7 Reasons to Watch the 2018 Winter Olympics

By Brittany Loeffler on February 5, 2018

The Winter Olympics are finally upon us! Hosted in PyeongChang, South Korea, the world is ready to come together and compete in a long celebrated tradition. The best athletes of the world compete against each other to bring home symbolic medals and honor to their countries. Athletes will compete in 15 different sports.

There is a huge culture around the Winter Olympics. People already love sports, but when it comes to the most competitive and best athletes in the world, it means you have to sit down and watch at least some of it!

opening ceremony, winter olympics, olympics opening ceremony

via Pixabay

The Opening Ceremony

Probably one of the most beautiful events you can watch on your television, the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics is a must-see! This year, the ceremony will be held on February 9th and will be broadcast on NBC.

The ceremony consists of a parade and the entering of the teams. There is also the beautiful tradition of lighting the Olympic torch. It’s the most elaborate way to kick off any athletic game! Afterwards, there is a musical performance for the audience to enjoy.

The Uniforms

Not only are the Winter Olympics about sports, but it’s also about the style. Each country is designed a special uniform for the event. This year, Ralph Lauren designed the uniforms for the opening ceremony. Nike designed the uniforms for the sporting events. Of course, they sport the colors red, white, and blue.

The quality of the uniforms for the Winter Olympics is extremely important. They must withstand the elements. The temperatures are expected to be just above zero degrees. To battle these temperatures, the uniforms are heated by a battery system.

You can also get your own set of Olympic clothing! Support your country and represent!

There are Four New Sports

Just because the Olympics are based on tradition, it doesn’t mean they don’t adapt! This time around, four new sports have been added to the lineup. Mass start speed skating, mixed doubles curling, big air snowboarding, and freestyle skiing are the new sports you can look forward to.

On top of these newly added sports, you can still enjoy skiing, luge, ice hockey, figure skating, biathlon, curling, and speed skating. Each event is exciting and mesmerizing to watch. Imagine flying down a snow-covered slope or sliding around on the ice passing a hockey puck back and forth.

figure skating, olympics, winter olympics

via Pixabay

Figure Skating

One of the most beautiful sports that the Winter Olympics has to offer is figure skating. It’s been a beloved sport for years. A number of movies have been produced focusing on the sport. Just this year, I, Tonya, a movie about Tonya Harding came out starring Margot Robbie.

You can watch the world’s best ice skaters whip and twirl on the ice in beautiful costumes in choreographed performances. It’s absolutely memorizing and unbelievably elegant. The couples figure skating just might be the best sport the Winter Olympics has to offer.

Chloe Kim

If you haven’t heard of the incredible snowboarder Chloe Kim, now is the time to become a fan. Kim is just 17 years old and will be competing in her first Olympics game. Born in California, she learned to snowboard at the age of four. She participated in the World Youth Olympics in Norway back in 2016.

Kim is the first woman ever to score a 100 and land back-to-back 1080’s at the U.S. Grand Prix in Park City. Don’t be surprised if you see Kim’s face on your cereal boxes in the upcoming months. We have high hopes for this rising star!

Curling

It’s the game where most people say, “Well I could do that.” Curling, though boring, is one of the most satisfying games to watch during the Winter Olympics. It’s calm and there is no danger whatsoever. Sometimes we need a break from the thrill of it all and just watch some people slide a rock along some ice.

We promise you, it is definitely harder than it looks.

 

The Official Mascot, Soohorang

South Korea has picked an adorable mascot for the 2018 Winter Olympics. He is a cute and plump white tiger named Soohorang. The character comes from Korean folklore. Soohorang was a tiger who would protect and watch over the country and its citizens.

“Sooho” means “protection” in Korean while “rang” means “tiger.” This choice of mascot not only upholds Korean beliefs and folklore but offers the athletes and Olympians protection from any harm or injury.

Who Will You Watch With?

Even though the Winter Olympics falls in a busy time of the semester, it’s still fun to get together with friends and watch some of the events. The events will air on NBC from February 9th to February 25th. Don’t forget to wear your red, white, and blue and cheer on your favorite team!

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