Concerns and controversies at the 2018 Winter Olympics

{{Main|Doping in Russia|McLaren Report|Russia at the 2016 Summer Olympics|Olympic Athletes from Russia at the 2018 Winter Olympics}}

File:Olympic Athlete from Russia logo 2018.svg

On 5 December 2017, the IOC announced that the Russian Olympic Committee had been suspended effective immediately from the 2018 Winter Olympics. Athletes who had no previous drug violations and a consistent history of drug testing were to be allowed to compete under the Olympic Flag as an "Olympic Athlete from Russia" (OAR). Under the terms of the decree, Russian government officials were barred from the Games, and neither the country's flag nor anthem would be present. The Olympic Flag and Olympic Anthem will be used instead,{{citation needed|date=February 2018}} and on 20 December 2017 the IOC proposed an alternate logo for the uniforms (seen at right).{{cite web|url=https://www.olympic.org/news/ioc-s-olympic-athlete-from-russia-implementation-group-releases-guidelines-for-uniforms-accessories-and-equipment|title=IOC's OAR implementation group releases guidelines for uniforms accessories and equipment's|date=20 December 2017|work=olympic.org}} IOC President Thomas Bach said that "after following due process [the IOC] has issued proportional sanctions for this systematic manipulation while protecting the clean athletes."{{cite web | url=https://themoscowtimes.com/news/ioc-bars-russian-athletes-and-officials-from-winter-olympic-games-59818 | title=IOC Bars Russian Athletes and Officials From Winter Olympic Games | work=The Moscow Times | date=5 December 2017 | access-date=5 December 2017}}

As of January 2018, the IOC had sanctioned 43 Russian athletes from the 2014 Winter Olympics and banned them from competing in the 2018 edition and all other future Olympic Games as part of the Oswald Commission. All but one of these athletes appealed against their bans to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The court overturned the sanctions on 28 athletes meaning that their Sochi medals and results are reinstated but decided that there was sufficient evidence against 11 athletes to uphold their Sochi sanctions. The IOC said in a statement that "the result of the CAS decision does not mean that athletes from the group of 28 will be invited to the Games. Not being sanctioned does not automatically confer the privilege of an invitation" and that "this [case] may have a serious impact on the future fight against doping". The IOC found it important to note that CAS Secretary General "insisted that the CAS decision does not mean that these 28 athletes are innocent" and that they would consider an appeal against the court's decision. The court also decided that none of the 39 athletes should be banned from all future Olympic Games, but only the 2018 Games. Three Russian athletes are still waiting for their hearing, which will be conducted after the 2018 Games.{{cite web|url=http://www.olympic.org/news/ioc-statement-on-cas-decision|title=IOC Statement on CAS Decision|date=1 February 2018|publisher=International Olympic Committee|access-date=4 February 2018}} After the CAS decision was announced, the four-time Olympic champion in biathlon Alexander Tikhonov demanded to call to account the President of the IOC for "false accusations".{{cite news|title=IOC decided to close the justified Russians the way to the Games|url=http://newsme.com.ua/en/sport/3957409/|work=NewsMe}} Russia's sports minister Pavel Kolobkov wanted the IOC to ensure the participation of these Russian athletes at the Olympics in Pyeongchang.{{cite news|title=Russia to request lifting Olympic bans after CAS decision: minister|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-doping-olympics-russia-minister-court/russia-to-request-lifting-olympic-bans-after-cas-decision-minister-idUSKBN1FL574|work=Reuters|date=2018}}

An original pool of 500 Russian athletes was put forward for consideration for the games and 111 were immediately removed from consideration. The remaining athletes had to meet pre-games conditions such as further pre-games tests and reanalysis from stored samples. Only if these requirements are met, can the athletes be considered for invitation to the games. None of the athletes who had been sanctioned by the Oswald Commission were still in the pool.{{cite web|url=https://www.olympic.org/news/reduced-pool-of-russian-athletes-and-officials-who-can-be-considered-for-invitation-to-pyeongchang-2018-determined|title=Reduced Pool of Russian Athletes and Officials Who Can Be Considered for Invitation to PyeongChang 2018 Determined|date=25 January 2018|publisher=International Olympic Committee|access-date=30 January 2018}}

The final number of neutral Russian athletes invited to compete was 169.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/25/sports/olympics/russia-doping.html|title=Russia Is Barred From Winter Olympics. Russia Is Sending 169 Athletes to Winter Olympics|date=25 January 2018|work=The New York Times|access-date=4 February 2018}}

On 22 February Alexander Krushelnitskiy of the Olympic Athletes from Russia team was stripped of his bronze medal in mixed doubles curling after testing positive for meldonium.{{cite news|title=Winter Olympics: Russia curler Alexander Krushelnitsky stripped of bronze for doping |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/winter-olympics/43152299 |access-date=22 February 2018|work=BBC|date=22 February 2018}}

File:Dmitry Medvedev with sportspeople (2018-02-28).jpg with medal winners from Russia, 28 February 2018]]

In the past, Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, and other officials had said that it would be a humiliation for Russia if its athletes were not allowed to compete under the Russian flag.{{cite news |date=19 October 2017 |title=Putin says US pressured IOC to ban Russia from Winter Games |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/putin-says-us-pressured-ioc-ban-russia-winter-175151912--oly.html |work=Yahoo Sports |agency=Agence France-Presse |access-date=5 December 2017 |archive-date=6 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206160927/https://sports.yahoo.com/putin-says-us-pressured-ioc-ban-russia-winter-175151912--oly.html |url-status=dead }} However, his spokesman later said that no boycott had been discussed.{{cite news |last1=Ruiz |first1=Rebecca C. |last2=Panja |first2=Tariq |date=5 December 2017 |title=Russia Banned From Winter Olympics by I.O.C. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/05/sports/olympics/ioc-russia-winter-olympics.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=5 December 2017}} After the IOC decision was announced, Ramzan Kadyrov, the head of Chechnya, announced that no Chechen athletes would participate under a neutral flag.{{cite web|url=https://www.championat.com/other/news-2972433-kadyrov-ni-odin-chechenskij-sportsmen-ne-budet-vystupat-pod-nejtralnym-flagom.html|title=Кадыров: ни один чеченский спортсмен не будет выступать под нейтральным флагом|website=Championat.com|access-date=6 December 2017 |language=ru}} On 6 December, Putin stated that the Russian government would not prevent any athletes from participating at the Games as individuals, but there were calls from other politicians for a boycott.{{cite web|url=http://www.interfax.ru/sport/590596 |title=Жириновский предложил отказаться от участия в Олимпиаде-2018 |publisher=Interfax.ru |access-date=6 December 2017 |language=ru}}{{cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2017/12/06/sport/russia-doping-2018-winter-olympics-vladimir-putin-pyeongchang/index.html|title=Vladimir Putin won't tell Russian athletes to boycott Winter Olympics|date=6 December 2017|publisher=CNN|access-date=6 December 2017}} Gennady Zyuganov, a leader of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, proposed to send fans with a Soviet Victory Banner.{{Cite news|url=http://www.mk.ru/politics/2018/01/30/zyuganov-predlozhil-otpravit-na-olimpiadu-bolelshhikov-so-znamenem-pobedy.html|title=Зюганов предложил отправить на Олимпиаду болельщиков со знаменем Победы|date=30 January 2018|work=mk.ru|access-date=5 February 2018|language=ru}} Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov has said that the United States "fears honest competition",{{cite news|url=http://tass.com/politics/985069|title=US fears honest competition in energy, arms industry and sports, Lavrov warns|date=15 January 2018|publisher=TASS|access-date=18 January 2018}} affirming Vladimir Putin's position who had said that the United States used its influence within the International Olympic Committee to "orchestrate the doping scandal".{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-41934604|title=Putin: Doping allegations 'US plot against Russian election'|date=9 November 2017|work=bbc.com|access-date=18 January 2018|language=en}} According to Komsomolskaya Pravda, a popular Russian newspaper, 86% of the Russian population oppose participating in the Olympics under a neutral flag,{{Cite news|url=https://www.spb.kp.ru/daily/26772/3805611/|title=Опрос "КП": Стоит ли спортсменам из России ехать на Олимпиаду под нейтральным флагом|date=20 December 2017|work=kp.ru|access-date=4 February 2018|language=ru}} and many Russian fans attended the Games wearing the Russian colours and chanting "Russia!" in unison, in an act of defiance against the ban.{{cite news | url=https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/winter-olympics-2018/russian-fans-spurn-stupid-ban-athletes-olympic-games-n847886 | title=Russian fans spurn 'stupid' ban on athletes at Olympic Games | work=NBC News | first=Eirk | last=Ortiz | date= 14 February 2018}}

The IOC's decision was criticized by Jack Robertson, primary investigator of the Russian doping program on behalf of the World Anti-Doping Agency, who said that the IOC has issued "a non-punitive punishment meant to save face while protecting the [IOC’s] and Russia’s commercial and political interests". He also emphasized that Russian whistleblowers provided empirical evidence that "99 percent of [their] national-level teammates were doping." According to Robertson, "[WADA] has discovered that when a Russian athlete [reaches] the national level, he or she [has] no choice in the matter: [it is] either dope, or you’re done". "There is currently no intelligence I have seen or heard about that indicates the state-sponsored doping program has ceased", he added.{{cite web|url=https://nytimes.com/2017/12/27/opinion/2018-winter-olympics-russia.html|title=The 2018 Winter Olympics Are Already Tainted|work=The New York Times|date=27 December 2017|access-date=27 December 2017}}

It was also reported that Russian officials intensively lobbied US politicians in an apparent attempt to achieve Grigory Rodchenkov's (main whistleblower) extradition to Russia.{{cite web|url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1059507/ioc-accused-of-cowardice-for-failing-to-address-russian-retaliation-against-rodchenkov|title=IOC accused of cowardice for failing to address Russian retaliation against Rodchenkov|work=Inside the Games|date=26 December 2017|access-date=27 December 2017}}

Justin Peters of Slate magazine wrote that the IOC "ended up with a situation that seemed to negate the entire point of the sanctions against Russia. The IOC did not want there to be a Russian Olympic team at the Pyeongchang Games. And yet the hockey, curling, and figure-skating arenas are full of teams of Russian Olympians ... [this is] a half-hearted wrist slap issued by an entity that appears more interested in saving face than in protecting athletes".{{cite web|url=https://slate.com/culture/2018/02/olympic-athletes-from-russia-is-a-craven-euphemism-for-a-craven-olympic-games.html|title="Olympic Athletes From Russia" Is a Craven Euphemism for a Craven Olympic Games|first=Justin|last=Peters|work=Slate.com|date=12 February 2018|access-date=17 February 2018}}

The Court of Arbitration for Sport decision to overturn life bans of 28 Russian athletes and restore their medals met fierce criticism among Olympic officials, including IOC president Thomas Bach who had said this decision is "extremely disappointing and surprising." Grigory Rodchenkov's lawyer has said that "the CAS decision would allow doped athletes to escape without punishment".{{cite web|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-olympics-ioc-chief-bach-disappointed-doping-bans-lifted/29017362.html|title=IOC Chief Disappointed By Court Lifting Doping Ban on Russians|work=rferl.org|date=4 February 2018|access-date=4 February 2018}}

"[CAS decision] provides yet another ill-gotten gain for the corrupt Russian doping system generally, and Putin specifically", – he added.{{cite web|url=http://olympics.nbcsports.com/2018/02/01/russia-olympic-doping-bans-lifted/|title=28 Russians have Olympic doping bans lifted|work=nbcsports.com|date=1 February 2018|access-date=4 February 2018}}

File:Protesters criticizing Moon Jae-in at Gwanghwamun Plaza.jpg criticizing game's pro-North Korean measures, calling it the "Pyongyang Olympics"]]

{{Further|North Korea at the 2018 Winter Olympics}}

On 20 September 2017, South Korea's President Moon Jae-in said the country is pushing to ensure security at Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games amid rising tensions over nuclear tests and a series of missile launches conducted by North Korea during the summer.{{cite web |title=South Korea's Moon says pushing to guarantee safety at Pyeongchang Olympics |publisher=Reuters |date=20 September 2017 |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-northkorea-missiles-southkorea-olympi/south-koreas-moon-says-pushing-to-guarantee-safety-at-pyeongchang-olympics-idUSKCN1BU2YE}} However, on the next day, French Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Laura Flessel-Colovic said France's Winter Olympics team will boycott the games unless South Korea's security is guaranteed.{{cite web |title=Olympics – France to skip 2018 Winter Games if security not assured |publisher=Reuters |date=22 September 2017 |url=https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-olympics-2018/olympics-france-to-skip-2018-winter-games-if-security-risk-too-great-idUKKCN1BW2NK|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170921231815/https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-olympics-2018/olympics-france-to-skip-2018-winter-games-if-security-risk-too-great-idUKKCN1BW2NK|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 September 2017}}

On 22 September 2017, Austria and Germany joined France in considering not attending the Games. Karl Stoss, head of Austria's national Olympic committee, said that, "if the situation worsens and the security of our athletes is no longer guaranteed, we will not go to South Korea."{{cite web |title=Olympics: North Korea triggers 2018 Winter Olympics security scare |work=The Straits Times| date=23 September 2017 |url=http://www.straitstimes.com/sport/olympics-france-to-skip-2018-winter-games-if-security-risk-too-great-in-south-korea}} Several days later, Laura Flessel-Colovic reaffirmed France's participation in the games. Austria and Germany did not boycott the Games.

Kim Yo-jong, the younger sister of dictator Kim Jong-un, attended the opening ceremony and shook hands with the South Korean President Moon Jae-in. This marked the first time since the Korean War that a member of the ruling Kim dynasty had visited South Korea.{{Cite web | title = US vice-president skips Olympics dinner in snub to North Korea officials | last = Haas | first = Benjamin | work = the Guardian | date = 9 February 2018 | access-date = 9 February 2018 | url = https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/feb/09/kim-jong-uns-sister-arrives-in-south-korea-for-winter-olympics }}

To accommodate primetime broadcasts in the Americas, figure skating events were scheduled with morning start times; figure skating is one of the most popular Winter Olympic sports among U.S. viewers (due to the substantial fees NBC has paid for rights to the Olympics, the IOC has allowed NBC to have influence on event scheduling to maximize U.S. television ratings when possible; NBC agreed to a $7.75 billion contract extension on 7 May 2014, to air the Olympics through the 2032 games,{{cite news|title=Olympics on NBC through 2032|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2014/05/07/nbc-olympics-broadcast-rights-2032/8805989/|newspaper=USA Today|publisher=Gannett Company|date=7 May 2014}} is also one of the major sources of revenue for the IOC).{{cite web|url=https://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/12/07/sports/olympics/russia-olympics-us-business.html|title=Fewer Russians Could Be a Windfall for U.S. Olympic Business|work=The New York Times|date=7 December 2017|access-date=5 February 2018}} This scheduling practice affected the events themselves, including skaters having to adjust to the modified schedule, as well as the attendance levels of the sessions.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/12/sports/olympics/figure-skating-schedule.html|title=For Olympic Figure Skaters, a New Meaning to Morning Routine|last=Longman|first=Jeré|date=12 February 2018|work=The New York Times|access-date=17 February 2018|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180216125456/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/12/sports/olympics/figure-skating-schedule.html|archive-date=16 February 2018}}

Conversely, and somewhat controversially, eight of the eleven biathlon events were scheduled at night, making it necessary for competitors to ski and shoot under floodlights, with colder temperatures and blustery winds.{{cite news | url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2018/02/10/biathletes-battling-difficult-conditions-at-winter-olympics/110298058/ | title=Biathletes battling difficult conditions at Winter Olympics | agency=Associated Press | publisher=USA Today | date=10 February 2018 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180215143658/https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2018/02/10/biathletes-battling-difficult-conditions-at-winter-olympics/110298058/ | archive-date=15 February 2018 | df=dmy-all }}

{{Main|Joshua Cooper Ramo#Comment on Japan–Korea relations}}

During the opening ceremony, NBC analyst Joshua Cooper Ramo noted that Japan occupied Korea from 1910 to 1945, and then added, "But every Korean will tell you that Japan is a cultural and technological and economic example that has been so important to their own transformation." The Korea Times called the comment "incorrect and insensitive."{{cite web|url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/sports/2018/02/702_243976.html|title=NBC analyst relieved from Olympic coverage for offending Koreans|last=|first=|date=11 February 2018|website=|publisher=The Korea Times|access-date=}} While Norman Pearlstine, former Time Inc. Editor-in-Chief, stated his opinion that Ramo's comments contained elements of truth, but that he also engaged in needless hyperbole,{{cite web |title=Commentary: Joshua Cooper Ramo's South Korea Comments Contain Important Pieces of Truth |date=February 12, 2018 |publisher=Fortune |url=http://fortune.com/2018/02/12/joshua-cooper-ramo-korea-nbc-winter-olympics/}}{{cite web |title=美 포춘 "NBC의 일본 식민지배 옹호 발언은 진실" |trans-title=Fortune "NBC's Japanese colonial advocacy statement is true" |date=February 19, 2018 |publisher=JoongAng Ilbo |url=http://news.joins.com/article/22379238}}{{cite web |title=미 경제지 포춘이 '식민지배 옹호' 해설자를 옹호했다 "그의 해설은 중요한 진실을 담고 있다." |trans-title=US economic magazine Fortune defended the 'colonial advocate' narrator. "His commentary contains an important truth." |date=February 19, 2018 |publisher=HuffPost |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.kr/entry/fortune_kr_5a8a3a20e4b00bc49f457cd1}} American media outlets were overwhelmingly critical of Ramo's statements, denouncing them as "clueless", "false", and containing "endless generalities".{{cite web |title=Cultural Gaffes At The Olympics — A List You Don't Want To Make |date=February 14, 2018 |publisher=National Public Radio (NPR) |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetorch/2018/02/14/585935618/cultural-gaffes-at-the-olympics-a-list-you-dont-want-to-make}}{{cite web |title=What the Church Can Learn from NBC's Offensive Korea Comments |date=February 14, 2018 |publisher=Sojouners |url=https://sojo.net/articles/what-church-can-learn-nbc-s-offensive-korea-comments}}{{cite web |title=The Opening Ceremony of the Pyeongchang Olympic Games Finds Poetry Amid the Politics |date=February 9, 2018 |publisher=Variety |url=https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/olympics-opening-ceremony-pyeongchang-games-1202694519/}}

In response to this backlash, NBC issued an on-air apology{{cite news |last=Chase |first=Chris |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/winter-olympics/nbc-apologizes-to-korean-people-after-correspondents-ignorant-insensitive-comment/ar-BBIXGgh |title=NBC apologizes to Korean people after correspondent's 'ignorant, 'insensitive' comment |website=MSN.com |date=10 February 2018 |access-date=12 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180211071813/https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/winter-olympics/nbc-apologizes-to-korean-people-after-correspondents-ignorant-insensitive-comment/ar-BBIXGgh |archive-date=11 February 2018 |url-status=dead }} and Ramo was fired from his job at NBC the next day.{{cite news |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more-sports/nbc-fires-analyst-ignorant-insensitive-on-air-comment-article-1.3813896 |title=NBC fires analyst after 'ignorant, insensitive' on-air comment |work=New York Daily News |agency=Associated Press |date=11 February 2018 |access-date=12 February 2018}}

Many snow events were plagued by high winds, causing dangerous conditions.{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/winter-olympics-2018/2018/02/12/wild-winds-wreak-havoc-winter-olympics-pyeongchang/329676002/|title=Wild winds wreak havoc at Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang|website=USA TODAY|access-date=14 February 2018}} An opening ceremony took place in extreme cold with a wind chill temperature of −22 °C and some visitors left early because of the harsh cold.{{cite news|title=Wind chill expected to hit −22 °C for Pyeongchang Olympics opening ceremony|url=http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_international/830911.html|work=The Hankyoreh|access-date=14 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180215023333/http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_international/830911.html|archive-date=15 February 2018|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|title=Pyeongchang in a cold sweat over freezing opening ceremony|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-olympics-2018-weather/pyeongchang-in-a-cold-sweat-over-freezing-opening-ceremony-idUSKBN1E11P7|work=Reuters|date=2017}}

Dutchman Niek van der Velden broke his arm due to a fall caused by the wind and in a training run for the men's slopestyle event.{{cite web|title=Valse start Nederland: snowboarder Van der Velden haakt af|url=https://nos.nl/pyeongchang2018/artikel/2216241-valse-start-nederland-snowboarder-van-der-velden-haakt-af.html|publisher=NOS|access-date=15 February 2018|language=nl|archive-date=13 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613085815/https://nos.nl/pyeongchang2018/artikel/2216241-valse-start-nederland-snowboarder-van-der-velden-haakt-af.html|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nu.nl/olympische-winterspelen-pyeongchang-2018/5127017/einde-spelen-snowboarder-van-velden-breuk-val.html|title=Einde Spelen voor snowboarder Van der Velden door breuk na val – NU – Het laatste nieuws het eerst op NU.nl|website=www.nu.nl|date=10 February 2018|access-date=14 February 2018|language=nl}} Due to the high winds, many events were delayed. Snowboarding, freestyle skiing, alpine skiing, ski jumping, and biathlon sessions were postponed or even cancelled.{{cite web|url=https://www.nu.nl/olympische-winterspelen-pyeongchang-2018/5129132/snowboardster-maas-speelt-valpartijen-bijrol-in-winderige-slopestylefinale.html#maas-in-actie-in-slopestylefinale-4|title=Snowboardster Maas speelt door valpartijen bijrol in winderige slopestylefinale |website=www.nu.nl|date=12 February 2018 }}{{cite web|url=https://www.nu.nl/olympische-winterspelen-pyeongchang-2018/5128028/kwalificaties-slopestyle-met-maas-uitgesteld-streep-afdaling.html?redirect=1|title=Kwalificaties slopestyle met Maas uitgesteld, ook streep door afdaling – NU – Het laatste nieuws het eerst op NU.nl|website=www.nu.nl|access-date=14 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180213195325/https://www.nu.nl/olympische-winterspelen-pyeongchang-2018/5128028/kwalificaties-slopestyle-met-maas-uitgesteld-streep-afdaling.html?redirect=1|archive-date=13 February 2018|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/feb/12/snowboarder-tess-coady-blames-pyeongchang-conditions-for-acl-rupture|title=Olympic organisers accused of putting riders' safety at risk in high winds|first=Sean|last=Ingle|date=12 February 2018|website=the Guardian|access-date=14 February 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.sbnation.com/2018/2/11/17002186/winter-olympics-2018-weather-high-winds-skiing-pyeonchang|title=Why are so many Olympic skiing events getting postponed this year?|date=11 February 2018|access-date=14 February 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://nos.nl/pyeongchang2018/artikel/2217098-wind-blijft-spelbreker-in-pyeongchang-biatlon-gaat-ook-niet-door.html|title=Wind blijft spelbreker in Pyeongchang: biatlon gaat ook niet door|access-date=14 February 2018|archive-date=13 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613085251/https://nos.nl/pyeongchang2018/artikel/2217098-wind-blijft-spelbreker-in-pyeongchang-biatlon-gaat-ook-niet-door.html|url-status=dead}} On 14 February, the fifth day of the Games, only one Alpine skiing event had been contested (Men's combined) out of the original four.

After the qualification of the women's slopestyle was cancelled, there were still massive winds in the final session. Of the 25 participants, only five managed to stay on their feet during the first run. No snowboarders recorded two clear runs.{{cite web|url=https://www.nu.nl/olympische-winterspelen-pyeongchang-2018/5129825/skifederatie-verdedigt-maas-bekritiseerd-startbesluit-slopestyle.html|title=Skifederatie verdedigt door Maas bekritiseerd startbesluit slopestyle |website=www.nu.nl|date=12 February 2018 |language=nl}} Several snowboarders said that the final was "irresponsible", "too dangerous" and "should never have been held".{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/winter-olympics-2018/2018/02/12/olympic-slopestyle-competition-never-should-have-been-held-massive-winds/328257002/|title=Slopestyle competition never should have been held in massive winds|website=USA TODAY|access-date=14 February 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://nos.nl/pyeongchang2018/artikel/2216649-maas-finale-slopestyle-verpest-door-harde-wind.html|title=Maas: finale slopestyle verpest door harde wind|access-date=14 February 2018|archive-date=13 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613085418/https://nos.nl/pyeongchang2018/artikel/2216649-maas-finale-slopestyle-verpest-door-harde-wind.html|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/winter-olympics/42968668|title=Winter Olympics: Women's slopestyle final 'too dangerous' as winds cause havoc|work=BBC Sport|date=12 February 2018|access-date=14 February 2018}} According to the FIS, the conditions were "within the norm".

On 14 February there was such a strong wind on the Olympic Park, that spectators were sent inside to shelter for the wind and all activities of the Olympic park were postponed. Parts of tents became detached and temporary structures and Coca-Cola fridges were broken. The media tents had been closed as well due to high winds.{{cite web|url=https://nos.nl/pyeongchang2018/artikel/2217102-harde-wind-in-olympisch-park-iedereen-moet-binnen-blijven.html|title=Ergste wind in olympisch park voorbij: openbare ruimtes blijven dicht|access-date=14 February 2018|archive-date=13 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613085305/https://nos.nl/pyeongchang2018/artikel/2217102-harde-wind-in-olympisch-park-iedereen-moet-binnen-blijven.html|url-status=dead}}

Environmental groups have raised concerns surrounding the deforestation from the slopes of Gariwang mountain to build the Jeongseon Alpine Centre. Officials claim it is necessary as it is the only slope that will accommodate Olympic requirements, but the Environmental groups disagreed and filed a complaint to the IOC. The South Korean government leased the mountain for the events on the condition that the forest will be restored after the games are done.{{Cite web|last=Jung-Woo|first=LEE|title=Edinburgh Research Explorer|url=https://scholar.googleusercontent.com/scholar?q=cache:Fyd2w2-7NhUJ:scholar.google.com/+Jeongseon+alpine+centre&hl=en&as_sdt=0,43|access-date=2021-02-28|website=scholar.googleusercontent.com}} Environmental groups are skeptical as the forest includes old growth of ancient and rare species.{{cite web |title=Olympics: Olympic organisers destroy 'sacred' South Korean forest to create ski run |work=The Guardian| date=3 January 2018 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/sep/16/olympic-organisers-destroy-sacred-south-korean-forest-to-create-ski-run}}

The official website of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games posted a world map without the Japanese archipelago. Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga Yoshihide requested an immediate correction of the map.{{cite web |title=일본 열도가 사라진 평창 올림픽 공식 사이트의 세계지도가 일본의 분노를 사다 |trans-title=World map of official site of PyeongChang Olympics without Japanese archipelago draw wrath of Japanese |date=27 September 2017 |publisher=Huffington Post Korea |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.kr/2017/09/27/story_n_18115044.html |access-date=16 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171204175833/http://www.huffingtonpost.kr/2017/09/27/story_n_18115044.html |archive-date=4 December 2017 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |title="평창올림픽 홈피 세계지도에 일본이 없다"…日 '항의' |trans-title="PyeongChang Olympic World Map does not have Japan ..." Japan 'protested' |date=27 September 2017 |publisher=Yonhap News Agency |url=http://www.yonhapnews.co.kr/bulletin/2017/09/27/0200000000AKR20170927100500073.HTML}} The PyeongChang organizing committee corrected the map and said it was a "simple mistake".{{cite news |title=South Korea's Winter Olympics map inconveniently omitted Japan |date=27 September 2017 |newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2017/09/27/south-koreas-winter-olympics-map-inconveniently-omitted-japan/}}

Both the International Olympic Committee and the PyeongChang Organizing Committee decided to exclude Iranian and North Korean athletes from their free giveaway of Samsung Galaxy Note 8 smartphones. The decision was due to the concern and delay over confirming whether giving away mobile devices to Iranian and North Korean athletes would violate the UN sanctions against Iran and North Korea. In response, the Iranian government summoned the South Korean envoy to complain about the situation.{{cite web | last=Dehghan | first=Saeed Kamali | title=Iran furious as athletes miss out on Winter Olympics smartphones | website=the Guardian | date=8 February 2018 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/feb/08/iran-furious-as-athletes-miss-out-on-winter-olympics-samsung-smartphones | access-date=9 February 2018}}

As the IOC confirmed that distributing mobile devices would not violate the UN sanction of Iran, which is being uplifted after Iran's JCPOA in 2015, all participating athletes were given the Galaxy Note 8 regardless of their nationalities. However, due to the still active UN sanction, North Korean athletes were given the smart phones on the condition that they would return the devices to the organizing committee before going back to their home country.{{cite web |publisher=Reuters Editorial | title=IOC clears Iran, North Korea for gift after Samsung phone row | website=Reuters | date=8 February 2018 | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-olympics-2018-iran-samsung/olympics-south-korean-envoy-summoned-after-iranians-excluded-from-samsung-phone-gift-idUSKBN1FS1LE | access-date=9 February 2018}}{{cite web | last=Seo | first=Jin Wook | title=평창올림픽 '갤노트8' 이란 선수들도 받는다| website=Money Today | date=9 February 2018 | url=http://news.mt.co.kr/mtview.php?no=2018020910325090140 | access-date=12 February 2018}}

The Winter Olympics have again caused comments about the dog meat trade issue in Korea. Speed skater Jan Blokhuijsen made a comment during a press conference to the host South Koreans to "treat dogs better in this country", criticizing dog meat eating culture of South Korea.{{cite web |url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/olympics/dutch-apologies-galore-after-double-faux-pas-at-olympics/2018/02/22/642b1b4e-17b5-11e8-930c-45838ad0d77a_story.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180223171448/https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/olympics/dutch-apologies-galore-after-double-faux-pas-at-olympics/2018/02/22/642b1b4e-17b5-11e8-930c-45838ad0d77a_story.html |url-status= dead |archive-date= 23 February 2018 |title= Dutch apologies galore after double faux pas at Olympics |author= Raf Casert, AP |date= 22 February 2018 |via= www.washingtonpost.com}} However Blokhuijsen apologized soon after he was criticized by public.{{cite web |url=https://www.ibtimes.com/dutch-speed-skater-jan-blokhuijsen-apologizes-after-criticizing-south-korea-dog-2656634 |title=Dutch Speed Skater Jan Blokhuijsen Apologizes After Criticizing South Korea Dog Consumption |author=Andrew N. White |date= 22 February 2018 |work= International Business Times}}{{cite web |url=https://eu.usatoday.com/story/sports/winter-olympics-2018/2018/02/22/dutch-speed-skater-criticized-after-telling-koreans-treat-dogs-better/363176002/ |title=Dutch speedskater criticized after telling Koreans to 'treat dogs better' |author=Martin Rogers |date=22 February 2018 |publisher=USA Today}} In the run-up to the Olympics, South Korea closed its biggest dog meat market. More than 800,000 dogs were being kept in the market which accounts for about a third of the country's dog meat consumption.{{cite news|title=South Korea closes biggest dog meat market in run-up to Olympics|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/feb/28/south-korea-closes-biggest-dog-meat-market-in-run-up-to-olympics|work=the Guardian|date=28 February 2017|language=en}}

On 14 February 2018, a man impersonating Kim Jong-un was ejected from the stands after walking through the North Korean cheerleading squad.{{cite news|title= Kim Jong-un Impersonator Walks Through North Korea's Olympic Cheer Squad|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/kim-jong-un-impersonator-walks-through-north-koreas-olympic-cheer-squad-2018-2|work=Business Insider|date=14 February 2018|language=en}}

On 15 February 2018, IOC member Adam Pengilly was not allowed to enter the parking lot, since the route was only for buses, not pedestrians. Denied by security, Pengilly blamed and shoved security. According to security, Pengilly said to the security "If you report this incident to authority, you won't be able to work in Korea.".{{cite news|url=http://news.kbs.co.kr/news/view.do?ncd=3606757&ref=A|title=[단독] "×× 코리아" 英 선수위원 폭언·폭행 '파문'…IOC 공식사과|work=Korean Broadcasting System|date=16 February 2018|language=ko}} After the investigation, Pengilly was sent home from the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics and apologised for his action, but denied a confrontation. IOC President Thomas Bach met with the security official on 17 February to apologize in person.{{cite news|url=http://aroundtherings.com/site/A__62839/Title__POCOG-Requested-Pengilly-Audience/292/Articles|title=POCOG Requested Pengilly Audience|date=17 February 2018|work=Around the rings|language=en|access-date=18 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180217141945/http://aroundtherings.com/site/A__62839/Title__POCOG-Requested-Pengilly-Audience/292/Articles|archive-date=17 February 2018|url-status=dead}}

Kim Boutin won the bronze medal in the 500-metre short-track speedskating event after South Korea's Choi Min-jeong was disqualified for interfering with Boutin. Shortly after, Boutin's social media accounts were inundated with hateful comments and death threats from angry South Korean fans.{{Cite web | url=https://globalnews.ca/news/4024468/kim-boutin-online-death-threats-speedskating-bronze/ | title=Canada's Kim Boutin receiving online death threats following her speedskating bronze-medal win - National | Globalnews.ca }} The International Olympic Committee issued a statement urging everyone to respect the athletes and their performances.

South Korean ice dancers Yura Min and Alexander Gamelin performed their routine containing Sohyang's rendition of Arirang Alone by Seo Yu-seok with an omitted line. A spokesman from the Korea Skating Union told the skaters to "prepare a version without the lyrics to avoid political controversy", a line in the lyrics containing a reference to the disputed islands of the Liancourt Rocks (known as Dokdo in Korean and Takeshima in Japanese) where both nations (as well as North Korea) claim sovereignty over them. The pair omitted the lyric without any problems.{{cite web |last=Chung |first=Jane |last2=Lies |first2=Elaine |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-olympics-2018-southkorea-japan-idUSKBN1FR1RV |title=Figure Skating: Korean skaters skip a line to avoid stepping on Japanese toes |publisher=Reuters |access-date=18 August 2023 |date=7 February 2018}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Olympic Games controversies}}

Category:2018 Winter Olympics

Category:2018 controversies

*2018

Category:Foreign relations of South Korea