Wednesday, February 28, 2018

Winter Olympics End, US Fails to Impress as Politics Took Center Stage


The 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea ended n Sunday, following two weeks of sporting events. Norway emerged the strongest nation, winning in both number of gold medals won (14) and total medals won (39). The US came in fourth in both categories, with 9 gold and 23 total. While the American performance was the worst in recent Winter Olympics, the women’s ice hockey team defeated Canada to win the first gold for the US in the sport since 1998.

Politics laid a cloud over this year’s games as well. While the North Korean and South Korean teams marched under a united flag at the opening ceremonies, as well as competed together in women’s ice hockey, tensions remain as North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, continues his nuclear weapons program and testing of rockets. His sister, Kim Yo-jung, made an appearance at the opening ceremony and stood near US Vice President Mike Pence. Some American media outlets were criticized for the positive coverage they gave her given her position as propaganda director for the brutal regime.


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