saturDAY, february 10, 2018
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Winter Olympics 2018, Pyeongchang
South and North Korean athletes unite during opening ceremony
H
osts South Korea produced a show of unity with neighbours North Korea during the opening ceremony of the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. Their athletes entered under the same flag during the parade, after months of tension in the Korean peninsula. "We are stronger than all the forces that want to divide us," declared Olympic president Thomas Bach. Lizzy Yarnold carried Great Britain's flag, while Russian athletes came in under the neutral Olympic flag. Russia is banned from the Games, and the forthcoming Paralympics, as a consequence of the 2016 McLaren report which claimed more than 1,000 of the country's sportspeople benefitted from state-sponsored doping. The International Olympic Committee invited 169 Russians who have met the anti-doping criteria to compete as independent athletes and their team will be known as the 'Olympic Athletes from Russia'. North Korea ice hockey player Chung Gum Hwang and South Korean bobsledder Won Yun-jong were joint flagbearers. An estimated 35,000 spectators inside the Olympic Stadium were given seat warmers, wind
shields, hats and gloves with temperatures as low as -6C during the two hourlong ceremony. Senior political figures from North Korea and USA - two of the countries at the centre of the political row were both present. Kim Yo-jong, the influential sister of North Korea leader Kim Jong-un, sat one row behind USA vice-presi-
"The Seoul 1988 Summer Games paved the way for reconciliation between east and west - breaking down the wall of the Cold War. Thirty years after hosting the Summer Games, the Pyeongchang Olympics has commenced with a hope for peace from everyone around the world. "It was with an ardent desire that the people of
South and North Korea athletes marched under one flag at the start of the historic games
Final torchbearer was Yuna Kim who won Olympic ice skating gold in 2010
dent Mike Pence in the VIP section. South Korea's president Moon Jae-in shook hands with her and said at the ceremony: "I would like to take this opportunity to convey greetings and a message of friendship from the people of Korea.
Korea aspired to host the Winter Games, the only divided nation in the world. It mirrors the Olympic spirit in its pursuit of peace." The 'wow moments' in the ceremony included the formation of the Olympic Rings made up of 1,218 drones - a Guinness World
Record for drones used in a performance - and 100 skiers. There was also 'the vision of peace in the sky' which was a constellation inside the arena, while 'the balance of yin and yang' saw Korean drummers perform in unison before forming the South Korea flag. And the
centre of the stadium was lit up in the eye-catching 'link to the world' segment. During the parade of athletes, Tonga's flagbearer, cross-country skier Pita Taufatofua, came out into the arena without wearing a top, despite sub-zero temperatures. He wore similar attire during the opening ceremony at Rio 2016, when he competed in taekwondo. Bermuda's contingent wore shorts during the parade in Pyeongchang. There was also a performance of John Lennon's Imagine, which included the formation of a giant dove of peace.
It all culminated in the ceremony centrepiece, which was the traditional lighting of the Olympic flame. That saw the final torchbearer Yuna Kim, who won Olympic ice skating gold in 2010, at the top of a slope light the flame as 30 fire rings ascended towards the white moon-shaped porcelain cauldron. The 18 days of competition will feature 2,925 athletes competing in 15 sports under 93 flags chasing 102 gold medals. Six countries are participating in the Winter Games for the first time: Ecuador, Eritrea, Kosovo, Malaysia, Nigeria and Singapore. (BBC Sport)
GMR&SC/ King of the Strip
Team Mohammed's unfazed by challengers
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urrent record holders of the quarter mile, Team Mohammed's Enterprise not at all worried about who pulls up next to their Nissan GTRs come Sunday at the highly anticipated 'King of Dragz' meet at the South Dakota circuit. Last March, the team once again entered the record books as the GT-R sped to a time of 7.569s to win the unlimited (7-seconds) category ahead of their other car, the Nissan Nismo which had a time of 8.906s. The likes of Sean
Persaud and his powerful Toyota Caldina are touted to pose a threat but according to team principal Azzruddin Mohammed he is not fazed about who pulls up alongside his vehicles since they only view they have will be that of the rear lights. Speaking to this publication on Friday after a practice run he said they are still some fine-tuning to do but they are well on course to defend their title. Mohammed was on the cautious side of producing another record-breaking
route since according to him “the track is not in the best of condition.” The event will feature nine classes of time bracket drag racing events, including and unlimited class and a superbike class. The one-day event will see an unofficial practice today that will precede the official qualification and knockout on Sunday. The sponsors are Tropical Shipping, STAG, Mohamed’s Enterprise, Rent A Tent, Perms Electrical, Paul Jiwanram,
Team Mohammed's prized possession, the Nissan GT-R in the pits on Friday (Photo courtesy of Rohindra Mahase)
White Boy Auto Spares, BM Soat, Palm Court, Samaroo Investments, Windjammer, Nexus, E-Networks, JR Burgers, Toucan Industries,
Trans Pacific, Ramchand’s Auto Body Shop, Special Auto, A and R Jiwanram Printery Inc., Infinity Imports and JAPARTS.
Action starts at 09:00h sharp with qualifications with admission set at $1000 for adults and $500 for children.