‘Apologize to Adelina Sotnikova’

A Russian citizen launched an online petition demanding an apology from Korean netizens for insulting Olympic figure skating champion Adelina Sotnikova on Monday. 　“Not only Russians, but experts from other countries agree that her program, her performance was really high level,” said the petitioner, going by the name one two, on the petition uploaded to Change.org.　The Russian petitioner, who presumably opened the petition in response to the one in support of South Korean skater Kim Yu-na, expl

Feb. 26, 2014

Russian media calls Viktor Ahn ‘Koryo-in’　

Viktor Ahn, hailed as a national hero in Russia after winning three gold medals at the Sochi Winter Olympics, is being called Кореец, or Koryo-in (ethnic Koreans), by his adopted country, a local media outlet reported. 　Ahn is making headlines in Russia after his stunning performance at the Olympics, with the Russian press including the state-run news agency RIA Novosti using the term “Koryo-in” when referring to him, according to news website Newsroh.　Koryo-in is the term used for ethnic Korean

Feb. 26, 2014

Gold medalist Sotnikova’s Facebook activities come under scrutiny

While debate lingers over who deserved the gold in women’s figure skating at the Sochi Olympics, controversial gold medalist Adelina Sotnikova of Russia is creating new online buzz after she reportedly “liked” photos of South Korean figure skater Kim Yu-na on Facebook. 　The newly-crowned Olympic champion recently followed one of Kim Yu-na’s fans on Facebook and “liked” some of the photos of the Sochi Olympic silver medalist, Korean media outlet Newsen reported. 　The Russian even “liked” a photo

Feb. 25, 2014

Korea falls short of medals goal in Sochi

SOCHI, Russia (Yonhap) ― The speed skaters gritted their teeth to the finish line. The short trackers fell and got up, only to fall down again. The figure skating icon may or may not have gotten the short end of the judging stick.Add that up, and South Korea fell shy of its goal of winning four gold medals and finishing in the top 10 at the Sochi Winter Olympics ― a publicly stated objective that, hindsight being 20-20, may have been a tad ambitious.South Korea did grab three gold medals, but fi

Feb. 24, 2014

S. Korea, Russia to cooperate on Games

Seoul and Moscow have agreed to boost cooperation to successfully host the next Winter Games in the South Korean city of PyeongChang, the government here said Monday.The commitment was made during a meeting between South Korean Prime Minister Chung Hong-won and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday in the Russian city of Sochi before the closing ceremony of the Winter Olympics.Congratulating Russia on taking the top spot in the medal standings, Chung asked for Russia’s “interest in and supp

Feb. 24, 2014

Controversy persists over figure skating results

The gold medalist was already decided in ladies’ figure skating at the Sochi Olympic Games, but the surprising outcome continues to create a stir at home and abroad. 　A slew of foreign news reports have sympathized with Koreans enraged by “home-cooked” judging, raising a question over the “opaque judging system.”　However, some believe the embattled judges got the result “right” this time despite the possible collusion that may have taken place.  　The New York Times viewed the South Korean figure

Feb. 24, 2014

Eyes on Korea as PyeongChang readies to host next Winter Olympics

As the 2014 Winter Olympics drew to a close here in Russia, the eyes of the sporting world turned to the South Korean town of PyeongChang, the host of the next Winter Games in 2018.The Olympic Flag was handed over from Sochi to PyeongChang during the closing ceremony at Fisht Olympic Stadium on Sunday, and it will be kept in the South Korean host over the next four years.It will have been a long time coming for PyeongChang, some 180 kilometers east of Seoul.PyeongChang won the bid to host the Wi

Feb. 24, 2014

Sochi Winter Olympics draws to conclusion with host on top

The 2014 Winter Olympic Games in the Black Sea resort town of Sochi drew to a conclusion on Sunday, as the host Russia rediscovered its dominance on snow and ice.The closing ceremony took place at Fisht Olympic Stadium, the same site of the opening ceremony for the 17-day winter sports extravaganza.Under the slogan "Hot, Cool, Yours," the Sochi Olympics brought together nearly 3,000 athletes from a Winter Games record 88 countries, who competed for 98 gold medals in 15 disciplines in seven sport

Feb. 24, 2014

PyeongChang set to take Olympic baton

SOCHI, Russia (AP) ― Even before the Sochi Games come to a close, organizers of the next Winter Olympics are promising to do them Gangwon style.After two failed bids to host the Winter Games, the South Korean city of PyeongChang won the right to stage the 2018 edition in the mountains of Gangwon Province east of Seoul. Organizing committee president Kim Jin-sun held a news conference to provide an update on preparations and to answer questions about issues including security, North Korea’s parti

Feb. 23, 2014

Olympic: Sotnikova inspired by battling Asada

Newly-crowned Olympic champion has revealed that she had been inspired by Japanese star Mao Asada in her journey towards Winter Games' gold.As Sotnikova, 17, glided to her first major title, 23-year-old Asada was competing in her last Games.Asada's bid to give Japan a second figure skating gold in Sochi fell foul of her trademark triple Axel jump on Wednesday -- leaving her in 16th position after the first night of the competition.But she recovered strongly on Thursday to post the third highest

Feb. 23, 2014

Photos of Kim Yu-na at gala exhibition in Sochi

The photo collection of figure skating queen Kim Yu-na perfoming at the gala exhibition that closed the Olympic figure skating competition in Sochi on Sunday (Korean time). The photos are from Yonhap.

Feb. 23, 2014

Kim Yu-na performs at Sochi gala skate

With the pressure off and no medals at stake, it was time for the Olympic figure skaters to have some fun. Before a packed house Saturday night at the Iceberg Skating Palace, where so much history was made during the Sochi Games, the loudest cheers, naturally, went to the Russian stars  When pairs champions Tatiana Volosozhar and Maxim Trankov took the ice at the end of the 2{-hour show, now familiar chants of "Ro-ssi-ya'' filled the arena. Then all the individual gold medalists _ Americans Mery

Feb. 23, 2014