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Tag: Winter Olympics

  • 100 volunteers quit Olympics because they didn’t like assigned jobs

    100 volunteers quit Olympics because they didn’t like assigned jobs

    The PyeongChang Organising Committee says around 100 volunteers have quit working at the Pyeongchang Olympics because they didn’t like their assigned jobs.

    Organising committee spokesperson Nancy Park said Monday that the absences didn’t harm the running of the Games.

    “This is because we selected more than we needed, with 14,000 volunteers in action from 90,000 applications from around the world,” she said.

    The spokeperson said the 100 “came, didn’t like it and left again.”

    Park acknowledged that volunteers had complained about issues such as “snacks and transportation” and also voiced them to the Blue House, the residence of the nation’s President, Moon Jae In.

    READ ALSO: Buhari sends goodwill message to Team Nigeria at Winter Olympics

    Volunteers, who are not paid apart from accommodation and receiving the official uniform, are crucial for the running of any Games.

    “We are trying to take care of their needs. They are the face of the Games and very important for us,” Park said.

    NAN

  • ‘wizard’ Dom Parsons claims surprise Bronze for UK

    ‘wizard’ Dom Parsons claims surprise Bronze for UK

     

    Dom Parsons has won Great Britain’s first medal of the Winter Olympics after the 100-1 outsider claimed a shock bronze in the men’s skeleton Nicknamed ‘the Wizard’, Parsons clung on to his podium place by just 0.11 of a second, winning Britain’s first men’s skeleton medal in 70 years in the process.

    Watched on by parents David and Judith, the 30-year-old thought he had blown his dream when he slipped behind Russia’s Nikita Tregubov with two racers still to go.

    But during a nail-biting finale, Latvian Martins Dukurs lost time on the lower part of the course to hand Parsons an unexpected bronze.

    Shortly after his historic achievement, Britain’s new sporting hero, who turned to the skeleton after starting out as a 400-metre runner, laughed off the controversy surrounding Team GB’s skinsuits.

    International furore around British suits dominated the build-up to the event, with Parsons drawing attention after his emergence as a medal threat in training runs.

    Parsons enjoyed a sudden elevation from world No 12 to the fastest slider in two of the first four training runs, to the annoyance of other competitors.

    Speaking after the final run, a shocked Parsons, who lives in Bath, Somerset, revealed that he thought he had blown his chance of a medal.

    ‘It hasn’t really sunk in yet,’ he said. ‘I thought I’d lost it after that fourth run, it felt like it’d had gone.

    ‘But Martins Dukurs has made some more mistakes and he’s the last person I’d expect that from.

    ‘It’s been great, all the work we’ve put in has paid off.’

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Buhari sends goodwill message to Team Nigeria at Winter Olympics

    Buhari sends goodwill message to Team Nigeria at Winter Olympics

    President Muhammadu Buhari has extended his best wishes to Team Nigeria as they begin their epoch-making representation of the country in the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea.

    He commended the women’s bobsleigh team made up of Seun Adigun, Ngozi Onwumere and Akuoma Omeoga for making history by being the first African bobsleigh team to participate in the Winter Olympics in that category.

    The President, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, also saluted Nigerian Olympian, Simidele Adeagbo who has raised the bar as the first African female to compete in Skeleton at the Games.

    He assured the athletes that Nigeria stands with them throughout the competition.

    Read Also: Team Nigeria wins 21 medals, leading Africa Wrestling Championship

    President Buhari believed that the patriotism, sacrifice, hard work and personal dedication of these Nigerian athletes, who chose to stand with the country and lift its flag high at the PyeongChang Olympic Stadium in South Korea, will continue to inspire Nigerians, especially our young people.

    The President, who had earlier approved the appointment of Chef de Mission to take care of the team, assures the Olympians of the unflinching support of the Federal Government and thanks all who made their participation in the games possible, particularly Corporate Nigeria.

    The President wished Team Nigeria, who clearly represents the resilient spirit of the Nigerian -ever ready to endure and prevail- a resounding success at the Winter Olympics.

     

  • U.S Vice President skips Olympics dinner with North Korean delegation

    U.S Vice President skips Olympics dinner with North Korean delegation

    United States Vice-President, Mike Pence, has skipped a dinner at which he was due to share a table with North Korea’s ceremonial head of state, Kim Yong-nam.

    Mr. Pence briefly encountered Mr. Kim but they tried to avoid directly facing each other, Yonhap news agency reports.

    Meanwhile South Korean President, Moon Jae-in, has shaken hands with North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un’s sister, at the Winter Olympics opening ceremony.

    The Games are taking place amid tension over North Korea’s nuclear programme, the BBC reports.

    Mr. Pence has brought to South Korea as a guest Fred Warmbier, the father of a young American who died after being released from prison in North Korea.

    Meanwhile, on Thursday North Korea held a military parade that had been scheduled for April but was brought forward.

    Mr Pence and Kim Yong-nam were being hosted by South Korean President before the opening ceremony in Pyeongchang.

    But the US vice-president left the reception venue after five minutes.

    While Mr. Moon and Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, both shook hands with Mr. Kim, Mr. Pence did not, South Korean officials said.

    At the event Mr. Moon said he hoped the Winter Olympics would be remembered as the “day peace began.”

  • Nigeria’s Bobsledding team tickles Serena Williams

    Nigeria’s Bobsledding team tickles Serena Williams

     

    Serena Williams has revealed her excitement ahead of  Nigeria ladies’ participation in the Bobsledding event of the forthcoming Winter Olympics for the first time.

    Serena who made a U- turn last minute over her initial desire to compete in the Australia Open, further revealed that she watched a video of the Nigerian Three-women team which were chilling according to her.  Taking to her verified twitter account, the 23 Grand Slam winner said” This video literally gave me chills, I am so excited to watch Nigeria compete in the winter Olympics bobsledding race the first time an African country has ever competed in bobsledding!”

    The video watched by the American tennis super star and mother of one, could be one titled “Nigeria Women’s Bobsleigh team celebrated in new beats by Dre advert”

    Nigeria’s trio of Seun Adigun, Ngozi Onwumere and Akuoma Omeoga are set to make history at the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, thus stamping Nigeria on the world map as the first African country to compete in the sport at the winter Olympics.

    The trio, are all from sprinting backgrounds, and are also the first African team to make it into the bobsleigh after a Go Fund me campaign backed their training and qualification campaign.

    Pilot Adigun competed in the 100m hurdles at London 2012 while Onwumere ran for Nigeria at the IAAF World Relays in 2015. Omeoga, who will compete with Onwumere for the brakewoman spot, ran for the University of Minnesota.

    The Nigerian team who are likely to be the cynosure of eyes at the event said they are determined to leave their foot print on the sand of history on one hand and encourage others to banish fear in their lives and be ready to venture into any area of life and make a mark.

    “Our goal is to create a legacy where people will never be limited by the fear of the unknown.”

    Interestingly the Nigerian team will be competing against their Jamaican counterparts Jazmine Fenlator-Victorian and Carrie Russell who are making a debut at the event 30 years after their men featured at the event.

    Carrie Russell was a 2013 World Championships gold medalist in the 4x100m relay while Audra Segree also sprinted on the world stage.

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Jamaica’s Women bobsleigh team for Pyeongchang

    Jamaica’s Women bobsleigh team for Pyeongchang

     

    Thirty years after the nation’s fabled debut in Calgary, Jamaica are sending their first women’s bobsleigh team to the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang next month.

    Jazmine Fenlator, who was a member of the United States team four years ago in Sochi, will pilot the Jamaican sled having switched to the country of her father’s birth in 2015.

    Fenlator will be joined by brakewoman Carrie Russell, a former world athletics relay gold medallist.

    Cool Runnings was inspired by the Jamaican men’s bobsleigh team who competed at the 1988 Winter Olympics   +5

    They will be targeting a top-10 finish after coming seventh in the Winterberg World Cup last month.

    Jamaica’s exploits in 1988 inspired the hit movie ‘Cool Runnings’ and turned its bobsleigh squad into cult heroes.

    The men’s team went on to participate in five of seven subsequent Games, but will not be represented in Pyeongchang.

    Jamaica Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation president Chris Stokes told the Jamaica Gleaner: ‘Jamaica was offered a quota allocation spot for women’s bobsleigh, which we have gladly accepted.

    ‘They had a difficult time in Germany (in the first race this year). We did not get a good result. But we made adjustments and came back and had a very strong performance in San Moritz, which set us up.

    ‘This is the 30th anniversary of the first team to qualify in 1988, and we are glad to have a women’s team qualify, and we expect them to do well.’

    Stokes was a member of the men’s team which famously overturned on their fourth and final run down the Olympic track in Calgary.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Winter Olympics: Low income families get free tickets

    Winter Olympics: Low income families get free tickets

     

    In a bid to ensure that the forth coming Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang has something to offer to everybody, no fewer than 42,000 tickets will be distributed to low-income families in Seoul, Mayor Park Won-soon has announced.

    The Seoul Metropolitan Government has purchased an additional 20,000 tickets after 22,000 were bought by 25 district offices.

    The move comes as part of a series of measures from the Metropolitan Government to support the Games, due to take place from February 9 to 25. In addition free shuttle buses from the South Korean capital, located around 126 kilometers from Pyeongchang, to Olympic venues will be provided to those given tickets. Priority is however given to events that are not expected to be well attended such as cross-country skiing and biathlon.

    “This Olympics aims for social integration and is a means to enhance inter-Korean ties, Seoul will fully mobilise personnel and supplies to help the event,” Park said, according to the Korea Times.

    “This is more than a national competition; the event provides an opportunity to enhance societal friendships with citizens from all over the globe.”

    “We will work as if the Pyeongchang Olympics is jointly hosted by Gangwon Province and Seoul.”

    Other measures which will be put in place by the Metropolitan Government include the dispatch of around 6,950 volunteers to Pyeongchang.

    Vehicles such as 44 low floor buses and 50 taxis for those with a disability will also be provided.

    Ticketing has been one of the main concerns for Pyeongchang 2018 in the build-up to the Games amid low sales.

    Seats for events have been bought by banks and even President Moon Jae-in in a bid to ensure there are no empty venues.

    Winter sports officials have admitted they are not expecting full venues during the event.

    Pyeongchang 2018 have always insisted, however, that the bulk of sales would come in the days and weeks leading up to the Opening Ceremony on February 9.

    Among teams expected to thrill and draw attention at the 16 days event include wave making three-woman Nigerian bobsled team.

    Driver Seun Adigun and the duo of brake women Akuoma Omeoga and Ngozi Onwumere qualified in style for the Winter Games, making history not only as the first Nigerian team to feature in the sport at the Games but also ensure that an African country will be represented in the sport for the first time ever.  The musketeers, who have drawn increased local and international attention since their qualification, some say, are likely to be a must watch at the event.

  • Adigun charges younger athletes on resilience

    Adigun charges younger athletes on resilience

    Up and coming athletes desirous of making it in their chosen area have been told to be determined and resist the temptation to allow fear derail their dreams.

    Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics bound Nigerian bobsled star Seun Adigun who  attributed the impact already made by the 3-man all Ladies team in the sport so far to determination and resilience gave the charge noting that opportunity abound for more teams like theirs to emerge in future.

    Adigun who bared her mind in recent chart with CNN said there was strong desire in the team to venture into new areas and leave a legacy. The team that had a humble start in a private garage way back in Texas she recalled also had strong desire to learn something new hence the determination to forge ahead despite challenges that initially looked insurmountable.

    “There was very strong desire to learn new things and also prove that women can venture into fresh areas and make an impact and we are glad at what it has turned into,” she enthused

    On her advice to younger ones who may be inspired by their exploits Adigun said though venturing into new areas can be uncomfortable, they must ride above the discomfort and banish fear from their minds.

    “They must not be afraid to take risk. Taking a risk is like standing in front of a closed door. You need to open the door because their might be very good opportunity behind the door,” she submitted

    The Nigeria bobsled team made up of Seun Adigun, Ngozi Onwumere and Akuoma Omeoga booked a place in the Games after successfully completing five races held across North America in Utah, Whistler and Calgary thus proving that they a team good to go. The 3-man ladies team will be the team to watch in February at the Winter Games

    Adigun remains optimistic that they can put up a good show at the Game after making history as the first Nigerian athletes to compete in the winter Games

    After running the 100-metre hurdles for Nigeria at the London Games in 2012, the Chicago-born Adigun decided to step away from athletics.

    But just two years later, she found herself itching to compete again. She decided to try bobsledding after being inspired by other track athletes who’d taken up the sport.

    A member of the team Omeoga added that knowing they have the power to inspire others has become a major motivator

  • US warns of Sochi ‘toothpaste’ bomb

    US warns of Sochi ‘toothpaste’ bomb

    The United States has warned airlines with direct flights to Russia that explosives hidden in toothpaste tubes could be smuggled onto planes.

    The Department of Homeland Security’s warning comes on the eve of the Winter Olympics’ opening ceremony in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi, the BBC reports.

    The department said it shared relevant information with partners at home and abroad “out of an abundance of caution.”

    But it was not aware of any specific danger to the US at this time.

    Unnamed security officials were quoted as saying there were fears toothpaste tubes could be used to smuggle explosives which could then be used to assemble a bomb either in flight or upon arrival at the Olympics.

    The Department of Homeland Security said in a statement that although it is “not aware of a specific threat… this routine communication is an important part of our commitment to making sure we meet that priority.”

    The White House National Security Council said the latest threat had not altered existing travel guidelines for Sochi.

    “If we should receive information in the coming days and weeks that changes our assessment of whether people should travel to Sochi, we will make that information public,” spokeswoman Laura Magnuson told US media.

    The US has also placed two warships in the Black Sea in case of a security breach during the games, scheduled for February 7 to 23.