[PyeongChang 2018] No deficit expected from PyeongChang Winter Olympics: top organizer

With the PyeongChang Winter Olympics nearing its grand finale on Sunday, the top organizer said the country's first Winter Games were financially successful, breaking the conception that major international competitions normally end with high levels of debt."As the cashflow of the 2018 Winter Games is healthy, there's no reason to post a deficit," Lee Hee-beom, the head of PyeongChang Organizing Committee for the 2018 Olympic Winter Games (POCOG), told Yonhap News Agency."While 14 trillion won (

Olympic GamesFeb. 25, 2018

[PyeongChang 2018] PyeongChang leaves landmark peace legacy through Koreas' rapprochement

As athletes end their hard-fought battles for medals at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, the first Winter Games in South Korea will leave behind one of the most dramatic and symbolic peace legacies of any modern Olympics, thanks to the reconciliation of the two Koreas in sports -- a development that was unimaginable just a few months ago.For the first time in an Olympic Games hosted by the South, some 200 delegates of the two Koreas marched together under a unified flag and in matching uniforms

Olympic GamesFeb. 25, 2018

[PyeongChang 2018] Host S. Korea falls short of gold medal target

Host South Korea fell short of its gold medal target at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, which will draw to conclusion on Sunday after two-plus weeks of competition for 102 gold medals.With South Korea in the women's curling final scheduled and the four-man bobsleigh team in contention later Sunday, the host country was sitting at five gold, six silver and four bronze medals, good for a tie for seventh place in the standings.South Korea sent its largest Winter Olympics delegation ever, with 144

Olympic GamesFeb. 25, 2018

[PyeongChang 2018] PyeongChang Winter Olympics to close after record-setting run

The 2018 PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games will draw to a conclusion on Sunday after a record-setting run over the past two-plus weeks.Since the opening ceremony on Feb. 9, PyeongChang, 180 kilometers east of Seoul, along with the sub-host cities of Gangneung and Jeongseon, has hosted 2,920 athletes from 92 countries -- both records for Winter Olympics. They vied for 102 gold medals, also a record for the quadrennial competition.The last four gold medals will be won on Sunday -- in women's curlin

Olympic GamesFeb. 25, 2018

[PyeongChang 2018] S. Korea wins gold, silver in mass start skating

Veteran South Korean skater Lee Seung-hoon became the inaugural Olympic champion in men's mass start speed skating, at the PyeongChang Winter Games on Saturday.He made a last-minute spurt to cross the finish line first in the men's mass start final held in the Gangneung Oval. Belgium's Bart Swings won silver and the Netherlands' Koen Verweij won bronze.Lee Seung-hoon reacts after winning the gold in the men's mass start skating on Saturday. (Yonhap)Lee, the world No. 1 in the discipline, earned

Olympic GamesFeb. 24, 2018

[Newsmaker] Lee Sang-ho: 1st Asian man to win medal in alpine snowboarding

PYEONGCHANG, South Korea -- South Korean alpine snowboarder Lee Sang-ho, who became the first Asian man to win an Olympic medal in an alpine snowboarding event with his silver medal run, is a native of Jeongseon, Gangwon Province, where Olympic alpine skiing speed events were being staged.He first started snowboarding at a sledding slope that was previously a cabbage patch. This gave him the nickname “Napa Cabbage Boy” after he established himself in the snowboarding scene. Lee Sang-ho (Yonhap)L

Olympic GamesFeb. 24, 2018

[PyeongChang 2018] South Korean alpine snowboarder Lee Sang-ho wins silver in men’s parallel giant slalom

PYEONGCHANG, South Korea -- South Korean alpine snowboarding ace Lee Sang-ho won the silver medal in the men’s parallel giant slalom at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics on Saturday.Lee lost to Nevin Galmarini of Switzerland by 0.43 second in the gold medal contest and claimed the silver medal at Phoenix Snow Park in PyeongChang, Gangwon Province. He is now the first Asian man to make a podium finish at an Olympic alpine snowboarding event and the first South Korean to claim a Winter Games medal f

Olympic GamesFeb. 24, 2018

[PyeongChang 2018] Closing ceremony to include 8-minute preview of Beijing 2022

PYEONGCHANG, South Korea -- The closing ceremony of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics will include a preview of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games, organizers said Saturday.Zhang Yimou, the director of the Beijing 2022 handover performance, said he has planned an eight-minute show for the closing ceremony to be held at PyeongChang Olympic Stadium on Sunday. (Yonhap)The Chinese director also took charge of the opening and closing ceremonies for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics."We plan to delive

Olympic GamesFeb. 24, 2018

[PyeongChang 2018] South Korean women fail to advance to alpine snowboarding finals

PYEONGCHANG, South Korea -- Two South Korean alpine snowboarders failed to advance to the women's parallel giant slalom finals at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics on Saturday. Jeong Hae-rim and Shin Da-hae both failed to reach the elimination round open to the top 16 contestants. Jeong finished 20th with a combined time of 1 minute, 34.11 seconds after two runs, while Shin ended up 25th among 29 competitors with 1:36.04.  Jung Hae-rim (Yonhap)In the qualification round, competitors each take two

Olympic GamesFeb. 24, 2018

[PyeongChang 2018] Korea brushes past Japan to make women's curling final

South Korea’s “Garlic Girls” secured a much-anticipated semifinal victory in the women’s curling at the PyeongChang Olympics on Friday, guaranteeing them at least a silver medal.The four-member team, whose nickname reflects the produce their hometown is famous for, beat Japan 8-7 at the Gangneung Curling Center.The victory came after the team led by skip Kim Eun-jung had defeated higher-ranked teams, including favorites Canada and Sweden, becoming the first to qualify for the semifinals.South Ko

Olympic GamesFeb. 23, 2018

[PyeongChang 2018] Korea nets unexpected speedskating bronze

After skating disappointment on Thursday, South Korean athletes scored a surprise success at the Gangneung Oval in the men’s speedskating Friday.South Korean skater Kim Tae-yun. YonhapKim Tae-yun secured an unexpected medal in the 1,000 meter event of the PyeongChang Olympics, with a time of 1 minute 8.22 seconds to secure bronze.The Netherlands’ Kjeld Nuis took gold with a time of 1:07.95, just 0.04 second ahead of Norway’s Harvard Lorentzen, who took silver.Two other Korean skaters competed, C

Olympic GamesFeb. 23, 2018

[Photo News] Korean figure skaters Choi Da-bin, Kim Ha-nul at PyeongChang

Choi Da-bin finished 7th at women’s singles figure skating Friday at her first-ever appearance in the Winter Olympics at Gangneung Ice Arena.Choi received 131.49 points in the ladies’ figure skating free program. She became the first Korean to finish inside top-10 with overall 199.26 points since the two-time medalist Kim Yu-na.Choi Da-binThe 18-year-old confidently skated to the original soundtrack from “Doctor Zhivago.” Despite a minor mistake with the second triple jump during her triple lutz

Olympic GamesFeb. 23, 2018

[PyeongChang 2018] Costume director reveals details about closing ceremony at PyeongChang

Jain Song felt a strong sense of pride after showcasing her clothing line that dancers wore at the forefront of the Feb. 9 opening ceremony of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, attended by an audience of more than 30,000. But what the South Korean designer has prepared for the Olympics is not over yet.  Artists in costumes of the ancient Goguryeo Kingdom designed by Jain Song perform during the Feb. 9 opening ceremony of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics. Photo: PyeongChang Organizing Committe

Olympic GamesFeb. 23, 2018

[PyeongChang 2018] Korea's Choi Da-bin finishes 7th at ladies' singles figure skating

GANGNEUNG, South Korea -- South Korea's Choi Da-bin pulled off a nearly clean free program routine in the ladies' singles to make the top 10 at her Olympic debut on Friday, with the PyeongChang Games' figure skating events ending in style.In the ladies' figure skating free program held at Gangneung Ice Arena, the 18-year old received 131.49 points and finished seventh with 199.26 points overall. Both scores are new personal highs, beating the marks set at the World Championships last year.Choi b

Olympic GamesFeb. 23, 2018

[PyeongChang 2018] Russians get 1st gold thanks to 15-year-old Zagitova

GANGNEUNG, South Korea -- The Russians finally have a gold medal at the Pyeongchang Olympics, thanks to a 15-year-old who beat the fellow teen who inspired her to become a figure skater.Alina Zagitova won one of the games spotlight events Friday, edging her friend and training partner 18-year-old Evgenia Medvedeva. That ended the gold drought for the Olympic Athletes from Russia — the designation given to the nation’s competitors after the IOC banned the nation because of a doping scandal. Zagit

Olympic GamesFeb. 23, 2018

[PyeongChang 2018] 1st Olympics provide huge learning experience for young short trackers

GANGNEUNG, South Korea -- Four out of five South Korean male speed skaters made their Winter Olympic debut at PyeongChang 2018 this month, and to a man, they said they couldn't have asked for a better learning experience.And they mostly learned their lessons the hard way.Lim Hyo-jun, 21, was the only South Korean man to win gold here, as he took the 1,500-meter title. He added a bronze in the 500m too. But in the 5,000m relay, Lim slipped and fell midway through the 45-lap race when South Korea

Olympic GamesFeb. 23, 2018

[PyeongChang 2018] Short track coach learns to accept results despite disappointments

GANGNEUNG -- Korean short track head coach Kim Sun-tae said Friday he has learned to accept the outcomes of his athletes' races despite some disappointments at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics.Kim led the Korean men's and women's skaters to three gold, one silver and two bronze medals. The six medals were the most among all participating countries, as Korea solidified its standing as the world's premier short track powerhouse. Korea leads the all-time Olympic rankings with 24 gold medals and 48 m

Olympic GamesFeb. 23, 2018

[PyeongChang 2018] Coca-Cola pays tribute to Korean female Olympians

As a multinational beverage corporation, Coca-Cola has gone beyond expectations once again. For years, the company has collaborated with a variety of designers to generate creative, fun products. Now working with Korean artist Kim Hyun-jung, the company has launched an ad campaign of Olympics-inspired art depicting female Korean athletes in traditional hanbok dresses.  (Coca-Cola Facebook)As a tribute to the Olympians, the paintings showcase curling, speedskating and bobsled. Fans can take part

Olympic GamesFeb. 23, 2018

[PyeongChang 2018] S. Korea aims for 2 golds in final speed skating events

PYEONGCHANG, Gangwon Province -- South Korea will try to add two gold medals in final speed skating events at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics on Saturday.Lee Seung-hoon and Kim Bo-reum are scheduled to compete in semifinals of the men's and women's mass start speed skating events, respectively, at Gangneung Oval. The finals will also take place later that day. Korean skater Lee Seung-hoon (Yonhap)In mass start events, athletes compete in a 16-lap, free-for-all race around a 400m track with no de

Olympic GamesFeb. 23, 2018

[PyeongChang 2018] Short track calamities cost Korea

GANGNEUNG, Gangwon Province -- South Korea had golden expectations going into Thursday evening’s short track speedskating events, but fell short despite earning two medals. The host country won silver and bronze medals in the men’s 500-meter Olympic final in Gangneung, Gangwon Province. China’s Wu Dajing, who had already set a world record in the heats the same evening, broke it again with a 39.584-second time to take gold, China’s first short track medal in this Olympics and its first gold of t

Olympic GamesFeb. 22, 2018