The PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games will be the largest in history, with 2,925 athletes from 92 countries competing for 102 gold medals in the Olympics this year. (Korea.net DB)
By Kim Young Shin
The PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, which are to begin on Feb. 9 with the Opening Ceremony for the Olympics, will host the largest number of participants ever for a Winter Olympics.
“A total of 2,925 athletes from 92 countries have confirmed their participation by the deadline of 6 a.m. on Feb. 29. Both the number of countries and the number of athletes are the biggest ever for the Winter Olympics,” said the PyeongChang organizing committee on Jan. 29.
There are 67 more participants from 4 more nations this year, compared to the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games.
The PyeongChang Winter Olympics also have four more events this year. They are speed skating mass start, curling mixed doubles, snowboard big air and the alpine ski team event. The previous Winter Games only had 98 events. Athletes here will compete for 102 gold medals, which is also the highest number ever for any Winter Olympics.
It is assumed that more events, as well as North Korea’s participation in the Olympics, which can be interpreted as a lessening of tension on the Korean Peninsula, have resulted in the highest number of participants in the Winter Games.
There will also be international dignitaries visiting Korea during the Olympics.
“As of this morning, 26 international dignitaries from 21 countries will be visiting Korea,” announced Nam Gwan-pyo, a deputy director at the Presidential National Security Office. “Particularly, 16 of the guests will be attending the Opening Ceremony to celebrate the beginning of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics.”
※ List of the Heads of States and Leaders Visiting the Republic of Korea on the Occasion of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics:
Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier of the Federal Republic of Germany
President Borut Pahor of the Republic of Slovenia
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres of the United Nations
Prime Minister Erna Solberg of the Kingdom of Norway
Prime Minister and Minister of General Affairs Mark Rutte of the Netherlands
HM King Carl XVI Gustaf of the Kingdom of Sweden
Prime Minister Juha Sipila of the Republic of Finland
Her Excellency the Right Honourable Julie Payette, the Governor General of Canada
President Alain Berset of the Swiss Confederation
President Andrzej Duda of the Republic of Poland
President Andrej Kiska of the Slovak Republic
Prime Minister Adrian Hasler of the Principality of Liechtenstein
President Dalia Grybauskaite of the Republic of Lithuania
President Kersti Kaljulaid of the Republic of Estonia
President Raimonds Vejonis of the Republic of Latvia
Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg (IOC member)
HRH Crown Prince Frederik of the Kingdom of Denmark (IOC member)
HSH Prince Albert II of the Principality of Monaco (IOC member)
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan
Vice President Michael R. Pence of the United States
Mr. Han Zheng, Special Envoy of President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China (member of Standing Committee of Political Bureau of CPC Central Committee)
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