Concerns and controversies at the 2018 Winter Olympics

A number of notable controversies and concerns associated with the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea, emerged which were the subject of public debate and media commentary.

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2018 Winter Olympics

Russian doping
Main articles: Doping in Russia, McLaren Report, Russia at the 2016 Summer Olympics, and Olympic Athletes from Russia at the 2018 Winter Olympics

Official sanctions
Approved OAR logo

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).[1] 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, and on 20 December 2017 the IOC proposed an alternate logo for the uniforms (seen at right).[2] 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."[3]

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.[4] 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".[5] Russia's sports minister Pavel Kolobkov wanted the IOC to ensure the participation of these Russian athletes at the Olympics in Pyeongchang.[6]

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.[7] The final number of neutral Russian athletes invited to compete was 169.[8]

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.[9]

Reaction in Russia
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev 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.[10] However, his spokesman later said that no boycott had been discussed.[1] After the IOC decision was announced, Ramzan Kadyrov, the head of Chechnya, announced that no Chechen athletes would participate under a neutral flag.[11] 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.[12][13] Gennady Zyuganov, a leader of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, proposed to send fans with a Soviet Victory Banner.[14] Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov has said that the United States "fears honest competition",[15] 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".[16] According to Komsomolskaya Pravda, a popular Russian newspaper, 86% of the Russian population oppose participating in the Olympics under a neutral flag,[17] and many Russian fans attended the Games wearing the Russian colours and chanting "Russia!" in unison, in an act of defiance against the ban.[18]

Reactions in Western media

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.[19] 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.[20]

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".[21]

IOC 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".[22] "[CAS decision] provides yet another ill-gotten gain for the corrupt Russian doping system generally, and Putin specifically", – he added.[23]

Security
Protesters at Gwanghwamun Plaza criticizing game's pro-North Korean measures, calling it the "Pyongyang Olympics"
Further information: 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.[24] 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.[25]

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."[26] 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.[27]

During the Games

Scheduling and small crowds

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,[28] is also one of the major sources of revenue for the IOC).[29] 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 themselves.[30]

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.[31]

NBC analyst comment
Main article: 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." In The Korea Times, Jung Min-ho called the comment "incorrect and insensitive," writing that "Tens of thousands of Koreans and non-Koreans alike have criticized Ramo and NBC Sports on their social media, urging them to correct this misinformation and apologize." In response to this backlash, NBC issued an on-air apology[32] and Ramo was fired from his job at NBC the next day.[33]

High winds

Many snow events were plagued by high winds, causing dangerous conditions.[34] 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.[35][36]

Dutchman Niek van der Velden broke his arm due to a fall caused by the wind and in a trainings run for the men's slopestyle event.[37][38] Due to the high winds many events were delayed. Snowboarding, freestyle skiing, alpine skiing, ski jumping and biathlon sessions were postponed or even cancelled.[39][40][41][42][43] 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.[43]

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.[44] Several snowboarders said that the final was "irresponsible", "too dangerous" and "should never have been held".[45][46][47] According to the FIS, the conditions were "within the norm".[44]

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.[48]

Other

Ecological issues at Jeongseon Alpine Centre

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 and the forest will be restored after the games are done. Environmental groups are skeptical as the forest includes old growth of ancient and rare species.[49]

World map without Japan

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.[50][51] The PyeongChang organizing committee corrected the map and said it was a "simple mistake".[52]

Exclusion of Samsung smartphones to Iranian and North Korean athletes

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.[53]

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.[54][55]

Dog meat trade

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.[56] However Blokhuijsen apologized soon after he was criticized by public.[57][58] 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.[59]

Kim Jong-un impersonator

On 14 February 2018, a man impersonating Kim Jong-un was ejected from the stands after walking through the North Korean cheerleading squad.[60]

Violence by IOC member

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.".[61] 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.[62]

Notes and references
  1. Ruiz, Rebecca C.; Panja, Tariq (5 December 2017). "Russia Banned From Winter Olympics by I.O.C." The New York Times. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  2. "IOC's OAR implementation group releases guidelines for uniforms accessories and equipment's". olympic.org. 20 December 2017.
  3. "IOC Bars Russian Athletes and Officials From Winter Olympic Games". The Moscow Times. 5 December 2017. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  4. "IOC Statement on CAS Decision". International Olympic Committee. 1 February 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  5. "IOC decided to close the justified Russians the way to the Games". NewsMe.
  6. "Russia to request lifting Olympic bans after CAS decision: minister". Reuters. 2018.
  7. "Reduced Pool of Russian Athletes and Officials Who Can Be Considered for Invitation to PyeongChang 2018 Determined". International Olympic Committee. 25 January 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  8. "Russia Is Barred From Winter Olympics. Russia Is Sending 169 Athletes to Winter Olympics". The New York Times. 25 January 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  9. "Winter Olympics: Russia curler Alexander Krushelnitsky stripped of bronze for doping". BBC. 22 February 2018. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  10. "Putin says US pressured IOC to ban Russia from Winter Games". Yahoo Sports. Agence France-Presse. 19 October 2017. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  11. "Кадыров: ни один чеченский спортсмен не будет выступать под нейтральным флагом". Championat.com (in Russian). Retrieved 6 December 2017.
  12. "Жириновский предложил отказаться от участия в Олимпиаде-2018" (in Russian). Interfax.ru. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
  13. "Vladimir Putin won't tell Russian athletes to boycott Winter Olympics". CNN. 6 December 2017. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
  14. "Зюганов предложил отправить на Олимпиаду болельщиков со знаменем Победы". mk.ru (in Russian). 30 January 2018. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  15. "US fears honest competition in energy, arms industry and sports, Lavrov warns". TASS. 15 January 2018. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  16. "Putin: Doping allegations 'US plot against Russian election'". bbc.com. 9 November 2017. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  17. "Опрос "КП": Стоит ли спортсменам из России ехать на Олимпиаду под нейтральным флагом". kp.ru (in Russian). 20 December 2017. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  18. Ortiz, Eirk (14 February 2018). "Russian fans spurn 'stupid' ban on athletes at Olympic Games". NBC News.
  19. "The 2018 Winter Olympics Are Already Tainted". The New York Times. 27 December 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  20. "IOC accused of cowardice for failing to address Russian retaliation against Rodchenkov". Inside the Games. 26 December 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  21. Peters, Justin (12 February 2018). ""Olympic Athletes From Russia" Is a Craven Euphemism for a Craven Olympic Games". Slate.com. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
  22. "IOC Chief Disappointed By Court Lifting Doping Ban on Russians". rferl.org. 4 February 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  23. "28 Russians have Olympic doping bans lifted". nbcsports.com. 1 February 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  24. "South Korea's Moon says pushing to guarantee safety at Pyeongchang Olympics". Reuters. 20 September 2017.
  25. "Olympics – France to skip 2018 Winter Games if security not assured". Reuters. 22 September 2017.
  26. "Olympics: North Korea triggers 2018 Winter Olympics security scare". The Straits Times. 23 September 2017.
  27. Haas, Benjamin (9 February 2018). "US vice-president skips Olympics dinner in snub to North Korea officials". the Guardian. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  28. "Olympics on NBC through 2032". USA Today. Gannett Company. 7 May 2014.
  29. "Fewer Russians Could Be a Windfall for U.S. Olympic Business". The New York Times. 7 December 2017. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  30. Longman, Jeré (12 February 2018). "For Olympic Figure Skaters, a New Meaning to Morning Routine". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 16 February 2018. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
  31. "Biathletes battling difficult conditions at Winter Olympics". USA Today. Associated Press. 10 February 2018. Archived from the original on 15 February 2018.
  32. Chase, Chris (10 February 2018). "NBC apologizes to Korean people after correspondent's 'ignorant, 'insensitive' comment". MSN.com. Archived from the original on 11 February 2018. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  33. "NBC fires analyst after 'ignorant, insensitive' on-air comment". New York Daily News. Associated Press. 11 February 2018. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  34. "Wild winds wreak havoc at Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang". USA TODAY. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  35. "Wind chill expected to hit −22 °C for Pyeongchang Olympics opening ceremony". The Hankyoreh. Archived from the original on 15 February 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  36. "Pyeongchang in a cold sweat over freezing opening ceremony". Reuters. 2017.
  37. "Valse start Nederland: snowboarder Van der Velden haakt af" (in Dutch). NOS. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
  38. "Einde Spelen voor snowboarder Van der Velden door breuk na val – NU – Het laatste nieuws het eerst op NU.nl". www.nu.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  39. "Snowboardster Maas speelt door valpartijen bijrol in winderige slopestylefinale". www.nu.nl.
  40. "Kwalificaties slopestyle met Maas uitgesteld, ook streep door afdaling – NU – Het laatste nieuws het eerst op NU.nl". www.nu.nl. Archived from the original on 13 February 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  41. Ingle, Sean (12 February 2018). "Olympic organisers accused of putting riders' safety at risk in high winds". the Guardian. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  42. "Why are so many Olympic skiing events getting postponed this year?". Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  43. "Wind blijft spelbreker in Pyeongchang: biatlon gaat ook niet door". Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  44. "Skifederatie verdedigt door Maas bekritiseerd startbesluit slopestyle". www.nu.nl (in Dutch).
  45. "Slopestyle competition never should have been held in massive winds". USA TODAY. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  46. "Maas: finale slopestyle verpest door harde wind". Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  47. "Winter Olympics: Women's slopestyle final 'too dangerous' as winds cause havoc". 12 February 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2018 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  48. "Ergste wind in olympisch park voorbij: openbare ruimtes blijven dicht". Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  49. "Olympics: Olympic organisers destroy 'sacred' South Korean forest to create ski run". The Guardian. 3 January 2018.
  50. "일본 열도가 사라진 평창 올림픽 공식 사이트의 세계지도가 일본의 분노를 사다" [World map of official site of PyeongChang Olympics without Japanese archipelago draw wrath of Japanese]. Huffington Post Korea. 27 September 2017. Archived from the original on 4 December 2017. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
  51. ""평창올림픽 홈피 세계지도에 일본이 없다"…日 '항의'" ["PyeongChang Olympic World Map does not have Japan ..." Japan 'protested']. Yonhap News. 27 September 2017.
  52. "South Korea's Winter Olympics map inconveniently omitted Japan". The Washington Post. 27 September 2017.
  53. Dehghan, Saeed Kamali (8 February 2018). "Iran furious as athletes miss out on Winter Olympics smartphones". the Guardian. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  54. Editorial, Reuters (8 February 2018). "IOC clears Iran, North Korea for gift after Samsung phone row". Reuters. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  55. Seo, Jin Wook (9 February 2018). "평창올림픽 '갤노트8' 이란 선수들도 받는다". Money Today. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  56. Raf Casert, AP (22 February 2018). "Dutch apologies galore after double faux pas at Olympics" – via www.washingtonpost.com.
  57. Andrew N. White (22 February 2018). "Dutch Speed Skater Jan Blokhuijsen Apologizes After Criticizing South Korea Dog Consumption". International Business Times.
  58. Martin Rogers (22 February 2018). "Dutch speedskater criticized after telling Koreans to 'treat dogs better'". USA Today.
  59. "South Korea closes biggest dog meat market in run-up to Olympics". the Guardian. 28 February 2017.
  60. "Kim Jong-un Impersonator Walks Through North Korea's Olympic Cheer Squad". Business Insider. 14 February 2018.
  61. "[단독] "×× 코리아" 英 선수위원 폭언·폭행 '파문'…IOC 공식사과". KBS (in Korean). 16 February 2018.
  62. "POCOG Requested Pengilly Audience". Around the rings. 17 February 2018. Archived from the original on 17 February 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
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