Feb. 9 (UPI) -- The 2018 Winter
Olympic Games in Pyeongchang started Friday with a theme of peace, as nations
from around the world were introduced in a grand opening ceremony that kicked
off the peninsula's first Olympics in 30 years.
After opening segments of pageantry
showcasing children following a white tiger on a quest for peace, the
traditional parade of nations began at Olympic Stadium.
One of the main highlights of the parade
came at the end of the procession, as athletes from North and South Korea
marched as one group. Dressed in white and marching together, the unified group
carried one flag.
Carrying the Korean unification flag was
South Korean bobsledder Won Yun-jong and North Korean ice hockey player Hwang
Chung-gum.
As the athletes entered, many
arm-in-arm, crowds cheered as South Korean president Moon Jae-in
shook hands with North Korean legislative leader Kim Yong Nam --
and Kim Yo Jong, the sister of Pyongyang leader Kim Jong Un.
Both Koreas brought their largest
delegation ever with 219 athletes from the South and 46 from the North,
according to Yonhap. Also a first, the Koreas have formed a joint women's
hockey team.
International Olympic Committee
President Thomas Bach said at the ceremony the Korean athletes are in
inspiration for all "to live together in peace and harmony despite all our
differences."
"A great example of this unifying
power is the joint march here tonight of the two teams from the National
Olympic Committees of the Republic of Korea and the Democratic People's
Republic of Korea. We thank you," Bach said.
"All the athletes around me, all
the spectators here in the stadium, and all Olympic fans watching around the
world: We are all touched by this wonderful gesture. We all join and support
you in your message of peace. United in our diversity, we are stronger than all
the forces that want to divide us."
Attendees at the open-air stadium --
which included the U.S. delegation led by Vice President Mike Pence
and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe -- had to brave the cold elements. South
Korea's state weather agency reported a temperature of 27 degrees Fahrenheit
during the ceremony, which was held about 110 miles east of Seoul.
As custom, the Greek team began the
parade, followed by teams entering in alphabetical order based Korean language
names. The host nation is introduced last. A number of "neutral"
Russian athletes marched in the parade -- those cleared by the IOC to compete
amid of a doping ban -- and carried an Olympic flag.
Nearly 3,000 athletes from more than 90
countries will compete at the Pyeongchang Games in 102 medal events. The U.S.
Olympic team sent 242 athletes -- including 135 men and 107 women, which is the
largest for any nation in the history of the Winter Olympics.
The Pyeongchang Olympics are the second
ever to be held on the Korean Peninsula, and its first Winter Games. Seoul
hosted the 1988 Summer Olympics.
When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)
No comments:
Post a Comment