters &nbsp;Ryom Tae-Ok and Kim Ju-Sik </a>who had missed the deadline for the Winter Games may still participate with both Koreas intent on making the &quot;peace games&quot; a success.

The only North Koreans to qualify for the Winter Olympics, Ryom Tae-Ok, 19, and Kim Ju-Sik, 25, missed the registration 30th October deadline and are now relying on a helping hand from the International Olympic Committee(IOC)

Ryom Tae-Ok, 19, and Kim Ju-Sik, 25, competed in figure skating competition in Germany and Finland last year. In fact, the pair competed in skating competition in Oberstdorf, southern Germany as North Korean leader Kim was testing his ballistic missile in the region.

Korean sports officials are hoping that &nbsp;Ryom Tae-Ok and Kim Ju-Sik get a nod from the IOC to compete in the games next month.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, North Korea&#39;s IOC representative, Chang Ung said the duo would &quot;probably participate&quot; in Pyeongchang and the IOC on its part is also reportedly providing equipment to the athletes with officials keen to see the duo at the games.

The only North Koreans to qualify for the Winter Olympics, Ryom Tae-Ok, 19, and Kim Ju-Sik, 25, missed the registration 30th October deadline

The Winter Olympics due to begin in Pyeongchang, South Korea next month has been overtaken by events on the Korean peninsula with North Korea set to send a delegation to participate in the games. North Korean figure skaters Ryom Tae-Ok and Kim Ju-Sik who had missed the deadline for the Winter Games may still participate with both Koreas intent on making the "peace games" a success. The only North Koreans to qualify for the Winter Olympics, Ryom Tae-Ok, 19, and Kim Ju-Sik, 25, missed the registration 30th October deadline and are now relying on a helping hand from the International Olympic Committee(IOC) Ryom Tae-Ok, 19, and Kim Ju-Sik, 25, competed in figure skating competition in Germany and Finland last year. In fact, the pair competed in skating competition in Oberstdorf, southern Germany as North Korean leader Kim was testing his ballistic missile in the region. Korean sports officials are hoping that Ryom Tae-Ok and Kim Ju-Sik get a nod from the IOC to compete in the games next month. Meanwhile, North Korea's IOC representative, Chang Ung said the duo would "probably participate" in Pyeongchang and the IOC on its part is also reportedly providing equipment to the athletes with officials keen to see the duo at the games.

Pyeongchang Winter Olympics: 2 North Korean skaters seek date with destiny at 'peace games'

The two Koreas are eyeball-to-eyeball one day, engaged in a slanging match the other and jaw-jaw the next day. Over the last 65 years, only the actors have changed, not the script. North Korea (NK), meanwhile, has gone about merrily developing a range of WMD.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Last year, NK conducted its most powerful nuclear test ever, demonstrated its ability to even launch an ICBM, engaged in chilling rhetoric (duly matched for the first time by an American President), threatened destruction of the US and South Korea (ROK), shrugged off ever-tightening UNSC sanctions and contemptuously dismissed South Korean peace overtures.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

And then suddenly on 1st January, Kim Jong-un (KJU) offered to talk to Seoul and expressed willingness to send his athletes to participate in the Winter Olympics at PyeongChang, which is taking place between 9 to 25 February 2018. President Moon Jae-in, whose parents migrated from North Korea, has always been a votary of peace and reconciliation. He grabbed the offer with alacrity.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Restoration of North-South military hotline followed. USA and ROK quickly consented to postpone the annual joint military exercises, as demanded by Pyongyang. President Trump promptly credited his hardline policy for the thaw. Ministerial-level talks were held successfully at the &lsquo;Peace Village&rsquo; at DMZ on 9th January, with the sides agreeing to North Korean participation, resumption of a military dialogue to lower tensions and further talks on related issues.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

What led to these dramatic developments, all in a span of nine days? First and foremost, it was North&rsquo;s growing isolation. Increasing Chinese discomfiture with Kim Jong-un was the other reason.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

UNSC sanctions were steadily tightening. The cap on supply of oil and petroleum products, if implemented in right earnest (unlikely!), could potentially cause genuine hardship to the Kim regime. Its avenues of earning foreign exchange were getting choked. NK&rsquo;s missions abroad, which routinely engage in illicit activities to generate cash, were coming under a scanner.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Countries, including Kuwait, Mexico, Malaysia, Peru, Philippines, Spain and Thailand had begun downgrading or suspending diplomatic ties with Pyongyang. The US, Japan and ROK had begun singing from the same music sheet. That was the cue for NK to tactically shift gears.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Going by its play-book, NK extended the olive branch, to ease the mounting pressure, buy time, extract some freebies from ROK and try to drive a wedge between Seoul and Washington.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

For good reasons, Seoul has, historically, taken a softer approach towards Pyongyang, while the US has advocated a muscular one. Also, the optics; NK athletes are capable of winning a few medals, which will sit well with the home crowd. Media across the world will live-stream footage of smiling and smartly turned-out NK sportspersons, constituting good propaganda value. NK can rest assured that South Koreans will reserve their loudest cheers for the NK contingent.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The South Korean public, politicians, media and academia &ndash; hawks and doves in equal measure &ndash; will again fathom signs of thaw and hope. There would be renewed calls for resuming humanitarian assistance. The sides may even arrive at a secret understanding or two, which would only surface over time. It may be recalled that ROK President Kim Dae-jung&rsquo;s &lsquo;successful&rsquo; Sunshine Policy and summit with Kim Jong-il, was anchored on a secret &lsquo;gift&rsquo; of US$500 million to North Korea.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

And then NK will launch its next missile, conduct one more nuclear test, commit another provocation or simply get &lsquo;offended&rsquo; at ROK-US joint military exercises, abruptly shattering ROK&rsquo;s dream sequence.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL).

Going by its play-book, NK extended the olive branch, to ease the mounting pressure, buy time, extract some freebies from ROK and try to drive a wedge between Seoul and Washington.

The two Koreas are eyeball-to-eyeball one day, engaged in a slanging match the other and jaw-jaw the next day. Over the last 65 years, only the actors have changed, not the script. North Korea (NK), meanwhile, has gone about merrily developing a range of WMD. Last year, NK conducted its most powerful nuclear test ever, demonstrated its ability to even launch an ICBM, engaged in chilling rhetoric (duly matched for the first time by an American President), threatened destruction of the US and South Korea (ROK), shrugged off ever-tightening UNSC sanctions and contemptuously dismissed South Korean peace overtures. And then suddenly on 1st January, Kim Jong-un (KJU) offered to talk to Seoul and expressed willingness to send his athletes to participate in the Winter Olympics at PyeongChang, which is taking place between 9 to 25 February 2018. President Moon Jae-in, whose parents migrated from North Korea, has always been a votary of peace and reconciliation. He grabbed the offer with alacrity. Restoration of North-South military hotline followed. USA and ROK quickly consented to postpone the annual joint military exercises, as demanded by Pyongyang. President Trump promptly credited his hardline policy for the thaw. Ministerial-level talks were held successfully at the ‘Peace Village’ at DMZ on 9th January, with the sides agreeing to North Korean participation, resumption of a military dialogue to lower tensions and further talks on related issues. What led to these dramatic developments, all in a span of nine days? First and foremost, it was North’s growing isolation. Increasing Chinese discomfiture with Kim Jong-un was the other reason. UNSC sanctions were steadily tightening. The cap on supply of oil and petroleum products, if implemented in right earnest (unlikely!), could potentially cause genuine hardship to the Kim regime. Its avenues of earning foreign exchange were getting choked. NK’s missions abroad, which routinely engage in illicit activities to generate cash, were coming under a scanner. Countries, including Kuwait, Mexico, Malaysia, Peru, Philippines, Spain and Thailand had begun downgrading or suspending diplomatic ties with Pyongyang. The US, Japan and ROK had begun singing from the same music sheet. That was the cue for NK to tactically shift gears. Going by its play-book, NK extended the olive branch, to ease the mounting pressure, buy time, extract some freebies from ROK and try to drive a wedge between Seoul and Washington. For good reasons, Seoul has, historically, taken a softer approach towards Pyongyang, while the US has advocated a muscular one. Also, the optics; NK athletes are capable of winning a few medals, which will sit well with the home crowd. Media across the world will live-stream footage of smiling and smartly turned-out NK sportspersons, constituting good propaganda value. NK can rest assured that South Koreans will reserve their loudest cheers for the NK contingent. The South Korean public, politicians, media and academia – hawks and doves in equal measure – will again fathom signs of thaw and hope. There would be renewed calls for resuming humanitarian assistance. The sides may even arrive at a secret understanding or two, which would only surface over time. It may be recalled that ROK President Kim Dae-jung’s ‘successful’ Sunshine Policy and summit with Kim Jong-il, was anchored on a secret ‘gift’ of US$500 million to North Korea. And then NK will launch its next missile, conduct one more nuclear test, commit another provocation or simply get ‘offended’ at ROK-US joint military exercises, abruptly shattering ROK’s dream sequence. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL).

Opinion: North Korea is fooling all with promises of peace talks

North Korea will send its athletes to the Winter Olympics in the South, the rivals said Tuesday, after their first formal talks in more than two years following high tensions over Pyongyang&#39;s nuclear weapons programme.

At the meeting in Panmunjom -- the truce village in the Demilitarised Zone that splits the peninsula -- the two sides also decided to hold military talks and to restore a military hotline closed since February 2016.

It came after Seoul responded to a New Year speech by the North&#39;s leader Kim Jong-Un last week with an offer of high-level dialogue, and last week a civilian hotline was restored after an almost two-year suspension.

Seoul and Olympic organisers have been keen for Pyongyang -- which boycotted the 1988 Summer Games in South Korea&#39;s capital -- to take part in what they repeatedly proclaimed a &quot;peace Olympics&quot; in Pyeongchang next month.

But the North gave no indication it would do so until Kim&#39;s speech, pursuing its banned weapons programmes in defiance of United Nations sanctions, launching missiles capable of reaching the US and detonating its sixth and most powerful nuclear test.

&quot;The North Korean side will dispatch a high-level delegation, National Olympic Committee delegation, athletes, cheerleaders, art performers&#39; squad, spectators, a taekwondo demonstration team and a press corps and the South will provide necessary amenities and facilities,&quot; they said in a joint statement.&nbsp;

The US cautiously welcomed the talks, warning that the North&#39;s invitation to the Games must not undermine international efforts to isolate Kim&#39;s regime.

US officials would work with Seoul to ensure that the North&#39;s participation &quot;does not violate the sanctions imposed by the UN Security Council over North Korea&#39;s unlawful nuclear and ballistic missile programs&quot;, the State Department said in a statement.

It added that President Trump and his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-In had already agreed &quot;to continue the campaign of maximum pressure on North Korea toward the goal of complete and verifiable denuclearization.&quot;

New Year&#39;s gift

For the talks, the North&#39;s delegation walked over the Military Demarcation Line marking the border to the Peace House venue on the southern side, just yards from where a defector ran across in a hail of bullets two months ago.

Looking businesslike, the South&#39;s Unification minister Cho Myoung-Gyon and the North&#39;s chief delegate Ri Son-Gwon shook hands at the entrance to the building, and again across the negotiating table.

Ri wore a badge on his left lapel bearing an image of the country&#39;s founding father Kim Il-Sung and his son and successor Kim Jong-Il, while Cho sported one depicting the South Korean flag.&nbsp;

&quot;Let&#39;s present the people with a precious new year&#39;s gift,&quot; said Ri. &quot;There is a saying that a journey taken by two lasts longer than the one travelled alone.&quot;

The atmosphere was friendlier than at past meetings, and Cho told Ri: &quot;The people have a strong desire to see the North and South move toward peace and reconciliation.&quot;

But there was no mention in the joint statement of the proposal by Seoul to resume reunions of families left divided by the Korean War, which Pyongyang has previously refused to do unless several of its citizens are returned by the South.

Ri also told South Korean journalists that denuclearisation was not on the table and not an issue for the two to discuss.

&quot;The target of all our nuclear and hydrogen bombs and ICBMs and all other sophisticated weapons is the US,&quot; he said. &quot;These weapons are not aimed at our brethren.&quot;

There were &quot;many problems&quot; to settle between the two sides, he added, warning of &quot;unexpected obstacles&quot; down the road.

Peace Olympics

Olympic organisers welcomed the North&#39;s participation in Pyeongchang and a Unification ministry official dubbed the Games &quot;a Peace Festival&quot;.

International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said Pyongyang&#39;s decision to take part was a &quot;great step forward in the Olympic spirit&quot;.

Only two athletes from the North have so far qualified for the Games, but hundreds of young female North Korean cheerleaders have created a buzz at three previous international sporting events in the South.

Any high-level delegation accompanying the team could include Kim&#39;s younger sister Yo-Jong -- a senior member of the ruling Workers&#39; Party, according to South Korean reports.&nbsp;

The Unification ministry official said the meeting &quot;laid the foundation for restoring the severed inter-Korean ties and normalising them&quot;.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also welcomed the progress, especially plans to hold military talks and reopen the military hotline.&nbsp;

&quot;The re-establishment and strengthening of such channels is critical to lowering the risk of miscalculation or misunderstanding,&quot; his spokesman said in a statement.

It remains unclear when the proposed military talks -- which would be the first of their kind since 2014 -- would be held.

Lim Eul-Chul, a professor of North Korean studies at Kyungnam University in Seoul, said the North&#39;s participation would &quot;help turn South Korean public sentiment about the North more favourable&quot;.

Pyongyang would then probably seek to resume lucrative joint economic projects, such as the suspended Kaesong industrial complex, he added -- although it is unclear whether that would be in compliance with UN sanctions.

Pyongyang&#39;s state media reiterated its condemnations of Trump on Tuesday, but Lim said the North &quot;appears to be trying to use the improvement in ties with the South as a springboard to resume talks with the US, which holds the key to controlling or possibly easing sanctions.&quot;

The United States and South Korea agreed last week to delay their joint military exercises until after the Games, apparently to help calm nerves.

North Korea will send its athletes to the Winter Olympics in the South after their first formal talks in more than two years

North Korea will send its athletes to the Winter Olympics in the South, the rivals said Tuesday, after their first formal talks in more than two years following high tensions over Pyongyang's nuclear weapons programme. At the meeting in Panmunjom -- the truce village in the Demilitarised Zone that splits the peninsula -- the two sides also decided to hold military talks and to restore a military hotline closed since February 2016. It came after Seoul responded to a New Year speech by the North's leader Kim Jong-Un last week with an offer of high-level dialogue, and last week a civilian hotline was restored after an almost two-year suspension. Seoul and Olympic organisers have been keen for Pyongyang -- which boycotted the 1988 Summer Games in South Korea's capital -- to take part in what they repeatedly proclaimed a "peace Olympics" in Pyeongchang next month. But the North gave no indication it would do so until Kim's speech, pursuing its banned weapons programmes in defiance of United Nations sanctions, launching missiles capable of reaching the US and detonating its sixth and most powerful nuclear test. "The North Korean side will dispatch a high-level delegation, National Olympic Committee delegation, athletes, cheerleaders, art performers' squad, spectators, a taekwondo demonstration team and a press corps and the South will provide necessary amenities and facilities," they said in a joint statement. The US cautiously welcomed the talks, warning that the North's invitation to the Games must not undermine international efforts to isolate Kim's regime. US officials would work with Seoul to ensure that the North's participation "does not violate the sanctions imposed by the UN Security Council over North Korea's unlawful nuclear and ballistic missile programs", the State Department said in a statement. It added that President Trump and his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-In had already agreed "to continue the campaign of maximum pressure on North Korea toward the goal of complete and verifiable denuclearization." New Year's gift For the talks, the North's delegation walked over the Military Demarcation Line marking the border to the Peace House venue on the southern side, just yards from where a defector ran across in a hail of bullets two months ago. Looking businesslike, the South's Unification minister Cho Myoung-Gyon and the North's chief delegate Ri Son-Gwon shook hands at the entrance to the building, and again across the negotiating table. Ri wore a badge on his left lapel bearing an image of the country's founding father Kim Il-Sung and his son and successor Kim Jong-Il, while Cho sported one depicting the South Korean flag. "Let's present the people with a precious new year's gift," said Ri. "There is a saying that a journey taken by two lasts longer than the one travelled alone." The atmosphere was friendlier than at past meetings, and Cho told Ri: "The people have a strong desire to see the North and South move toward peace and reconciliation." But there was no mention in the joint statement of the proposal by Seoul to resume reunions of families left divided by the Korean War, which Pyongyang has previously refused to do unless several of its citizens are returned by the South. Ri also told South Korean journalists that denuclearisation was not on the table and not an issue for the two to discuss. "The target of all our nuclear and hydrogen bombs and ICBMs and all other sophisticated weapons is the US," he said. "These weapons are not aimed at our brethren." There were "many problems" to settle between the two sides, he added, warning of "unexpected obstacles" down the road. Peace Olympics Olympic organisers welcomed the North's participation in Pyeongchang and a Unification ministry official dubbed the Games "a Peace Festival". International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said Pyongyang's decision to take part was a "great step forward in the Olympic spirit". Only two athletes from the North have so far qualified for the Games, but hundreds of young female North Korean cheerleaders have created a buzz at three previous international sporting events in the South. Any high-level delegation accompanying the team could include Kim's younger sister Yo-Jong -- a senior member of the ruling Workers' Party, according to South Korean reports. The Unification ministry official said the meeting "laid the foundation for restoring the severed inter-Korean ties and normalising them". UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also welcomed the progress, especially plans to hold military talks and reopen the military hotline. "The re-establishment and strengthening of such channels is critical to lowering the risk of miscalculation or misunderstanding," his spokesman said in a statement. It remains unclear when the proposed military talks -- which would be the first of their kind since 2014 -- would be held. Lim Eul-Chul, a professor of North Korean studies at Kyungnam University in Seoul, said the North's participation would "help turn South Korean public sentiment about the North more favourable". Pyongyang would then probably seek to resume lucrative joint economic projects, such as the suspended Kaesong industrial complex, he added -- although it is unclear whether that would be in compliance with UN sanctions. Pyongyang's state media reiterated its condemnations of Trump on Tuesday, but Lim said the North "appears to be trying to use the improvement in ties with the South as a springboard to resume talks with the US, which holds the key to controlling or possibly easing sanctions." The United States and South Korea agreed last week to delay their joint military exercises until after the Games, apparently to help calm nerves.

North Korea to attend Olympics in rival South

North Korea offered to send a high-level delegation to attend next month&#39;s Winter Olympics in the South on Tuesday as the two rivals held their <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/north-and-south-korea-begin-talks-in-truce-village-28934">first official talks</a> in more than two years, Seoul said.

&quot;The North side proposed dispatching a high-level delegation, National Olympic Committee delegation, athletes, supporters, art performers, observers, a taekwondo demonstration team and journalists to the Games, which will be held in Pyeongchang next month,&quot; the South&#39;s vice unification minster Chun Hae-Sung told journalists.

The South, meanwhile, proposed holding reunions during next month&#39;s <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/would-like-to-see-north-korea-get-involved-in-winter-olympics-trump-28774">Winter Olympics</a> for families divided by the 1950-53 Korean War.

The issue is one of the most emotive legacies of the conflict and the South urged that the meetings be held at the Lunar New Year, which falls in the middle of the Pyeongchang Games, the South&#39;s vice unification minister Chun Hae-Sung told journalists.

South Korea also proposed that athletes from the two Koreas march together at the Games&#39; opening ceremony and other joint activities between the two nations during the Games, Chun told reporters.

The talks are being held at Panmunjom, the truce village in the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) that divides the peninsula.

The much-awaited talks are a result of Kim Jong-Un New Year&#39;s speech in which he held out an olive branch to his neighbours signalling his intention to send his country&#39;s athletes to the Winter Games. South Korea was quick to respond to the peace overtures by quickly asking for dialogue between the two countries at a venue acceptable to both.

Seoul&#39;s five-member delegation, led by unification minister Cho Myoung-Gyon, travelled to Panmunjom in a convoy of vehicles, passing a group of well-wishers holding a banner at a checkpoint leading towards the DMZ.

The North&#39;s group, of similar size and led by senior official Ri Son-Gwon, walked over the Military Demarcation Line at Panmunjom for the talks, pictures showed - just yards from where a defector ran across in a hail of bullets two months ago.

Looking businesslike, Cho and Ri shook hands at the entrance to the Peace House, the building on the southern side where the discussions were being held, and again across the table.

In accordance with standard practice in the North, Ri wore a badge on his left lapel bearing an image of the country`s founding father Kim Il-Sung and his son and successor Kim Jong-Il. Cho also wore a lapel badge, depicting the South Korean flag.

&quot;The people have a strong desire to see the North and South move toward peace and reconciliation,&quot; Cho said. It was a radically different tone from the rhetoric of recent months, which have seen Kim and US President Donald Trump trade personal insults and bellicose <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-has-to-keep-kim-jong-un-on-his-toes-nikki-haley-on-nuclear-button-tweet-28895">threats of war</a>, while Pyongyang has launched missiles capable of reaching the US mainland and carried out its sixth and most powerful nuclear test to date.

The South, meanwhile, proposed holding reunions during next month's Winter Olympics for families divided by the 1950-53 Korean War.

North Korea offered to send a high-level delegation to attend next month's Winter Olympics in the South on Tuesday as the two rivals held their first official talks in more than two years, Seoul said. "The North side proposed dispatching a high-level delegation, National Olympic Committee delegation, athletes, supporters, art performers, observers, a taekwondo demonstration team and journalists to the Games, which will be held in Pyeongchang next month," the South's vice unification minster Chun Hae-Sung told journalists. The South, meanwhile, proposed holding reunions during next month's Winter Olympics for families divided by the 1950-53 Korean War. The issue is one of the most emotive legacies of the conflict and the South urged that the meetings be held at the Lunar New Year, which falls in the middle of the Pyeongchang Games, the South's vice unification minister Chun Hae-Sung told journalists. South Korea also proposed that athletes from the two Koreas march together at the Games' opening ceremony and other joint activities between the two nations during the Games, Chun told reporters. The talks are being held at Panmunjom, the truce village in the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) that divides the peninsula. The much-awaited talks are a result of Kim Jong-Un New Year's speech in which he held out an olive branch to his neighbours signalling his intention to send his country's athletes to the Winter Games. South Korea was quick to respond to the peace overtures by quickly asking for dialogue between the two countries at a venue acceptable to both. Seoul's five-member delegation, led by unification minister Cho Myoung-Gyon, travelled to Panmunjom in a convoy of vehicles, passing a group of well-wishers holding a banner at a checkpoint leading towards the DMZ. The North's group, of similar size and led by senior official Ri Son-Gwon, walked over the Military Demarcation Line at Panmunjom for the talks, pictures showed - just yards from where a defector ran across in a hail of bullets two months ago. Looking businesslike, Cho and Ri shook hands at the entrance to the Peace House, the building on the southern side where the discussions were being held, and again across the table. In accordance with standard practice in the North, Ri wore a badge on his left lapel bearing an image of the country`s founding father Kim Il-Sung and his son and successor Kim Jong-Il. Cho also wore a lapel badge, depicting the South Korean flag. "The people have a strong desire to see the North and South move toward peace and reconciliation," Cho said. It was a radically different tone from the rhetoric of recent months, which have seen Kim and US President Donald Trump trade personal insults and bellicose threats of war, while Pyongyang has launched missiles capable of reaching the US mainland and carried out its sixth and most powerful nuclear test to date.

North Korea offers to send high-level delegation to Olympics during talks with South Korea

North and South Korea <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-has-to-keep-kim-jong-un-on-his-toes-nikki-haley-on-nuclear-button-tweet-28895">began talks in the border truce village </a>of Panmunjom today as tensions between the two countries over Kim&#39;s repeated ballistic tests faded.

Unification minister Cho Myung-Gyun who is leading the delegation said he would be discussing North Korea&#39;s participation in the Winter Olympics and Paralympics and look to improve relations with its neighbour.

&quot;We will do our best to ensure that the Pyeongchang Olympics and Paralympics will take place as a peace festival and that this meeting will serve as the first step for improving &nbsp;South-North ties,&quot; Cho said.

One of the agendas during the meeting would be the size and membership of the North Korean delegation for the winter games, including accommodation details.

Reports said North Korean athletes may stay on a cruise ship near the games venue.

Cho had earlier participated in talks with North Korea in the 90s, his counterpart &nbsp;Ri Son-Gwon, the chief delegate from the North has also been in a similar role as the head of the Committee for Peaceful Reunification of Korea.

The much-awaited talks are a result of &nbsp;Kim Jong-Un New Year&#39;s speech in which he held out an olive branch to his neighbours signalling his intention to send his country&#39;s athletes to the Winter Games, South Korea was quick to respond to the peace overtures by quickly asking for dialogue between the two countries at a venue acceptable to both. 
&nbsp;

Unification minister Cho Myung-Gyun who is leading the delegation

North and South Korea began talks in the border truce village of Panmunjom today as tensions between the two countries over Kim's repeated ballistic tests faded. Unification minister Cho Myung-Gyun who is leading the delegation said he would be discussing North Korea's participation in the Winter Olympics and Paralympics and look to improve relations with its neighbour. "We will do our best to ensure that the Pyeongchang Olympics and Paralympics will take place as a peace festival and that this meeting will serve as the first step for improving South-North ties," Cho said. One of the agendas during the meeting would be the size and membership of the North Korean delegation for the winter games, including accommodation details. Reports said North Korean athletes may stay on a cruise ship near the games venue. Cho had earlier participated in talks with North Korea in the 90s, his counterpart Ri Son-Gwon, the chief delegate from the North has also been in a similar role as the head of the Committee for Peaceful Reunification of Korea. The much-awaited talks are a result of Kim Jong-Un New Year's speech in which he held out an olive branch to his neighbours signalling his intention to send his country's athletes to the Winter Games, South Korea was quick to respond to the peace overtures by quickly asking for dialogue between the two countries at a venue acceptable to both.

North and South Korea begin talks in truce village

The International Olympic Committee has &#39;extended the deadline&#39; for North Korea&#39;s participation in the Winter Olympics, it announced on Monday.

&quot;We will be as flexible as we can be,&quot; an IOC spokesman told AFP over North Korea sending a team to the Pyeongchang Games in South Korea.

Talks between the two Koreas hosted by IOC president Thomas Bach will take place at the Olympic movement&#39;s headquarters in Lausanne on Tuesday.

&quot;We welcome the discussion which will take place... between the governments of the Republic of Korea (ROK) and the Democratic People&#39;s Republic of Korea (DPRK),&quot; the IOC said.

&quot;The IOC has been having discussions with both sides for a long time. In doing so we have kept the door open by extending the deadline for registration, and by offering support to North Korean athletes in the qualification process, whilst always respecting United Nations sanctions.&quot;

On Saturday, North Korea Olympic body member Chang Ung said the isolated state was &#39;likely to participate&#39; in the Pyeongchang Games from February 9-25.

Tuesday&#39;s Lausanne summit comes days after the two Koreas agreed to hold their first official dialogue in more than two years to discuss the North&#39;s participation in the Winter Olympics.

The tentative rapprochement comes after the North&#39;s leader Kim Jong-Un warned in his New Year speech that he had a nuclear button on his desk, but also said Pyongyang could send a team to the Olympics.

The IOC in its statement Monday emphasised that its mission was &quot;always to ensure the participation of all qualified athletes, beyond all political tensions and divisions.

&quot;With regard to the very particular situation on the Korean peninsula we need the political commitment from all parties concerned to make such a participation possible,&quot; it added.

&quot;Once this political commitment is clear the IOC will take the final decision.&quot;

&nbsp;

'We will be as flexible as we can be,' an IOC spokesman said

The International Olympic Committee has 'extended the deadline' for North Korea's participation in the Winter Olympics, it announced on Monday. "We will be as flexible as we can be," an IOC spokesman told AFP over North Korea sending a team to the Pyeongchang Games in South Korea. Talks between the two Koreas hosted by IOC president Thomas Bach will take place at the Olympic movement's headquarters in Lausanne on Tuesday. "We welcome the discussion which will take place... between the governments of the Republic of Korea (ROK) and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)," the IOC said. "The IOC has been having discussions with both sides for a long time. In doing so we have kept the door open by extending the deadline for registration, and by offering support to North Korean athletes in the qualification process, whilst always respecting United Nations sanctions." On Saturday, North Korea Olympic body member Chang Ung said the isolated state was 'likely to participate' in the Pyeongchang Games from February 9-25. Tuesday's Lausanne summit comes days after the two Koreas agreed to hold their first official dialogue in more than two years to discuss the North's participation in the Winter Olympics. The tentative rapprochement comes after the North's leader Kim Jong-Un warned in his New Year speech that he had a nuclear button on his desk, but also said Pyongyang could send a team to the Olympics. The IOC in its statement Monday emphasised that its mission was "always to ensure the participation of all qualified athletes, beyond all political tensions and divisions. "With regard to the very particular situation on the Korean peninsula we need the political commitment from all parties concerned to make such a participation possible," it added. "Once this political commitment is clear the IOC will take the final decision."

North Korea 'likely to participate' in Winter Olympics, IOC extends deadline

The International Olympic Committee&rsquo;s (IOC&rsquo;s) decision to ban Russia from the upcoming Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang for its &ldquo;unprecedented attack on the integrity of the Olympic Games and sport&rdquo; proves that you can&rsquo;t keep politics out of the sport. This is arguably the most overt expression of political intervention in the sport in history &mdash; and the history of political involvement in sport is as long as the history of organised sports itself. Despite the flat denials of IOC President Thomas Bach, it is not possible to disentangle the decision to ban Russia from the other issues that have turned the nation into the world&rsquo;s pariah.

Russia has been accused of interfering with the 2016 American presidential election, which US intelligence has determined was conducted to help Trump. Allegations that the Kremlin was involved in the UK&rsquo;s 2016 Brexit referendum campaign are being taken seriously by almost everyone in Britain, including its prime minister. It&rsquo;s been reported that a hacking team known as Fancy Bears &mdash; with links to Russia&rsquo;s secret service &mdash; broke into the World Anti-Doping Agency&rsquo;s (WADA) database and published medical records of numerous high-profile athletes &mdash; including Australians, Americans and Brits. Cumulatively, these unsupported claims have made it possible for us to believe that Russians are capable of deeds that would make the Borgias envious.

The IOC ban represents a perversion of natural justice, penalising athletes, many of whom, as far as we know, have not used illegal doping and have not recorded positive tests. If the makeshift &ldquo;Olympic Athlete from Russia&rdquo; (OAR) designation is designed to placate observers who think the ban unjustifiable, it will not work. The exemption offered to athletes who can somehow prove they are clean and wish to compete, not as Russians, but as neutral participants, is inadequate; they will be under intolerable pressure not to compete without the imprimatur of Russia. This is rough justice.

Singled out

Russia&rsquo;s &ldquo;state-sponsored doping&rdquo; program was identified by Canadian law professor Richard McLaren, who said that he had found &ldquo;a cover-up that operated on an unprecedented scale&rdquo; in Russia. Much of McLaren&rsquo;s evidence emerged from the testimony of Grigory Rodchenkov, a former Moscow anti-doping laboratory director who turned whistleblower and defected to North America (hardly an objective source).

McLaren also said that he had also been able to confirm that urine samples, which had been taken from Russian athletes at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi and at other major championships, had been exchanged for clean urine by using small metal rods to break open the supposedly tamper-proof bottles. They were carried out by Russia&rsquo;s state security service, it was alleged.

There&rsquo;s been an unquestioning acceptance of McLaren&rsquo;s finding without much probing. Apart from Rodchenkov&rsquo;s statements, the other evidence appears inferential and largely uncorroborated. In another social climate in a different era, McLaren&rsquo;s report would have met with scepticism or, at very least, a demand for proof. Not today.

Let me provide further context to the doping allegations. Russia is far from being the only place in the world where athletes use doping, of course. In fact, the challenge is to find anywhere where performance-enhancing drugs are not habitually used by athletes from across the whole spectrum of sports. Unsurprisingly, with a population of nearly 145 million, Russia was the biggest offender in 2016. Russian athletes generated 148 anti-doping rule violations, followed by Italy with 123, India with 96, then Belgium and France, both 91. Turkey, Australia and China are also in the top 10 offenders.

Five countries, including distance-running powerhouses Kenya and Ethiopia, have been placed on a doping watch list, meaning they are being closely watched because of evidence that has surfaced about less-than-robust anti-doping procedures in those countries. Jamaica has also been under increased scrutiny by the International Association of Athletics Federations.

Big business

So why has Russia been singled out? Obviously, the global political atmosphere has made it easier to make even the wildest accusations sound plausible. But then again, why does sport wish to make such a colossal spectacle of laundering its own dirty linen? This is where the political intrigue takes on a commercial character.

Sport today is, as everyone realises, not simply business, but a globally gigantic business. The media have ensured that every major sports event in the world is broadcast extensively. Advertisers realise the enormous potential of sport for drawing consumers to their television sets, smartphones and iPads. So do sponsors, such as Coca-Cola, Toyota, Samsung, McDonalds and Visa, who with other &ldquo;partners&rdquo; (as sport prefers to call its benefactors) pay handsomely to have their brand publicly associated with the sport. The suspicion grew that sport in general, and the Olympics, in particular, had become inured to doping and had made peace with the reality that it was never be extirpated.

In recent decades, the millions have mounted up. For example, Panasonic last year paid $350 million for an eight-year, four-Olympic Games sponsorship. But the companies have grown uneasy with the doping violations. After all, what brand wants its products associated with a subject as unwholesome as drugs?

The sport needed to show good intent to its sponsors. It wanted a sacrifice. Russia didn&rsquo;t actually bare its throat, but, when Das Erste, a German television channel, screened a documentary in 2014 that claimed as many as 99 per cent of Russian athletes are guilty of doping, it started an investigative trail that led to McLaren&rsquo;s research and, ultimately, to the ban. I write &ldquo;ultimately,&rdquo; though there is no way of knowing when this case will end. On December 6, the Court of Arbitration for Sport said it had registered appeals by 22 Russian athletes against their disqualifications from the 2014 Sochi Olympics for doping. It&rsquo;s conceivable &mdash; though probably not likely &mdash; that the court will, during its deliberations, solicit so far undisclosed evidence from McLaren. The geopolitical climate militates against this solicitation, of course.

More likely is that the court will turn down the appeals; since there is no further right of appeal. The games begin in February 2018 and Russia, one of the world&rsquo;s forces in winter sports, will not be there. It will be like a Terminator movie without Arnold Schwarzenegger.

It doesn&rsquo;t require cynicism to detect a miscarriage of justice: Just an analytical perspective on a case that is surely the most glaring example of the intrusion of politics into sport. Russia, to use a phrase of today, has been thrown under the bus.

This <a href="https://www.fairobserver.com/world-news/international-olympic-committee-russia-doping-2018-olympics-ban-latest-news-81623/" rel="nofollow">article</a> has been originally published in <a href="https://www.fairobserver.com/" rel="nofollow">Fair Observer</a>.

(Disclaimer: The author writes here in a personal capacity).

Winter Olympics without Russia will be like a Terminator movie without Arnold Schwarzenegger

The International Olympic Committee’s (IOC’s) decision to ban Russia from the upcoming Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang for its “unprecedented attack on the integrity of the Olympic Games and sport” proves that you can’t keep politics out of the sport. This is arguably the most overt expression of political intervention in the sport in history — and the history of political involvement in sport is as long as the history of organised sports itself. Despite the flat denials of IOC President Thomas Bach, it is not possible to disentangle the decision to ban Russia from the other issues that have turned the nation into the world’s pariah. Russia has been accused of interfering with the 2016 American presidential election, which US intelligence has determined was conducted to help Trump. Allegations that the Kremlin was involved in the UK’s 2016 Brexit referendum campaign are being taken seriously by almost everyone in Britain, including its prime minister. It’s been reported that a hacking team known as Fancy Bears — with links to Russia’s secret service — broke into the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) database and published medical records of numerous high-profile athletes — including Australians, Americans and Brits. Cumulatively, these unsupported claims have made it possible for us to believe that Russians are capable of deeds that would make the Borgias envious. The IOC ban represents a perversion of natural justice, penalising athletes, many of whom, as far as we know, have not used illegal doping and have not recorded positive tests. If the makeshift “Olympic Athlete from Russia” (OAR) designation is designed to placate observers who think the ban unjustifiable, it will not work. The exemption offered to athletes who can somehow prove they are clean and wish to compete, not as Russians, but as neutral participants, is inadequate; they will be under intolerable pressure not to compete without the imprimatur of Russia. This is rough justice. Singled out Russia’s “state-sponsored doping” program was identified by Canadian law professor Richard McLaren, who said that he had found “a cover-up that operated on an unprecedented scale” in Russia. Much of McLaren’s evidence emerged from the testimony of Grigory Rodchenkov, a former Moscow anti-doping laboratory director who turned whistleblower and defected to North America (hardly an objective source). McLaren also said that he had also been able to confirm that urine samples, which had been taken from Russian athletes at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi and at other major championships, had been exchanged for clean urine by using small metal rods to break open the supposedly tamper-proof bottles. They were carried out by Russia’s state security service, it was alleged. There’s been an unquestioning acceptance of McLaren’s finding without much probing. Apart from Rodchenkov’s statements, the other evidence appears inferential and largely uncorroborated. In another social climate in a different era, McLaren’s report would have met with scepticism or, at very least, a demand for proof. Not today. Let me provide further context to the doping allegations. Russia is far from being the only place in the world where athletes use doping, of course. In fact, the challenge is to find anywhere where performance-enhancing drugs are not habitually used by athletes from across the whole spectrum of sports. Unsurprisingly, with a population of nearly 145 million, Russia was the biggest offender in 2016. Russian athletes generated 148 anti-doping rule violations, followed by Italy with 123, India with 96, then Belgium and France, both 91. Turkey, Australia and China are also in the top 10 offenders. Five countries, including distance-running powerhouses Kenya and Ethiopia, have been placed on a doping watch list, meaning they are being closely watched because of evidence that has surfaced about less-than-robust anti-doping procedures in those countries. Jamaica has also been under increased scrutiny by the International Association of Athletics Federations. Big business So why has Russia been singled out? Obviously, the global political atmosphere has made it easier to make even the wildest accusations sound plausible. But then again, why does sport wish to make such a colossal spectacle of laundering its own dirty linen? This is where the political intrigue takes on a commercial character. Sport today is, as everyone realises, not simply business, but a globally gigantic business. The media have ensured that every major sports event in the world is broadcast extensively. Advertisers realise the enormous potential of sport for drawing consumers to their television sets, smartphones and iPads. So do sponsors, such as Coca-Cola, Toyota, Samsung, McDonalds and Visa, who with other “partners” (as sport prefers to call its benefactors) pay handsomely to have their brand publicly associated with the sport. The suspicion grew that sport in general, and the Olympics, in particular, had become inured to doping and had made peace with the reality that it was never be extirpated. In recent decades, the millions have mounted up. For example, Panasonic last year paid $350 million for an eight-year, four-Olympic Games sponsorship. But the companies have grown uneasy with the doping violations. After all, what brand wants its products associated with a subject as unwholesome as drugs? The sport needed to show good intent to its sponsors. It wanted a sacrifice. Russia didn’t actually bare its throat, but, when Das Erste, a German television channel, screened a documentary in 2014 that claimed as many as 99 per cent of Russian athletes are guilty of doping, it started an investigative trail that led to McLaren’s research and, ultimately, to the ban. I write “ultimately,” though there is no way of knowing when this case will end. On December 6, the Court of Arbitration for Sport said it had registered appeals by 22 Russian athletes against their disqualifications from the 2014 Sochi Olympics for doping. It’s conceivable — though probably not likely — that the court will, during its deliberations, solicit so far undisclosed evidence from McLaren. The geopolitical climate militates against this solicitation, of course. More likely is that the court will turn down the appeals; since there is no further right of appeal. The games begin in February 2018 and Russia, one of the world’s forces in winter sports, will not be there. It will be like a Terminator movie without Arnold Schwarzenegger. It doesn’t require cynicism to detect a miscarriage of justice: Just an analytical perspective on a case that is surely the most glaring example of the intrusion of politics into sport. Russia, to use a phrase of today, has been thrown under the bus. This article has been originally published in Fair Observer. (Disclaimer: The author writes here in a personal capacity).

Opinion: IOC turns Russia into pariah of world sport

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