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The Winter Olympics Are Here!

South Korea hosts the 23rd Winter Olympic Games. Here’s what to watch!

February 8, 2018
By Alexa Kurzius
Clockwise from top-left: Daniel Milchev/Getty Images; Chung Sung-Jun - ISU/ISU via Getty Images; Christof Koepsel/Bongarts/Getty Images; Issei Kato/Reuters

Team USA athletes clockwise from top-left: Snowboarder Chloe Kim, speed skater Heather Bergsma, bobsledders Elana Meyers Taylor and Kehri Jones, and figure skater Nathan Chen

JIM MCMAHON/MAPMAN®

Calling all winter sports fans! The Winter Olympics begin on February 9 in Pyeongchang, South Korea. It’s the first time the country has hosted the Winter Olympics. But before the athletes hit the slopes and ice, they will participate in the opening ceremonies. The event’s theme is peace, but the rest of the details are top secret. Up to 35,000 spectators will brave frigid conditions in the open-air stadium for the two-hour event. Learn more about weather in Pyeongchang in this article from SuperScience.  

The Parade of Nations is also part of the opening ceremonies. Athletes from 94 countries will walk through the stadium under their country’s flag. This includes Afghanistan, which is making its Winter Olympic debut with skiers Sayed Alishah Farhang and Sajjad Husaini. Team USA is sending 244 athletes to compete—the largest delegation in Winter Olympics history. And in another nod toward peace, North and South Korea will march under the same flag. Separate since 1948, the neighboring countries have a history of hostility. Some say this is the most cooperative action taken by North and South Korea in years.

GOING FOR GOLD

Over the next two weeks, a total of 102 medals will be awarded across 15 sports. You’ll see events that date back to the first Winter Games, like figure skating, ski jumping, bobsledding, and hockey. There are also six new events on the roster: snowboard big air (men and women), speed skating mass start (men and women), curling mixed doubles, and an alpine skiing team event.

Stay tuned to learn more about some of the events described in our STEM magazines—and find out who will take home the gold! We’ll keep updating until the last medals are awarded on February 25.

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