The 2018 PyeongChang Winter Games are certain to be the largest Winter Olympics in history in terms of participating nations and athletes, with the deadline to confirm entries fast approaching, organizing officials said Sunday.According to the organizing committee, nearly 3,000 athletes from 95 nations have registered to compete at the Feb. 9-25 Olympics. The deadline to finalize entries is 6 a.m. Monday South Korean time."The exact numbers of nations and athletes will be determined on Monday, b

For South Korean alpine skier Jung Dong-hyun, the Winter Olympic Games of the past only bring sad memories.Jung has established himself as the top Asian alpine skier after winning gold medals from two consecutive Asian Winter Games.The 29-year-old, who began skiing at the age of three, started competing internationally in 2004.Jung, however, hasn't had much luck with the Olympic Games.Jung was able to compete at the 2006 Torino Olympics, but later had to give up his opportunity after he didn't a

The International Olympic Committee cleared 169 Russian athletes Sunday to compete at the upcoming PyeongChang Winter Olympics, although the list likely doesn't include Korean-born short track star Victor An.In December, the IOC banned Russia from PyeongChang 2018 for state-sponsored doping and said it would only allow clean athletes to compete as neutrals, each formally referred to as an "Olympic Athlete from Russia (OAR).""Following a detailed and comprehensive invitation process, the IOC conf

The Korea Skating Union said Thursday that it has decided to permanently expel a coach for beating Olympic short track speed skating champion Shim Suk-hee.The skating authorities convened an independent disciplinary committee of eight experts to make a decision on the coach, whose name has been withheld from the media. (Yonhap)“We have decided on the heavy punishment of permanent expulsion after we discussed the gravity of the issue following statements from the attacker,” Kim Sang-kyum, the cha

Russia’s Viktor Ahn, one of most decorated Olympic short track speedskaters, expressed strong dissatisfaction over the International Olympic Committee’s recent decision to bar him from competing at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Games in his native South Korea, according to Russia’s local broadcasting company Match TV on Wednesday. Short track speedskater Viktor Ahn. YonhapThe six-time Olympic champion, 32, Tuesday left the team meeting room without a word, shortly after he heard that the IOC exclu

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the PyeongChang Organizing Committee will host the Korea PyeongChang Night in Davos, Switzerland during the Davos forum on Thursday as part of an event to promote the upcoming Winter Games slated for next month. The mascots for the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games Suhorang (R) and Bandabi. YonhapAccording to the ministry, the separate session on the sidelines of the forum will take place at 7 p.m. (Korean time) and will be attended by Foreign Minister Kan

South Korea's sole ice dance team of Min Yu-ra and Alexander Gamelin finished 7th at the 2018 Four Continents Figure Skating Championships on Thursday, wrapping up the final rehearsal before the next month's PyeongChang Winter Olympics.The duo received 91.27 points in free skating at the competition in Taipei, Taiwan, to record a combined 151.38 points, including 60.11 points from the previous day's short program.The total score is just 0.62 point short of their best score of 152 points, which t

Seoul City will hold “Special Welcoming Week” for foreigners visiting Seoul for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics.Under the slogan “Welcome to Seoul, Gate to Pyeongchang,” the welcoming week event, usually spanning seven days, has been extended to 52 days for the Olympics, starting from Friday and running through March 18 when the Paralympic Games are set to end.Seoul Metropolitan Government said it will install welcoming booths at Incheon and Gimpo international airports. At these booths, vi

North Korea is expected to send two athletes to the upcoming PyeongChang Winter Paralympic Games, following its decision to participate in the multi-sport event, which will be held in the South, Seoul's sports minister said Thursday. "I expect two North Korean athletes to attend the PyeongChang Paralympics. Their participation will help the event organizers hold the Paralympic Games more peacefully," Do Jong-whan, minister of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, told reporters at the tra

The resale of tickets for the PyeongChang Olympics at a premium is punishable by a fine of up to 5 million won ($4,700), according to article 92 of the Special Act on Support for the 2018 PyeongChang Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Joongonara, Korea’s biggest e-market for secondhand goods, has cautioned its some 16 million users against trading Olympic tickets on its website, relaying the notice sent out by the PyeongChang Organizing Committee. The notice makes it clear that trading the tic

The 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics in South Korea will welcome delegations from a record 94 countries and tourists around the world for the international event slated for next month. And among the visitors will be Muslims. Mobile Prayer Room. Photo: KTOFor Muslims visiting Gangneung -- one of three venues in Gangwon Province where the games will be held -- “mobile prayer rooms” will be set up in the region to attract more adherents of Islam that make up the world’s second-largest religious gro

In the wake of allegations that South Korea's female short track speed skating star Shim Suk-hee was assaulted by her own instructor, the national team head coach said Wednesday his athletes have gone back to their normal training routines."It is important for athletes to perform at the Winter Games in good conditions and atmosphere and overcome the incident," Kim Sun-tae told reporters after the launch ceremony for South Korean athletes competing at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics.Earlier

South Korean bobsleigh head coach Lee Yong on Wednesday rejected a recent proposal for a joint Korean team for test runs at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, saying the idea would only embarrass the sport.Last Friday, the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) said "a mixed 4-man bobsleigh team with athletes from North and South Korea could be among the sleds testing the conditions" ahead of the Olympic races scheduled for Feb. 24 and 25. South Korean Olympic bobsleigh head coach

Athletes competing for host South Korea at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics gathered Wednesday for their team launch ceremony.Some 150 athletes from seven sports and 15 disciplines, including speed skating, ice hockey, curling, alpine skiing, biathlon and bobsleigh, were on hand for the occasion.Kim Ji-yong, executive director at Kookmin University in Seoul, will be the chief delegate for South Korea, which is expected to have 218 athletes in all events.South Korea has set out to win at leas

Two years ago, South Korea's bobsleigh tandem of Won Yun-jong and Seo Young-woo were at the top of the world and were considered a strong medal hope for PyeongChang Winter Olympics. Since then, Won, the pilot, and Seo, his brakeman, have had up-and-down seasons that raise concerns for their Olympic performance. Two weeks before the Olympics, however, they remain confident their roller coaster ride will end on a high note at the games.Before skeleton slider Yun Sung-bin, the two-man bobsleigh tea