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By Kyla Brewer TV Media P laying in the snow may not be everyone's idea of a good time, but when the temperature dips, some people can't resist the thrill of winter sports. Fans of skiing, hockey, skating and much more are gearing up for one of the most highly antici- pated Winter Olympics in recent memory, and this year's host city is ready to welcome the world with the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics open - ing ceremony, airing on Friday, Feb. 9, on NBC. When all is said and done, the people of the Republic of Korea will celebrate the excitement of the Games with the closing ceremo - ny, set to take place on Sunday, Feb. 25. Approximately 2,900 athletes from 95 coun- tries will come together to compete in more than 100 events in 15 differ- ent sports during the Pyeongchang Games, and billions of people are expected to tune in around the world. Beginning this year, Mike Tirico takes on the challenge of host - ing NBC's coverage of the Games, taking over for sportscasting legend Bob Costas, who literally passed the Olympic Torch on to Tirico in February of last year. The opening ceremony welcomes viewers both in Pyeongchang and around the globe and provides organizers with a unique opportunity to shine a spotlight on South Korea's rich culture. The Pyeongchang Organizing Committee (POCOG) wasted no time in finding a director for the high- profile event and in 2015 chose Song Seung-whan to serve as the executive creative director of both the opening and closing ceremonies, a post he ac- cepted with enthusiasm. "It's a great honor to join Pyeongchang 2018 as executive creative direc- tor for the 2018 Olympic Games' ceremonies," Song said in a state- ment at the time. "I will devote my best efforts to orchestrate exciting and memorable ceremonies." Song is a well-known theater and television actor in his homeland, and he has become interna- tionally renowned for his musical show "Nanta," also known as "Cookin'" or "Cookin' Nanta." The show, which features a mix of music, comedy, cooking and traditional Korean samul nori rhythm, has become a hit in Korea and around the world. "Nanta" earned an award for best performance at the 1999 Edinburgh Fringe Festival and became the first Asian musical to be performed on Broadway in New York in 2004. Song is well qualified to oversee the Olympic cer- emonies, which include a mix of traditional and new elements highlighting the culture of the host country. POCOG president Yang-ho Cho was confident Song would produce ceremonies worthy of the Games. "His experience and creative talent will prove to be valuable assets in producing ceremonies that will harmoniously connect our passion, tradition and cosmopolitan culture to the international audi- ence," he said of Song. Both the opening and closing ceremonies will take place in the Pyeongchang Olympic Stadium, a temporary pen- tagonal structure with seat- ing for 35,000. Built specifi- cally for the ceremonies, the stadium is expected to be dismantled following the Games. However, the venue has been the subject of controversy since it opened with a concert featuring K-Pop acts this fall. Some 30,000 fans packed into the stadium to enjoy the popular style of Korean music, but a few were reportedly later treated for hypothermia. The incident sparked concern about the structure, which doesn't have a roof to protect audi- ences from the wind. Though February brings even colder temperatures to Pyeongchang, organiz- ers are confident that the stadium is a suitable venue for both the opening and closing ceremonies. According to a December Reuters article, organizers plan to combat the cold with hot packs, blankets and audience participation. K-Pop artists will likely heat things up with their acts, which are expected to be a part of the open- ing ceremony. In addi- tion to cultural perfor- mances and speeches from officials, the opening cer- emony will feature the traditional Parade of Nations, during which most of the athletes expected to compete in the events will march into the stadium, country by country. Greece usually enters first because of the country's historical significance as the birth- place of the Games, with the host country typically entering last. Spectators will note the absence of Russia, which was banned from the Games because the International Olympic Committee (IOC) reported it had found evidence of manipulation of the anti- doping system. However, Russian athletes may still compete as Olympic ath- letes of Russia. One of the most thrilling moments of any Olympic opening ceremony is the lighting of the Olympic cauldron, following the official Olympic torch relay, which has been underway in the host nation since Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017. Over the course of the 101 days leading up to the opening ceremony, torchbearers will have carried the torch to 17 cit- ies across South Korea. The Olympic flame will shine brightly until it's extinguished at the closing ceremony, but not before the Parade of Flags, during which flagbearers from each country march into the stadium followed by athletes no longer grouped by distinction or nationality. The tradition of bringing the athletes to- gether began in 1956 and is expected to continue in Pyeongchang. Let the Games begin Pyeongchang shines a spotlight on South Korea in opening and closing ceremonies Photo: Virginia Sherwood/NBC Sports PyeOngcHang Mike Tirico makes his debut as NBC's prime- time Olympic host, receiving the Olympic torch from sportscaster Bob Costas By Kyla Brewer TV Media P laying in the snow may not be everyone's idea of a good time, but when the temperature dips, some people can't resist the thrill of winter sports. Fans of skiing, hockey, skating and much more are gearing up for one of the most highly antici- pated Winter Olympics in recent memory, and this year's host city is ready to welcome the world with the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics open - ing ceremony, airing on Friday, Feb. 9, on NBC. When all is said and done, the people of the Republic of Korea will celebrate the excitement of the Games with the closing ceremo - ny, set to take place on Sunday, Feb. 25. Approximately 2,900 athletes from 95 coun- tries will come together to compete in more than 100 events in 15 differ- ent sports during the Pyeongchang Games, and billions of people are expected to tune in around the world. Beginning this year, Mike Tirico takes on the challenge of host - ing NBC's coverage of the Games, taking over for sportscasting legend Bob Costas, who literally passed the Olympic Torch on to Tirico in February of last year. The opening ceremony welcomes viewers both in Pyeongchang and around the globe and provides organizers with a unique opportunity to shine a spotlight on South Korea's rich culture. The Pyeongchang Organizing Committee (POCOG) wasted no time in finding a director for the high- profile event and in 2015 chose Song Seung-whan to serve as the executive creative director of both the opening and closing ceremonies, a post he ac- cepted with enthusiasm. "It's a great honor to join Pyeongchang 2018 as executive creative direc- tor for the 2018 Olympic Games' ceremonies," Song said in a state- ment at the time. "I will devote my best efforts to orchestrate exciting and memorable ceremonies." Song is a well-known theater and television actor in his homeland, and he has become interna- tionally renowned for his musical show "Nanta," also known as "Cookin'" or "Cookin' Nanta." The show, which features a mix of music, comedy, cooking and traditional Korean samul nori rhythm, has become a hit in Korea and around the world. "Nanta" earned an award for best performance at the 1999 Edinburgh Fringe Festival and became the first Asian musical to be performed on Broadway in New York in 2004. Song is well qualified to oversee the Olympic cer- emonies, which include a mix of traditional and new elements highlighting the culture of the host country. POCOG president Yang-ho Cho was confident Song would produce ceremonies worthy of the Games. "His experience and creative talent will prove to be valuable assets in producing ceremonies that will harmoniously connect our passion, tradition and cosmopolitan culture to the international audi- ence," he said of Song. Both the opening and closing ceremonies will take place in the Pyeongchang Olympic Stadium, a temporary pen- tagonal structure with seat- ing for 35,000. Built specifi- cally for the ceremonies, the stadium is expected to be dismantled following the Games. However, the venue has been the subject of controversy since it opened with a concert featuring K-Pop acts this fall. Some 30,000 fans packed into the stadium to enjoy the popular style of Korean music, but a few were reportedly later treated for hypothermia. The incident sparked concern about the structure, which doesn't have a roof to protect audi- ences from the wind. Though February brings even colder temperatures to Pyeongchang, organiz- ers are confident that the stadium is a suitable venue for both the opening and closing ceremonies. According to a December Reuters article, organizers plan to combat the cold with hot packs, blankets and audience participation. K-Pop artists will likely heat things up with their acts, which are expected to be a part of the open- ing ceremony. In addi- tion to cultural perfor- mances and speeches from officials, the opening cer- emony will feature the traditional Parade of Nations, during which most of the athletes expected to compete in the events will march into the stadium, country by country. Greece usually enters first because of the country's historical significance as the birth- place of the Games, with the host country typically entering last. Spectators will note the absence of Russia, which was banned from the Games because the International Olympic Committee (IOC) reported it had found evidence of manipulation of the anti- doping system. However, Russian athletes may still compete as Olympic ath- letes of Russia. One of the most thrilling moments of any Olympic opening ceremony is the lighting of the Olympic cauldron, following the official Olympic torch relay, which has been underway in the host nation since Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017. Over the course of the 101 days leading up to the opening ceremony, torchbearers will have carried the torch to 17 cit- ies across South Korea. The Olympic flame will shine brightly until it's extinguished at the closing ceremony, but not before the Parade of Flags, during which flagbearers from each country march into the stadium followed by athletes no longer grouped by distinction or nationality. The tradition of bringing the athletes to- gether began in 1956 and is expected to continue in Pyeongchang. Let the Games begin Pyeongchang shines a spotlight on South Korea in opening and closing ceremonies Photo: Virginia Sherwood/NBC Sports PyeOngcHang Mike Tirico makes his debut as NBC's prime- time Olympic host, receiving the Olympic torch from sportscaster Bob Costas 12 2.4.2018 Call 501-588-1480 • 479-234-4147 or 1-800-LEAFGUARD TODAY for a FREE estimate and in-home demonstration www.leafguard.com and www.leafguardandmore.com * We'll even haul the old gutters away • No more leaves, pine needles, debris or squirrels • The gutter that never clogs... GUARANTEED! • Patented one-piece system • Keep gutters running free & clear of clogs