Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/934458
By Sarah Jamieson TV Media T he third time's a charm for South Korea. After two unsuccessful bids to hold the Winter Olympics, Pyeongchang is set to host the 2018 Games. The lion's share of 15 sports will occur in Pyeongchang, as well as the opening and closing ceremonies. About 100 miles east of South Korea's capital, the city has a stra - tegic geographical edge, but it's only 50 miles from North Korea's border. For the first time in eight years, North Korea will take part in the upcom- ing Winter Olympics. Kim Jong-un, the controversial leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), is an avid skier (he learned in Switzerland during his schoolboy days in Europe), and even hint - ed he might attend. Two athletes from North Korea will participate — ice skat- ing duo Ryom Tae-Ok and Kim Ju-Sik — and the DPRK is also sending a cheering squad and a performance- art troupe. North Korea has been to every Summer Olympics except the 1984 Games in Los Angeles and the 1988 Games in Seoul, which it boycotted for political reasons. The country's attendance may cut the military tension with South Korea. North Korea's ballis- tic missile testing over the past few months caused international hand-wring- ing, especially after Kim announced the weapons could reach the interconti- nental United States. But North Korea's involve- ment in Pyeongchang 2018 isn't the only change this year. New medal events have joined the roster, including mixed doubles in curling, mass start in speedskating, the Alpine skiing team event, and snowboarding's big air. The committee adopted the mixed doubles and mass start from the World Cup and the Winter Youth Olympics Games. In mixed doubles curling, one wom- an and one man play with six stones (instead of the usual eight), and there are eight ends instead of 10. Mass start involves skat- ers beginning a 16-lap race at the same time. The first three athletes to cross the finish line win, and the ranks of the oth- ers depend on their points during the four sprints. The U.S.'s Joey Mantia won the men's category in the last Youth Olympic Games, and South Korea's Kim Bo-reum won the women's event. The Alpine skiing team and big air events de- buted after a success- ful trial in the FIS World Championships. The for- mer includes two female and two male skiers racing head to head in a parallel slalom over four rounds. France won gold during the recent FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in St. Moritz. Slovakia earned the silver and Sweden claimed the bronze. But the most exciting addition this year is the big air. Snowboarders slide down a 40-degree slope and off a kicker ramp that's 160 feet high — that gives plenty of time to wow judges with mid-air tricks. Finland's Roope Tonteri won the men's title in both the 2013 and 2015 FIS World Championships, and China's Xuetong Cai claimed the women's gold in 2015. Hockey took a hit after the NHL changed its policy on sending its players. The U.S. and Canadian teams only include players from the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the National League (NL) and the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). This year, men's hockey features 13 teams: Sweden, Finland, Canada, OAR, the United States, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Slovakia, South Korea, Slovenia, Germany, Norway and Japan. A few familiar names are on Team USA's roster (Brian Gionta, for in- stance), but most are hotshot rookies. Hockey buffs may recognize NCAA's Will Borgen, Ryan Donato and Jordan Greenway. Mark Arcobello, Broc Little, Garrett Roe, Bobby Sanguinetti and Jim Slater have also joined from the NL, and fans can expect a slew of players from the KHL. Russia's recent doping ban caused a scramble for the country, too, but the IOC didn't name hockey players as part of the scandal. So, for now, they're safe to join the competition as Olympic athletes from Russia. For women's hockey, eight teams take part: the U.S., Canada, Finland, OAR, Sweden, South Korea, Switzerland and Japan. The rivalry between the U.S. and Canada continues as the States seeks its first gold medal finish since 1998. Canada climbed to the top of the Olympic podium with the gold in 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2014, refusing to give up the title. With South Korea's first time as host, North Korea's participation and four new events, you won't want to miss the 2018 Olympic Games. New athletes and coun- tries bring the power of winter sport to the Games in Pyeongchang. Winter trailblazers 2018 Olympics gleams with new countries and events Team USA long track speedskater Joey Mantia PyeOngcHang Photo courtesy USOC/NBC Olympics 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 15 2.4.2018 ★ SIDING $198 Installed Life Time Warranty FREE ESTIMATES www.abcwinnwa.com 479-361-3169 America's BEST CHOICE