Olymipics 2018

Pyeongchang Winter Olympics Guide

Going for gold

As Pyeongchang prepares to welcome the world, two-time Olympic luger Chris Mazdzer is looking to lead Team USA to its first Olympic gold medal in the sport.

Photo courtesy USOC/NBC Olympics

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Winter Olympics Guide • Page 2D

WHO to

Jamie Anderson

Lowell Bailey

Snowboarding

J

amie Anderson learned to snowboard when she was 9 years old when she was first introduced to the sport through her older sisters. By the time she was 13, she was competing in her first Winter X Games. At 15, she surpassed Shaun White as the youngest snowboarder to achieve a podium finish at the Winter X Games, and at 16 she became the youngest woman to win a Winter X Games gold medal. Since then, Anderson has won multiple gold medals in the slopestyle event and won several season championships in the TTR World Tour and Winter Dew Tour. Anderson made history at Sochi 2014 when she became the first Olympic gold medalist in slopestyle snowboarding. She looks to defend her gold medal in the slopestyle event, while adding to history again when the big air event makes its Olympic debut at Pyeongchang 2018.

Biathlon

G

rowing up in Lake Placid, New York, Lowell Bailey participated in several winter sports, including cross-country skiing, but only shot his first biathlon rifle at the age of 14. After years of competing, Bailey saw his breakout season at the age of 30, when he broke into the top 20 of the World Cup rankings for the first time.

He finished 14th at the end of the 2011-12 season, improving on his ranking of 41st from the previous year, and he finished last season in eighth position. His first World Cup podium came in 2014 when he finished second in the 10 km sprint at Kontiolahti, Finland. Most recently, a year before considering retiring to become a cattle farmer, Bailey became the first American biathlon world champion when he won his first World Cup gold medal at the 2017 World Championships in Hochfilzen, Austria. In doing so, he also became the oldest individual gold medalist in world championship history, at 35 years and 216 days. Bailey will be an inspiration for most at Pyeongchang 2018, since he exemplifies why one should never give up on their goals.

Fast Facts Sept. 13, 1990, in South Lake • Born Tahoe, California (age 27) an environmentally • Launched conscious clothing company called TRYE (To Respect Your Earth)

to snowboarding

sister Joanie won the • Her 2007 X-Games in snowboardcross

Fast Facts July 15, • Born 1981, in Siler

City, North Carolina (age 36)

playing the guitar and • Enjoys mandolin in two bluegrass bands repeats a Theodore Roosevelt • Often quote in the starting gate that says,

“Do what you can, with what you got, where you are”

a three-time NCAA • Was All-American while attending the University of Vermont

a Bernese mountain dog • Has named Hazel

Photos courtesy USOC/NBC Olympics

non-snowboarding activities • Favorite include hiking, camping and yoga homeschooled with her five sisters, • Was the eldest two of whom introduced her

Winter Olympics Guide • Page 3D

WHO to

Sadie Bjornsen

Brittany Bowe

Cross Country Skiing

Fast Facts Nov. 21, 1989, in Omak, • Born Washington (age 28) majored in accounting • Double and nonprofit business management at Alaska Pacific University

younger brother, • Her Erik, is also an Olympian crosscountry skier for Team USA

hunting and fishing for • Enjoys her own food at her home in the Alaskan wilderness

hometown heroes inspired her • Olympian to pursue cross-country skiing

G

rowing up in Florida, ice was hard to come across for Brittany Bowe, so she started her speedskating career as an inline roller skater at the age of 8. She competed in world championships from 2002 to 2008, and had a successful career winning medals until she decided to focus her attention on basketball when she became a starter as a junior for the Florida Atlantic Owls’ basketball team. It wasn’t until after graduating from FAU that Bowe considered pursuing speedskating when she saw friends from her inline speedskating years competing at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. She moved to Salt Lake City to take up speedskating and found the podium only three years later at the ISU Speedskating World Cup in Calgary, Alberta, where she finished third in the 1,000-meter event. She earned a spot on Team USA for Sochi 2014 but did not medal. With another four years of experience on the ice, Bowe has a good chance of finding the podium at Pyeongchang 2018.

Fast Facts Feb. 24, • Born 1988, in Ocala, Florida (age 29)

• Majored in sociology

and social sciences at Florida Atlantic University

point guard for • Played the Florida Atlantic Owls basketball team

the Oscar Mathisen Award • Won for her outstanding performance in 2015

the • Holds American

record for the 1,000-meter event

Photos courtesy USOC/NBC Olympics

T

he homecoming of American cross-country skiers Laura McCabe and Leslie Thompson following the 1994 Olympic Games in Lillehammer, Norway, stuck with Sadie Bjornsen at the young age of 4. Despite the women not medaling, Bjornsen recognized the honor of representing one’s country at the Olympics, and she knew that was what she wanted to do in the future. She started as an Alpine skier at the age of 6, but eventually switched to cross-country skiing and has been competing ever since.

In the past two seasons, Bjornsen has finished in the top 10 at several World Cup events, earning consistent points and ranking in the top 20 of the overall standings. She won her first individual medal on the World Cup at the Tour de Ski, taking the bronze, and reclimbed the podium at the World Championships in Lahti, Finland, when she won the bronze in the team sprint event with Jessie Diggins. The two hope to continue their success as teammates when they compete in their second Olympic Games at Pyeongchang 2018.

Speedskating - Long Track

Winter Olympics Guide • Page 4D

WHO to

Nathan Chen

Jessie Diggins

Figure Skating

Cross-Country Skiing

N

athan Chen began skating at the age of 3 to become a hockey goalie, until he realized his true passion was in skating. He entered his first figure skating competition in 2003 and went on to win four national championships in the novice and junior levels from 2010 to 2014. Chen’s first season on the international circuit as a senior came in the 2016-17 season, and it did not take him long to break through as one of the most dominant skaters in his discipline. At only 17 years of age, he became the youngest American male skater to medal at the 2016-17 Grand Prix Final when he finished second behind reigning Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu — a skating rival whom Chen credits as an inspiration. He improved on that feat only one year later when he became the youngest American male skater to win the gold medal at the 2017-18 Grand Prix Final.

He stands out from his competitors because of the number of quadruple jumps he is able to include in his program. Currently the only skater competing with five different types of quadruple jumps, Chen is a podium threat at Pyeongchang 2018, with his eye on the gold medal.

J

essie Diggins was cross-country skiing before she could even walk. As a toddler, she would follow along on her father’s back in a baby carrier backpack while he would ski the trails near their home in Minnesota.

She got her first set of skis when she was 3 years old and joined the Minnesota Youth Ski League soon after. Diggins went on to win five U.S. junior titles and three state championships in Minnesota before landing a spot on Team USA in 2011. A year later, she teamed up with Kikkan Randall to win the first-ever American gold medal in the team sprint at the 2013 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships. Diggins is set to take on her second Winter Olympic Games this year and improve on her results from Sochi 2014, where she did not reach the podium. In the past two seasons, Diggins has vastly improved in the World Cup standings, going from 22nd overall in 2015 to sixth overall in 2017. She has reached the age when cross-country skiers tend to peak, and she is America’s best chance to win a medal in Nordic at Pyeongchang 2018.

Fast Facts

May 5, 1999, in Salt Lake City, • Born skiing adventures Utah (age 18) as Team USA’s “glitter fairy” • Known skating costumes for Pyeongchang • His for decorating her cheeks with glitter 2018 are designed by Vera Wang before races include photography and • Hobbies include swimming, cliff • Hobbies playing the piano jumping, playing violin and dancing • Plans to attend medical school the viral YouTube • Choreographed much of his success to video titled “Uptown Funk-US Ski • Attributes his mother Team Style”

Photos courtesy USOC/NBC Olympics

Fast Facts

Aug. 26, 1991, in Afton, • Born Minnesota (age 26) a blog on her personal • Writes website chronicling her cross-country

Winter Olympics Guide • Page 5D

WHO to

Susan Dunklee

Bryan Fletcher

Biathlon

A

s a daughter whose parents met while cross-country skiing for the University of Vermont, it was only natural for Susan Dunklee to grow up cross-country skiing herself. After 17 years of competing in the sport, she shot her first biathlon rifle at the age of 22, and she made the switch to biathlon when she entered the program in Lake Placid, New York, in 2008. Steadily climbing the World Cup rankings since her debut in 2011, Dunklee became the first American woman to win a world championship medal for the United States when she earned silver at the 2017 World Championships in Hochfilzen, Austria. She had her most successful season last year and finished the 2016-17 season 10th overall. Dunklee looks to break the record she set at Sochi 2014 when she became the top-finishing American biathlon woman at the Olympics, placing 12th in the mass start. Dunklee will have her peep sight set on the podium in her second Olympic Games at Pyeongchang 2018.

Nordic Combined

A

t the age of 3, Bryan Fletcher was diagnosed with leukemia and faced more than four years fighting the illness with chemotherapy. Around this time, Fletcher discovered ski jumping and, at age 6, cross-country skiing. It was through this combination of winter sports that Fletcher found the strength to fight cancer and ultimately beat it at age 8. In 2009, he made his Nordic combined World Cup debut in Val di Fiemme, Italy, and has made constant improvements by earning his first World Cup victory in the 2011-12 season at Oslo and ranking within the top 30 every year since. Following Bill Demong and Todd Lodwick’s retirement after Sochi 2014, Fletcher has become the most hopeful American athlete in the Nordic combined to repeat the success Demong and Lodwick found at Vancouver 2010 when they won the first medals, gold and silver, for the United States in individual and team disciplines.

Fast Facts (age 31)

in ecology • Majored at Dartmouth father, Stan, • Her competed in the 1976 and 1980 Winter Olympics as a cross-country skier

began • Recently beekeeping, and manages two hives at her ski club, the Craftsbury Outdoor Center

include • Hobbies unicycling, jigsaw puzzles and gardening

Fast Facts Born June 27, 1986, in Steamboat • Springs, Colorado (age 31) a childhood cancer • Issurvivor a co-founder of • IsccThrive, a charity that gives childhood cancer survivors the chance to thrive

younger • His brother, Taylor,

is a member of Team USA and he also competes in the Nordic combined

include camping, • Hobbies cycling and cooking

Photos courtesy USOC/NBC Olympics

Feb. 13, 1986, in • Born Newport, Vermont

Winter Olympics Guide • Page 6D

WHO to

Erin Hamlin

Sarah Hendrickson

Luge

Fast Facts Nov. 19, 1986, in Hartford, New York • Born (age 31) athlete is former U.S. women’s • Favorite soccer star Mia Hamm an athlete mentor for Classroom • IsChampions, a non-profit organization that pairs Olympic and Paralympic athletes with students and teachers in underserved communities

a sectional all-star in soccer • Was and track at Remsen High School first American luge athlete • Isto the medal in singles competition at the Olympics

W

ith a father and an older brother who were both ski jumpers, it comes as no surprise that Sarah Hendrickson was on skis by age 2. She was first introduced to ski jumping as a 7-year-old watching the 2002 Winter Olympics in her hometown. Fortunately, being from Salt Lake City, Hendrickson was able to take advantage of the sudden interest surrounding ski jumping and got an early start on the jump at the Utah Olympic Park, where her love for the sport grew. Her dream of competing in the Olympics was strictly a dream up until Sochi 2014, when women’s ski jumping was first introduced to the Winter Olympic Games. Hendrickson nearly missed out on the 2014 Olympics after suffering a torn ACL, but she recovered just in time to compete in the historical inaugural event. She has dealt with four more knee injuries following Sochi 2014, which has hindered her development in the growing sport. Again, she has recovered from injuries in time to qualify for Pyeongchang 2018 and looks to improve on her 21st placement in 2014.

Fast Facts Aug. 1, 1994, in Salt Lake City, Utah • Born (age 23) the Winter Sports School in Park • Attended City for her senior year the No. 1 bib at Sochi 2014, she • With became the first woman ever to ski jump in Olympic competition

motto is “live each day and ski jump • Her like it’s your last” Lindsey Van to be her hero in • Considers the sport

Photos courtesy USOC/NBC Olympics

E

rin Hamlin took interest in luge at the age of 12 and began competing shortly after, winning a gold medal at the Junior World Championships at 17. Now, at 31 years of age and with a number of successful seasons behind her, Hamlin holds the title as Team USA’s greatest luge athlete of all time. At her third Olympic Games, Hamlin became the first U.S. luger to win a medal in the singles competition when she took the bronze medal at Sochi 2014. Having successfully qualified for Pyeongchang 2018, it is widely believed that Hamlin will retire from the sport following her fourth Olympic Games. No doubt, Hamlin has her goals set higher than bronze for what could be her final few rides on the sled, and she hopes to end her career a little higher on the Olympic podium.

Ski Jumping

Winter Olympics Guide • Page 7D

WHO to

Chloe Kim

Hilary Knight

Snowboarding

F

or the past few years, Chloe Kim has been deemed “the future of women’s snowboarding.” She was first introduced to the sport at the age of 4 when her father signed the family up for group lessons at Mountain High ski resort in California. After only two years of snowboarding, she caught the eye of coaches who recognized her talent and potential, and she was recruited as a member of Team Mountain High, where she would compete for the next two years. She then trained in Valais, Switzerland, for two years before returning to California to train at Mammoth Mountain until she joined U.S. Snowboarding in 2013. After earning enough points to qualify for the 2014 Winter Olympics but missing out due to age restrictions, Kim is ready to make her Olympics debut in her parents’ native country of South Korea.

Poised to become the world’s most dominant snowboard female halfpipe rider, Kim approaches Pyeongchang 2018 as the grandest stage to prove that she is the “now of women’s snowboarding.”

Ice Hockey

H

ilary Knight began skating at the age of 5 when her mother signed her and her siblings up for skating lessons after moving the family to Chicago, Illinois.

When Knight saw her peers in hockey equipment, she convinced her mother to sign her up with a team on which she would eventually grow into a dominant power forward, standing at a sturdy stature of 5-foot-11. She went on to play hockey for the University of Wisconsin, where she ended her school career having set a number of program records and winning a national championship with the Badgers in 2009. In 2016, Knight became the regular season scoring champion with the Boston Pride in the NWHL’s inaugural season while going on to win the first Isobel Cup. Now, going into her third Olympic Games with Team USA at Pyeongchang 2018, Knight looks to add gold to her two silver medals from Vancouver 2010 and Sochi 2014.

Fast Facts

Fast Facts April 23, 2000, in • Born Long Beach, California (age 17)

a first-generation • IsKorean-American fluent in English, French and Korean

• Born July 12, 1989, in Palo Alto, California (age 28) city of Sun Valley, Idaho, declared May 19, 2011, • The as Hilary Knight Day for the Wisconsin Badgers hockey • Played team while attending the University of Wisconsin

the gold medal-winning • Scored goal in overtime in the 2017 world

championship game against Canada

a number of Badgers records, • Holds including most career goals (143), points (262), game-winning goals (30) and hat tricks (9)

a perfect score of 100

gold medals in halfpipe • Won and slopestyle events at the 2016 Winter Youth Olympics

a 2016 ESPY Award • Was nominee for Best Breakthrough Athlete

Photos courtesy USOC/NBC Olympics

the first woman to land • Isback-to-back 1080s and earn

Winter Olympics Guide • Page 8D

WHO to

John-Henry Krueger

Chris Mazdzer

Speedskating - Short Track

Fast Facts March • Born 27, 1995, in

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (age 22)

pre• His competition

superstition is putting his right skate on before his left skate

Usain Bolt’s calm • Admires and confident demeanor at competitions

a member of the U.S. team that • Was set a new world record in the 5,000-meter relay event in November 2017

dream job is teaching English in a • His foreign country

M

azdzer was first introduced to luge at the age of 10 when he saw the sport being televised during the 1998 Nagano Games. Now, at 29 years of age and with two Winter Olympic Games behind him, Mazdzer is considered a veteran of the sport and will be leading a young Team USA that includes Tucker West and Taylor Morris at Pyeongchang 2018. The United States has collected only five medals in luge since the sport’s introduction at the 1964 Winter Olympics and has never won gold. Mazdzer looks to improve on his previous performances at the Olympics, where he finished 13th at both Vancouver 2010 and Sochi 2014. His eyes are on gold, but his ultimate goal is to become the first men’s singles rider to represent the United States on the podium.

Fast Facts June 26, • Born 1988, in Pittsfield, Massachusetts (age 29)

lacrosse and • Played soccer in high school an outdoor • Isenthusiast who enjoys rock climbing and mountain biking

the athlete • Isrepresentative to

the executive board of the Federation of International Luge

the 2015-16 FIL • Won World Cup men’s singles

events at Lake Placid and Park City

Photos courtesy USOC/NBC Olympics

J

ohn-Henry Krueger’s life of skating started when he was 5 years old when his mom would bring him and his older brother, Cole, to the rink while she taught figure skating. Cole eventually found his way into short track speedskating and John-Henry followed suit to stick with his older brother. The brothers moved to Salt Lake City in their teens to train with the national short track team, where Krueger soon became a short track prodigy. He looked poised to the make the 2014 Olympic team in Sochi but came down with swine flu during the Olympic trials. Krueger won the 500-meter, 1,000-meter and 1,500-meter titles at the Olympic trials this time around and is ready for his Olympic debut in South Korea — a country he lived and trained in when he raced for the Korean National Sport University.

Pyeongchang 2018 is Krueger’s opportunity to show the world what Sochi 2014 was missing.

Luge

Winter Olympics Guide • Page 9D

WHO to

Alex Rigsby

Mikaela Shiffrin

Ice Hockey

M

ikaela Shiffrin has achieved a lot since her early days of skiing down her family’s driveway at the age of 2. She made her World Cup debut at the age of 15 and stepped on the World Cup podium for the first time in Lienz, Austria, one season later. The following year, at 17, Shiffrin won her first World Cup race in Åre, Sweden, becoming the second-youngest American to win an alpine World Cup event, behind Judy Nagel. At the age of 18, she became the youngest ever to win an Olympic gold medal in slalom when she finished first at Sochi 2014. She has been the face of alpine skiing ever since, and at only 22 years of age, she looks to have an even brighter future as she enters the prime of her career. She has some work to do to catch Lindsey Vonn’s 77 World Cup wins, but could surpass her in Olympic gold medals if Shiffrin can defend her slalom title at Pyeongchang 2018.

Fast Facts

Fast Facts

Jan. 3, 1992, in Delafield, Wisconsin • Born (age 26) • Attended the University of Wisconsin the NCAA Division I title in the 2010• Won 11 season with the Wisconsin Badgers the first female to be drafted into the • Was USHL (199th overall) plays professionally for the • Currently Minnesota Whitecaps

March 13, 1995, in Vail, Colorado • Born (age 22) the gold medal in the slalom at the • Won 2014 Sochi Olympics won the past three FIS Alpine World Ski • Has Championships in the slalom the first woman to win three consecutive • Isslalom world titles in 78 years • Enjoys playing tennis and soccer

Photos courtesy USOC/NBC Olympics

A

lex Rigsby’s hockey career has been mostly played among male competitors since she began playing boys hockey at the age of 6. By 10, she was playing AAA boys hockey, which carried on throughout high school when she played for the Chicago Mission and Milwaukee Jr. Admirals AAA teams. In 2009, Rigsby became the first female ever to be drafted into the United States Hockey League, but she chose a career with the Wisconsin Badgers women’s hockey team, where she holds school records for career wins, minutes played and saves. She is now on the roster for the Minnesota Whitecaps as she prepares for her first Olympic Games at Pyeongchang 2018, where she hopes to make an impact on the national team. With two other outstanding goalies in Nicole Hensley and Maddie Rooney on the roster, Team USA will rely heavily on strong goaltending to carry it back to the gold medal game. If Rigsby can win the starting role for the United States, a gold medal will be expected, as she has won gold in every world championship she has participated in for the United States.

Alpine Skiing

Winter Olympics Guide • Page 10D

When to

February 2018 Sport

Thu

Fri

Sat

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu

Fri

Sat

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu

Fri

Sat

Sun

8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

Opening Ceremony Alpine Skiing Biathlon Bobsleigh Cross-Country Skiing Curling Figure Skating Freestyle Skiing Ice Hockey Luge Nordic Combined Short Track Speed Skating Skeleton Ski Jumping Snowboard Speed Skating Closing Ceremony **All times stated in this schedule are based on Korean Standard Time (KST). Conversion: KST -14 hours = EST; -15 hours = CST; -16 hours = MST; -17 hours = PST

Winter Olympics Guide • Page 11D

WHEN to Thursday, Feb 8 6:00 p.m. (NBC) Figure Skating, Freestyle Skiing (M, W) Moguls (3h35)

Friday, Feb 9 6:00 p.m. (NBC) Opening Ceremony Coverage of the official Opening Ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang County. (3h) 12:00 a.m. (NBCSN) Crosscountry Skiing (W) Skiathlon Final, Curling Mixed Doubles U.S. vs. China (3h)

Saturday, Feb 10 3:00 a.m. (NBCSN) Short Track Speed Skating Final (2h35) 5:00 a.m. (USA) Ice Hockey (W) Preliminary Round Switzerland vs. Korea (2h30) 5:35 a.m. (NBCSN) Ski Jumping (M) Individual Normal Hill Final, Snowboarding (M) Slopestyle (3h55) 9:30 a.m. (NBCSN) Luge (M) Singles (1h30) 11:00 a.m. (NBCSN) Speed Skating (W) 3000m Final, Biathlon (W) 7.5km Sprint Final, Curling Mixed Doubles U.S. vs.

Norway (4h) 1:00 p.m. (NBC) Short Track Speed Skating (M) 1500m Final, Ski Jumping (M) Individual Normal Hill Final, Snowboarding (M) Slopestyle, Luge (M) Singles (3h) 5:00 p.m. (NBCSN) Snowboarding (M) Slopestyle Final (2h45) 6:00 p.m. (NBC) Figure Skating, Alpine Skiing (M) Downhill Final (3h30) 7:45 p.m. (NBCSN) Curling Mixed Doubles U.S. vs. Finland, Snowboarding (W) Slopestyle (3h45) 9:30 p.m. (NBC) Figure Skating Pairs Free (1h)

11:30 p.m. (NBCSN) Curling Mixed Doubles Canada vs. Korea Republic (1h10) 12:40 a.m. (NBCSN) Ice Hockey (W) United States vs. Finland (2h20)

Final, Speed Skating (W) 1500m Final (4h) 1:00 p.m. (NBC) Freestyle Skiing (M) Moguls Final, Ski Jumping (W) Individual Normal Hill Final, Luge (W) Singles (2h)

Sunday, Feb 11

3:00 p.m. (CNBC) Curling Mixed Doubles Semifinal (3h)

3:00 a.m. (NBCSN) Biathlon (M) 10km Sprint Final, Speed Skating (M) 5000m Final, Crosscountry Skiing (M) Skiathlon Final (4h)

6:00 p.m. (NBC) Nordic Combined (M) Downhill, Snowboarding, Speed Skating (W) 1500m Final (3h35)

5:00 a.m. (USA) Ice Hockey (W) Canada vs. Olympic Athletes from Russia (2h30) 11:30 a.m. (NBCSN) Curling Mixed Doubles Tiebreaker, Luge (M) Singles Final (4h) 1:00 p.m. (NBC) Speed Skating (M) 5000m Final, Biathlon (M) 10km Sprint Final, Cross-country Skiing (M) Skiathlon Final (3h) 5:00 p.m. (NBC) Figure Skating Final, Alpine Skiing (W) Giant Slalom, Freestyle Skiing (W) Moguls Final, Snowboarding (W) Slopestyle Final, Luge (M) Singles Final (4h) 6:00 p.m. (NBCSN) Snowboarding (W) Slopestyle Final, Curling Mixed Doubles Semifinal (3h30) 9:30 p.m. (NBCSN) Curling Mixed Doubles Semifinal, Speed Skating (M) 5000m Final (3h10) 9:35 p.m. (NBC) Alpine Skiing (W) Giant Slalom Final, Snowboarding (W) Halfpipe (1h25) 12:40 a.m. (NBCSN) Ice Hockey (W) Switzerland vs. Japan (2h30)

Monday, Feb 12 3:10 a.m. (NBCSN) Luge (W) Singles, Biathlon (W) Pursuit Final (1h50) 5:00 a.m. (NBCSN) Freestyle Skiing (M) Moguls Final, Ice Hockey (W) Sweden vs. Korea Republic, Luge (W) Singles (4h) 9:00 a.m. (NBCSN) Ski Jumping (W) Individual Normal Hill Final, Biathlon (M) Pursuit

9:30 p.m. (NBCSN) Snowboarding (M) Halfpipe, Curling Mixed Doubles Bronze Medal (3h10) 10:05 p.m. (NBC) Nordic Combined (M) Slalom Final, Snowboarding (M) Halfpipe (1h55) 12:40 a.m. (NBCSN) Ice Hockey (W) Canada vs. Finland (2h20)

Tuesday, Feb 13 3:00 a.m. (NBCSN) Luge (W) Singles Final, Cross-country Skiing (M, W) Individual Sprint (2h10) 5:10 a.m. (NBCSN) Ice Hockey (W) United States vs. Olympic Athletes from Russia (2h20) 7:30 a.m. (NBCSN) Speed Skating (M) 1500m Final, Luge (W) Singles Final, Cross-country Skiing (M, W) Individual Sprint Final (3h) 10:30 a.m. (NBCSN) Short Track Speed Skating Final, Curling Mixed Doubles Bronze Medal (4h) 1:00 p.m. (NBC) Speed Skating (M) 1500m Final, Luge (W) Singles Final, Cross-country Skiing (M, W) Individual Sprint Final (2h) 3:00 p.m. (CNBC) Curling Mixed Doubles Gold Medal (3h) 5:00 p.m. (NBCSN) Figure Skating Pairs Short (3h10) 6:00 p.m. (NBC) Figure Skating Pairs Short, Alpine Skiing (W) Slalom, Snowboarding (M) Halfpipe Final (4h05)

8:10 p.m. (NBCSN) Ice Hockey (W) Sweden vs. Switzerland (2h20)

10:05 p.m. (NBC) Snowboarding (M) Cross Final, Skeleton (M) (1h25)

11:05 p.m. (NBC) Luge Team Relay Final, Biathlon (M) 20km Individual Final (55m)

10:05 p.m. (NBC) Alpine Skiing (W) Giant Slalom Final, Short Track Speed Skating (M) 1500m Final (1h25)

10:30 p.m. (NBCSN) Curling (W) United States vs. Great Britain (2h10)

12:40 a.m. (NBCSN) Ice Hockey (M) Olympic Athletes from Russia vs. Slovenia (2h20)

12:30 a.m. (USA) Ice Hockey (W) Olympic Athletes from Russia vs. Finland (2h30)

Friday, Feb 16

10:30 p.m. (NBCSN) Curling (M) United States vs. Korea Republic (2h) 12:30 a.m. (NBCSN) Speed Skating (W) 1000m Final, Nordic Combined (M) Individual Normal Hill Final, 10km Final, Skeleton (W) (4h) (USA) Ice Hockey (W) Korea vs.

Japan (2h30)

Wednesday, Feb 14 3:00 a.m. (USA) Curling (W) Great Britain vs. Olympic Athletes from Russia (2h10) 4:30 a.m. (NBCSN) Ice Hockey (M) United States vs. Slovenia (3h) 5:10 a.m. (USA) Ice Hockey (M) Olympic Athletes from Russia vs. Slovakia (2h20) 7:30 a.m. (NBCSN) Luge Doubles Final, Skeleton (W) (2h) 9:30 a.m. (NBCSN) Biathlon (W) 15km Individual Final (1h45) 11:15 a.m. (NBCSN) Curling (W) Denmark vs. Sweden (3h45)

12:40 a.m. (NBCSN) Ice Hockey (M) Norway vs. Sweden (2h20)

3:00 a.m. (NBCSN) Curling (W) Sweden vs. Olympic Athletes from Russia (2h10)

Thursday, Feb 15

5:00 a.m. (USA) Ice Hockey (M) Finland vs. Norway (2h30)

3:00 a.m. (NBCSN) Crosscountry Skiing (W) 10km Freestyle Final (2h10)

5:10 a.m. (NBCSN) Ice Hockey (M) Sweden vs. Germany, Skeleton (W) (3h35)

(USA) Curling (M) Canada vs.

Norway (2h10)

8:45 a.m. (NBCSN) Speed Skating (W) 5000m Final, Ski Jumping (M) Individual Large Hill (3h15)

5:10 a.m. (NBCSN) Ice Hockey (M) Switzerland vs. Canada (2h20) (USA) Ice Hockey (M) Czech Republic vs. Korea Republic (2h20) 7:30 a.m. (NBCSN) Luge Team Relay Final, Speed Skating (M) 10,000m Final (2h30)

1:00 p.m. (NBC) Speed Skating (W) 5000m Final, Cross-country Skiing (M) 15km Freestyle Final, Ski Jumping (M) Individual Large Hill (2h)

10:00 a.m. (NBCSN) Biathlon (M) 20km Individual Final (2h)

3:00 p.m. (CNBC) Curling (M) United States vs. Denmark (3h)

12:00 p.m. (NBCSN) Curling (M) United States vs. Italy (3h)

5:00 p.m. (NBCSN) Figure Skating (M) Final (3h10)

1:00 p.m. (NBC) Cross-country Skiing (W) 10km Freestyle Final, Speed Skating (M) 10,000m Final (2h)

6:00 p.m. (NBC) Figure Skating (M) Free Final, Alpine Skiing (W) Super G Final, Freestyle Skiing (W) Aerials Final, Skeleton (W) (4h05)

1:00 p.m. (NBC) Luge Doubles Final, Nordic Combined (M) Individual Normal Hill, 10km Final (2h)

3:00 p.m. (CNBC) Curling (W) United States vs. Switzerland (3h)

3:00 p.m. (CNBC) Curling (W) United States vs. Japan (3h)

5:00 p.m. (NBCSN) Figure Skating (M) Short (4h)

5:00 p.m. (NBCSN) Figure Skating Pairs Final (3h10)

6:00 p.m. (NBC) Figure Skating (M) Short, Snowboarding (W) Cross Final, Skeleton (M) Final, Freestyle Skiing (W) Aerials, Cross-country Skiing (W) 10km Freestyle Final (4h30)

6:00 p.m. (NBC) Figure Skating Pairs Free Final, Alpine Skiing (M) Super G Final, Skeleton (M), Speed Skating (W) 1000m Final (4h05) 8:00 p.m. (CNBC) Ice Hockey (M) Finland vs. Germany (2h30) 8:10 p.m. (NBCSN) Ice Hockey (W) United States vs. Canada (2h20)

12:00 p.m. (NBCSN) Curling (W) Korea Republic vs. Switzerland (3h)

8:00 p.m. (CNBC) Ice Hockey (M) United States vs. Slovakia (2h30) 9:00 p.m. (NBCSN) Curling (M) United States vs. Sweden, Cross-country Skiing (M) 15km Freestyle Final (3h40)

8:00 p.m. (CNBC) Ice Hockey (W) Quarter-final (2h30) 8:10 p.m. (NBCSN) Ice Hockey (M) Canada vs. Czech Republic (2h20) 10:30 p.m. (NBCSN) Curling (W) United States vs. Olympic Athletes from Russia (2h10) 10:35 p.m. (NBC) Freestyle Skiing (W) Slopestyle, Figure Skating (M) (1h30) 12:30 a.m. (USA) Ice Hockey (W) Quarter-final (2h30) 12:40 a.m. (NBCSN) Ice Hockey (M) Switzerland vs. Korea Republic (2h20)

Winter Olympics Guide • Page 12D

WHEN to Saturday, Feb 17 3:00 a.m. (NBCSN) Curling (M) Canada vs. Sweden (2h10) (USA) Curling (M) Switzerland vs. Norway (2h10) 5:10 a.m. (NBCSN) Ice Hockey (M) United States vs. Olympic Athletes from Russia, Freestyle Skiing (M) Aerials (3h20) (USA) Ice Hockey (M) Slovakia vs. Slovenia (2h20) 8:30 a.m. (NBCSN) Crosscountry Skiing (W) 4x5km Relay Final, Biathlon (W) 12.5km Mass Start Final, Short Track Speed Skating Final (3h) 11:30 a.m. (NBCSN) Skeleton (W) Final, Ski Jumping (M) Individual Large Hill Final, Ice Hockey (4h) 1:00 p.m. (NBC) Freestyle Skiing (M) Aerials, Biathlon (W) 12.5km Mass Start Final, Crosscountry Skiing (W) 4x5km Relay Final (3h) 3:00 p.m. (CNBC) Curling (W) United States vs. Canada (3h) 5:00 p.m. (NBCSN) Freestyle Skiing (M) Slopestyle (3h10) 6:00 p.m. (NBC) Alpine Skiing (M) Giant Slalom, Short Track Speed Skating Final, Skeleton (W) Final, Ski Jumping (M) Individual Large Hill Final (3h30) 8:10 p.m. (NBCSN) Ice Hockey (M) Germany vs. Norway (2h20) 9:30 p.m. (NBC) Alpine Skiing (M) Giant Slalom Final, Freestyle Skiing (M) Slopestyle Final (2h) 10:30 p.m. (NBCSN) Curling (M) United States vs. Japan (2h10) 12:40 a.m. (NBCSN) Ice Hockey (M) Czech Republic vs.

Switzerland (2h20)

5:10 a.m. (NBCSN) Ice Hockey (M) Sweden vs. Finland, Bobsleigh (M) 2-Man (3h05)

5:00 p.m. (NBCSN) Figure Skating Ice Dance Final, Alpine Skiing (W) Downhill (3h10)

8:15 a.m. (NBCSN) Freestyle Skiing (M) Aerials Final, Speed Skating (W) 500m Final, (M) Team Pursuit, Biathlon (M) 15km Mass Start Final (2h45)

6:00 p.m. (NBC) Figure Skating Ice Dance Final, Freestyle Skiing (W) Halfpipe Final, Bobsleigh (M) 2-Man Final (4h05)

11:00 a.m. (NBCSN) Crosscountry Skiing (M) 4x10km Relay Final, Ice Hockey (4h)

8:10 p.m. (NBCSN) Ice Hockey (M) Elimination Round (2h20) 10:05 p.m. (NBC) Freestyle Skiing (M) Halfpipe (1h)

3:20 a.m. (NBCSN) Biathlon (W) 4X6km Relay Final, Nordic Combined (M) Team Large Hill, 4x5km Final (2h25)

12:30 a.m. (USA) Ice Hockey (W) Bronze Medal (2h30)

5:45 a.m. (NBCSN) Short Track Speed Skating Final (3h)

12:40 a.m. (NBCSN) Ice Hockey (M) Quarter-final (2h20)

8:45 a.m. (NBCSN) Curling (M, W) Tiebreaker (3h)

Wednesday, Feb 21

11:45 a.m. (NBCSN) Curling (M) Semifinal (3h)

10:30 p.m. (NBCSN) Curling (M) Canada vs. Japan (2h10) 12:40 a.m. (NBCSN) Ice Hockey (M) Elimination Round (2h20)

3:00 a.m. (NBCSN) Curling (M) United States vs. Great Britain (2h10)

2:00 p.m. (CNBC) Curling (M) United States vs. Norway (3h)

Tuesday, Feb 20

(USA) Curling (M) Sweden vs.

Norway (2h10)

3:00 a.m. (NBCSN) Curling (W) United States vs. Korea Republic (2h10)

5:10 a.m. (NBCSN) Ice Hockey (M) Quarter-final, Bobsleigh (W) Final (3h35)

5:00 a.m. (USA) Ice Hockey (M) Elimination Round (2h30)

(USA) Ice Hockey (M) Quarterfinal (2h20)

5:10 a.m. (NBCSN) Ice Hockey (M) Elimination Round (2h20)

8:45 a.m. (NBCSN) Speed Skating (M, W) Team Pursuit Gold Medal, Cross-country Skiing (M, W) Team Sprint Final (2h45)

5:00 p.m. (NBCSN) Figure Skating Ice Dance Short (3h15) (NBC) Figure Skating Ice Dance Short, Freestyle Skiing (W) Halfpipe, Speed Skating (W) 500m Final, Bobsleigh (M) 2-Man, Cross-country Skiing (M) 4x10km Relay Final (5h05) 8:15 p.m. (NBCSN) Freestyle Skiing (M) Aerials Final, Ice Hockey (W) Semifinal (3h15) 10:35 p.m. (NBC) Snowboarding (W) Big Air (1h25) 11:30 p.m. (NBCSN) Curling (W) United States vs. Denmark (3h) 2:30 a.m. (NBCSN) Curling (M) United States vs. Canada (2h40)

Monday, Feb 19

7:30 a.m. (NBCSN) Nordic Combined (M) Individual Large Hill, 10km Final, Biathlon Mixed Relay Final (2h30) 10:00 a.m. (NBCSN) Nordic Combined (M) Individual Large Hill, 10km Final, Short Track Speed Skating Final, Curling (W) United States vs. Korea Republic (5h) 1:00 p.m. (NBC) Nordic Combined (M) Individual Large Hill, 10km Final, Biathlon Mixed Relay Final (2h)

5:10 a.m. (NBCSN) Ice Hockey (W) Semifinal, Ski Jumping (M) Team Large Hill Final (3h50)

3:00 p.m. (CNBC) Curling (M) United States vs. Switzerland (3h)

9:00 a.m. (NBCSN) Bobsleigh (M) 2-Man Final, Speed Skating (M) 500m Final, (W) Team Pursuit (1h30)

5:00 p.m. (NBCSN) Figure Skating (W) Short (3h45) 6:00 p.m. (NBC) Alpine Skiing (W) Downhill Final, Figure Skating (W) Short, Bobsleigh (W), Snowboarding (M) Big Air (5h05)

10:30 a.m. (NBCSN) Curling (M) United States vs. Canada (3h)

3:00 a.m. (NBCSN) Curling (W) Canada vs. Switzerland (2h10)

1:00 p.m. (NBC) Ski Jumping (M) Team Large Hill Final, Speed Skating (2h)

8:00 p.m. (CNBC) Ice Hockey (M) Quarter-final (2h30)

3:00 p.m. (CNBC) Curling (W) United States vs. China (3h)

8:45 p.m. (NBCSN) Curling (W) Canada vs. Great Britain, Korea

Thursday, Feb 22

11:05 p.m. (NBC) Freestyle Skiing (M) Cross Final, Short Track Speed Skating (W) 3000m Relay Final (25m)

1:00 p.m. (NBC) Freestyle Skiing (M) Aerials Final, Speed Skating (M) Team Pursuit, Biathlon (M) 15km Mass Start Final (3h)

Sunday, Feb 18

5:00 a.m. (USA) Ice Hockey (M) Canada vs. Korea Republic (2h30)

Republic vs. Olympic Athletes from Russia (3h55)

1:00 p.m. (NBC) Speed Skating (M, W) Team Pursuit Gold Medal, Cross-country Skiing (M, W) Team Sprint Final (2h) 3:00 p.m. (CNBC) Curling (W) United States vs. Sweden (3h) 5:00 p.m. (NBCSN) Curling (W) Canada vs. Olympic Athletes from Russia (3h45) 6:00 p.m. (NBC) Alpine Skiing (M) Slalom, Freestyle Skiing (M) Halfpipe Final, Cross-country Skiing (W) Team Sprint Final (3h35)

1:00 p.m. (NBC) Biathlon (W) 4X6km Relay Final, Nordic Combined (M) Team Large Hill, 4x5km Final (2h) 3:00 p.m. (CNBC) Curling (M) Semifinal (3h)

6:00 p.m. (NBCSN) Biathlon (M) 4x7.5km Relay Final, Curling (W) Semifinal (4h) (NBC) Alpine Skiing Team Final, Snowboarding (M) Big Air Final, Bobsleigh (M) 4-Man, Speed Skating (M) 1000m Final (3h35) 9:35 p.m. (NBC) Snowboarding (M, W) Parallel Giant Slalom Final (1h25) 10:00 p.m. (NBCSN) Crosscountry Skiing (M) 50km Mass Start Final (3h) 1:00 a.m. (NBCSN) Curling (M) Gold Medal (3h30)

Saturday, Feb 24

5:00 p.m. (NBCSN) Figure Skating (W) Free (3h)

4:30 a.m. (NBCSN) Ice Hockey (M) Bronze Medal (3h)

6:00 p.m. (NBC) Figure Skating (W) Final, Alpine Skiing (W) Combined, Downhill, Snowboarding (W) Big Air Final, Short Track Speed Skating (M, W) Final (4h)

7:30 a.m. (NBCSN) Speed Skating (M, W) Mass Start Final (1h30)

8:00 p.m. (NBCSN) Curling (M) Semifinal, Short Track Speed Skating Final (4h)

1:00 p.m. (NBC) Speed Skating (M, W) Mass Start Final, Crosscountry Skiing (M) 50km Mass Start Final (3h)

10:35 p.m. (NBC) Alping Skiing (W) Combined, Slalom Final, Freestyle Skiing (W) Cross Final (1h25) 12:00 a.m. (NBCSN) Ice Hockey (M) Semifinal (3h)

Friday, Feb 23 3:00 a.m. (NBCSN) Speed Skating (M) 1000m Final (1h30) 4:30 a.m. (NBCSN) Ice Hockey (M) Semifinal (3h)

8:45 p.m. (NBCSN) Ice Hockey (W) Gold Medal (3h15)

7:30 a.m. (NBCSN) Curling (M) Bronze Medal (3h)

9:35 p.m. (NBC) Alpine Skiing (M) Slalom Final (1h)

10:30 a.m. (NBCSN) Curling (W) Semifinal (3h30)

12:00 a.m. (NBCSN) Snowboarding (M, W) Parallel Giant Slalom, Nordic Combined (M) Team Large Hill, 4x5km Final, Curling (M, W) Tiebreaker (3h20)

1:00 p.m. (NBC) Biathlon (M) 4x7 5km Relay Final, Figure Skating (W) (2h) 3:00 p.m. (CNBC) Curling (W) Semifinal (3h)

9:00 a.m. (NBCSN) Curling (W) Bronze Medal (3h)

5:00 p.m. (NBCSN) Curling (W) Gold Medal (3h30) 6:00 p.m. (NBC) Figure Skating Gala, Bobsleigh (M) 4-Man Final (3h) 8:30 p.m. (NBCSN) Ice Hockey (M) Gold Medal (3h30) 12:00 a.m. (NBCSN) Crosscountry Skiing (W) 30km Mass Start Final (2h)

Sunday, Feb 25 1:00 p.m. (NBC) Cross-country Skiing (W) 30km Mass Start Final (3h) 6:00 p.m. (NBC) Closing Ceremony Coverage of the official Closing Ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang County. (2h30)

Winter Olympics Guide • Page 13D

Pyeongchang

Let the Games begin Pyeongchang shines a spotlight on South Korea in opening and closing ceremonies

P

laying in the snow may not be everyone’s idea of a good time, but when the temperature dips, some people can’t resist the thrill of winter sports.

Fans of skiing, hockey, skating and much more are gearing up for one of the most highly anticipated Winter Olympics in recent memory, and this year’s host city is ready to welcome the world with the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics opening ceremony, airing on Friday, Feb. 9, on NBC. When all is said and done, the people of the Republic of Korea will celebrate the excitement of the Games with the closing ceremony, set to take place on Sunday, Feb. 25.

Approximately 2,900 athletes from 95 countries will come together to compete in more than 100 events in 15 different sports during the Pyeongchang Games, and billions of people are expected to tune in around the world. Beginning this year, Mike Tirico takes on the challenge of hosting NBC’s coverage of the Games, taking over for sportscasting legend

Bob Costas, who literally passed the Olympic Torch on to Tirico in February of last year.

The opening ceremony welcomes viewers both in Pyeongchang and around the globe and provides organizers with a unique opportunity to shine a spotlight on South Korea’s rich culture. The Pyeongchang Organizing Committee (POCOG) wasted no time in finding a director for the highprofile event and in 2015 chose Song Seung-whan to serve as the executive creative director of both the opening and closing ceremonies, a post he accepted with enthusiasm.

“It’s a great honor to join Pyeongchang 2018 as executive creative director for the 2018 Olympic Games’ ceremonies,” Song said in a statement at the time. “I will devote my best efforts to orchestrate exciting and memorable ceremonies.”

Song is a well-known theater and television actor in his homeland, and he has become internationally renowned for his musical show “Nanta,” also known as “Cookin’” or “Cookin’ Nanta.” The show, which features a mix of music, comedy, cooking

and traditional Korean samul nori rhythm, has become a hit in Korea and around the world. “Nanta” earned an award for best performance at the 1999 Edinburgh Fringe Festival and became the first Asian musical to be performed on Broadway in New York in 2004.

Song is well qualified to oversee the Olympic ceremonies, which include a mix of traditional and new elements highlighting the culture of the host country.

POCOG president Yang-ho Cho was confident Song would produce ceremonies worthy of the Games.

“His experience and creative talent will prove to be valuable assets in producing ceremonies that will harmoniously connect our passion, tradition and cosmopolitan culture to the international audience,” he said of Song.

Both the opening and closing ceremonies will take place in the Pyeongchang Olympic Stadium, a temporary pentagonal structure with seating for 35,000. Built specifically for the ceremonies, the stadium is expected to be dismantled following the Games. However, the venue has been the subject of controversy since it opened

with a concert featuring K-Pop acts this fall. Some 30,000 fans packed into the stadium to enjoy the popular style of Korean music, but a few were reportedly later treated for hypothermia. The incident sparked concern about the structure, which doesn’t have a roof to protect audiences from the wind.

Though February brings even colder temperatures to Pyeongchang, organizers are confident that the stadium is a suitable venue for both the opening and closing ceremonies.

According to a December Reuters article, organizers plan to combat the cold with hot packs, blankets and audience participation.

K-Pop artists will likely heat things up with their acts, which are expected to be a part of the opening ceremony. In addition to cultural performances and speeches from officials, the opening ceremony will feature the traditional Parade of Nations, during which most of the athletes

expected to compete in the events will march into the stadium, country by country. Greece usually enters first because of the country’s historical significance as the birthplace of the Games, with the host country typically entering last. Spectators will note the absence of Russia, which was banned from the Games because the International Olympic Committee (IOC) reported it had found evidence of manipulation of the antidoping system. However, Russian athletes may still compete as Olympic athletes of Russia.

One of the most thrilling moments of any Olympic opening ceremony is the lighting of the Olympic cauldron, following the official

Olympic torch relay, which has been underway in the host nation since Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017.

Over the course of the 101 days leading up to the opening ceremony, torchbearers will have carried the torch to 17 cities across South Korea.

The Olympic flame will shine brightly until it’s extinguished at the closing ceremony, but not before the Parade of Flags, during which flagbearers from each country march into the stadium followed by athletes no longer grouped by distinction or nationality. The tradition of bringing the athletes together began in 1956 and is expected to continue in Pyeongchang.

Mike Tirico makes his debut as NBC’s primetime Olympic host, receiving the Olympic torch from sportscaster Bob Costas

Photo: Virginia Sherwood/NBC Sports

By Kyla Brewer TV Media

Winter Olympics Guide • Page 14D

Pyeongchang

Winter trailblazers 2018 Olympics gleams with new countries and events

T

he third time’s a charm for South Korea. After two unsuccessful bids to hold the Winter Olympics, Pyeongchang is set to host the 2018 Games.

The lion’s share of 15 sports will occur in Pyeongchang, as well as the opening and closing ceremonies. About 100 miles east of South Korea’s capital, the city has a strategic geographical edge, but it’s only 50 miles from North Korea’s border.

For the first time in eight years, North Korea will take part in the upcoming Winter Olympics. Kim Jong-un, the controversial leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), is an avid skier (he learned in Switzerland during his schoolboy days in Europe), and even hinted he might attend. Two athletes from North Korea will participate — ice skating duo Ryom Tae-Ok and Kim Ju-Sik — and the DPRK is also sending a cheering squad and a performanceart troupe.

North Korea has been to every Summer Olympics except the 1984 Games in Los Angeles and the 1988

Games in Seoul, which it boycotted for political reasons. The country’s attendance may cut the military tension with South Korea. North Korea’s ballistic missile testing over the past few months caused international hand-wringing, especially after Kim announced the weapons could reach the intercontinental United States.

But North Korea’s involvement in Pyeongchang 2018 isn’t the only change this year. New medal events have joined the roster, including mixed doubles in curling, mass start in speedskating, the Alpine skiing team event, and snowboarding’s big air.

The committee adopted the mixed doubles and mass start from the World Cup and the Winter Youth Olympics Games. In mixed doubles curling, one woman and one man play with six stones (instead of the usual eight), and there are eight ends instead of 10.

Mass start involves skaters beginning a 16-lap race at the same time.

The first three athletes to cross the finish line win, and the ranks of the others depend on their points during the four sprints.

The U.S.’s Joey Mantia won the men’s category

in the last Youth Olympic Games, and South Korea’s Kim Bo-reum won the women’s event.

The Alpine skiing team and big air events debuted after a successful trial in the FIS World Championships. The former includes two female and two male skiers racing head to head in a parallel slalom over four rounds.

France won gold during the recent FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in St. Moritz. Slovakia earned the silver and Sweden claimed the bronze.

But the most exciting addition this year is the big air. Snowboarders slide down a 40-degree slope and off a kicker ramp that’s 160 feet high — that gives plenty of time to wow judges with mid-air tricks. Finland’s Roope Tonteri won the men’s title in both the 2013 and 2015 FIS World Championships, and China’s Xuetong Cai claimed the women’s gold in 2015.

Hockey took a hit after the NHL changed its policy on sending its players. The U.S. and Canadian teams only include players from the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the National League (NL) and the Kontinental Hockey

League (KHL). This year, men’s hockey features 13 teams: Sweden, Finland, Canada, OAR, the United States, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Slovakia, South Korea, Slovenia, Germany, Norway and Japan.

A few familiar names are on Team USA’s roster (Brian Gionta, for instance), but most are hotshot rookies.

Hockey buffs may recognize NCAA’s Will Borgen, Ryan Donato and

Jordan Greenway. Mark Arcobello, Broc Little, Garrett Roe, Bobby Sanguinetti and Jim Slater have also joined from the NL, and fans can expect a slew of players from the KHL.

Russia’s recent doping ban caused a scramble for the country, too, but the IOC didn’t name hockey players as part of the scandal. So, for now, they’re safe to join the competition as Olympic athletes from Russia.

For women’s hockey, eight teams take part: the U.S., Canada, Finland, OAR, Sweden, South Korea, Switzerland and Japan. The rivalry between the U.S. and Canada continues as the States seeks its first gold medal finish since 1998.

Canada climbed to the top of the Olympic podium with the gold in 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2014, refusing to give up the title.

With South Korea’s first time as host, North Korea’s participation and four new events, you won’t want to miss the 2018 Olympic Games.

New athletes and countries bring the power of winter sport to the Games in Pyeongchang.

Photo courtesy of POCOG

By Sarah Jamieson TV Media

Team USA long track speedskater Joey Mantia

Winter Olympics Guide • Page 15D

Pyeongchang

Facts and figures Pyeongchang 2018 and what you might not know Cost The estimated cost of • the 2018 Winter Games

in Pyeongchang, South Korea, is $10 billion (11.6 trillion Korean won).

The cost is five times • less than the 2014 Sochi

games, the most costly in Olympic history at a whopping $50 billion.

Torch After being lit in • Olympia, Greece, the

torch left Athens on Oct. 31 and began its journey the following day in Korea, where it visited all regions of the country before making its way to Pyeongchang’s Olympic Stadium.

Venues

There are 13 venues • used in total, located in Pyeongchang and its neighboring city Gangneung.

Six new venues were • built for the Games,

including the $78-million, 35,000-capacity temporary Olympic Stadium that will host the opening and closing ceremonies.

Other new venues • include the Alpensia

Sliding Centre, which will be used for the bobsled, luge and skeleton events, and the state-of-the art Gangneung Hockey Centre that will seat 10,000 and cost $90 million to construct.

The outdoor games • will take place at the

The torch measures 700 millimeters (27.5 inches) in length, representing Pyeongchang’s altitude of 700 meters (2296 feet) above sea level.

Alpensia Sports Park in the mountain resort of Alpensia, while the indoor games will take place at the Gangneung coastal cluster in the city of Gangneung.

Se Kim, and devised in such a way that the flame can survive extremes and will continue to burn in all weather conditions.

nearly 4,000 athletes and team officials from nearly 100 nations, while the Gangneung Village will house nearly 3,000, where

•

they will find standard amenities including a bank, post office, fitness center, beauty salon and laundry service.

Olympic Program Pyeongchang 2018 • marks the second time

South Korea has hosted the Olympic Games, after Seoul in 1988, and is only the third Asian city to host the Winter Games, after Nagano in 1998 and Sapporo in 1972, both in Japan.

Pyeongchang will be • the first of three straight

Asia-set Olympic Games, with Tokyo hosting the 2020 Summer Games and Beijing hosting the 2022 Winter Games.

Four events are making • their first appearance at

the games: big air snowboarding (replacing the parallel slalom), mixed doubles curling, mass start speedskating and mixed team Alpine skiing.

Ecuador, Eritrea, Kosovo, • The torch was designed The Pyeongchang • • Malaysia and Singapore

by Korean designer Young Olympic Village will house are making their Winter Olympics debut.

The official motto for • the Games is “Passion.

Connected.”

Team USA

Team USA looks to • improve on its 2014 per-

formance of 28 medals (nine gold, seven silver and 12 bronze). Its record is 37 total medals at the 2010 Vancouver Games (its gold record is 10 at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games).

Team USA is looking • to dominate long track

speedskating once again, having won 67 Olympic medals in the event, 29 of those being gold.

Look out for veteran • speedskaters Heather

Bergsma and Brittany Bowe, who have dominated the 1,000 and 1,500 meter distances at the international level trading top spots at the Grand World Cup Championship three seasons in a row.

On the men’s speedskat• ing side, Joey Mantia is looking to make a splash in the new mass start event, while Mitch Whitmore and two-time Olympic champion Shani Davis will give Team USA plenty of podium

opportunities in the 500, 1,000 and 1,500 meter events.

The design of the medals • reflects the host nation’s traditions and culture.

Team USA will be sport• • The gold and silver ing ultra-chic Ralph Lauren medals weigh in at apparel at the Winter Games. This marks the sixth time in a row, starting with the 2008 Summer Games, that the NYC-based company has clothed American athletes.

The snowboarding team • will be wearing space

themed gear designed by Burton. The NASA-inspired gear pays tribute to the great American institution. The snowboard suits, like the NASA spacesuits, are designed to survive extreme weather.

Medals

medals to • There arebe259given out in

102 events in 15 sports.

roughly 20 ounces, and the bronze is 17 ounces.

This is an upgrade on the 18-ounce and 16-ounce Sochi 2014 medals. The medals have a diameter of 3.6 inches — a far cry from the first Winter Games’ 2.1 inches diameter and 2.6 ounces.

The gold is in fact a • silver medal plated in gold holding a purity of 99.9 percent. The silver medal also has 99.9 percent purity, and the bronze is a copper medal.

The medals’ design was • inspired in large part by

the texture of the nation’s tree trunks. The Olympic rings can be seen on the front of the medal overlaid with dynamic diagonal lines representing the history of the Olympic Games as well as the determination of the participants.

Photo courtesy USOC/NBC Olympics

By Francis Babin TV Media

Team USA’s Heather Bergsma is currently the world record holder in the 2 x 500 meters and the 1500 meters in speedskating

Winter Olympics Guide • Page 16D