Pyeongchang 2018 Olympics: Dates, Event Schedule and Medal Predictions
The eyes of the sporting world will be on Pyeongchang this month, as the Winter Olympics grace South Korea.
It will officially be held from Friday until February 25, but qualification for two events will begin on Thursday. Pyeongchang beat Munich, Germany, and Annecy, France, to be awarded the status as host city.
Fans of these Winter Games will have four more events to savour in 2018, with freestyle skiing, mass-start speedskating, big air snowboarding and mixed doubles curling all included on the schedule. Overall, there will be 102 events to enjoy in 15 different sports.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
With so much going on, it can be tough to keep up with all the disciplines over the course of the Winter Olympics. Here is a rundown of the daily events:
Thursday, Feb. 8
Curling, ski jumping
Friday, Feb. 9
Opening ceremony, figure skating, freestyle skiing
Saturday, Feb. 10
Biathlon, cross-country skiing, short-track speedskating, speedskating, ski jumping
Sunday, Feb. 11
Alpine skiing, biathlon, cross-country skiing, freestyle skiing, luge, snowboard, speedskating
Monday, Feb. 12
Alpine skiing, biathlon, figure skating, ski jumping, snowboard, speedskating
Tuesday, Feb. 13
Alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, curling, short-track speedskating, snowboard, speedskating
Wednesday, Feb. 14
Alpine skiing, biathlon, Nordic combined, snowboard, speedskating
Thursday, Feb. 15
Alpine skiing, biathlon, cross-country skiing, figure skating, luge, skeleton, speedskating
Friday, Feb. 16
Cross-country skiing, freestyle skiing, snowboard, speed skating, skeleton
Saturday, Feb. 17
Alpine skiing, biathlon, cross-country skiing, figure skating, freestyle skiing, short-track speedskating, ski jumping, skeleton
Sunday, Feb. 18
Alpine skiing, biathlon, bobsleigh, cross-country skiing, freestyle skiing, speedskating
Monday, Feb. 19
Bobsleigh, ski jumping, speedskating
Tuesday, Feb. 20
Biathlon, figure skating, freestyle skiing, Nordic combined, short-track speedskating
Wednesday, Feb. 21
Alpine skiing, bobsleigh, cross-country skiing, freestyle skiing, speedskating
Thursday, Feb. 22
Alpine skiing, biathlon, freestyle skiing, ice hockey, Nordic combined, short-track speedskating
Friday, Feb. 23
Alpine skiing, biathlon, figure skating, freestyle skiing, snowboard, speedskating
Saturday, Feb. 24
Alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, curling, snowboard, speedskating
Sunday, Feb. 25
Bobsleigh, cross-country skiing, curling, ice hockey, closing ceremony
Preview
The pursuit of medals at these Winter Olympics will be made a little easier for competitors in Pyeongchang, as Russia—who topped the overall standings four years ago—are not involved in the event.
Athletes were banned from competing under the country's name in South Korea due to the violation of doping rules. They were stripped of 13 medals won in Sochi four years ago due to breaches of these rules, bumping them down to fourth in the table, but seven medals were returned on Thursday, moving them back into first place.
It means Germany are the favourites to finish with the most impressive haul of medals at the end of the Games. CNN Sport issued the predicted medal table courtesy of Gracenote:
Germany are expected to dominate the biathlon events, as they have a number of exceptional competitors going for gold.
As noted by David Wharton of the Los Angeles Times, the country is traditionally strong in the event, having won 11 medals at the 2006 Turin Olympics. The article added Germany "could challenge its own Olympic record by reaching the podium 10 times." There are 11 different golds up for grabs in the discipline.
Biathlete Laura Dahlmeier is one to watch, as she heads into these Games after a stunning 2017 in which she won five golds and one silver at the World Championships.
Another gold-medal hope for Germany will come in the form of Felix Loch in the luge, as he's long been the dominant force in the sport. Eurosport Italy reminded us of his exceptional performance to win in 2010, when he was just 20:
The United States are predicted to finish in fourth place in the above projected medal table and appear particularly strong in the Alpine skiing competition.
Mikaela Shiffrin has been exceptional in the buildup to the Olympics. She recently clinched her fifth World Cup race win in succession in Flachau, Austria.
Shiffrin's compatriot, Lindsey Vonn—another medal hopeful for the United States—was quick to congratulate her on Twitter:
Team USA are also said to be targeting three medals in the figure skating events after some dazzling performances at the United States Championships.
The biggest hope for gold on the ice is Nathan Chen, who has been imperious throughout the current season; no other men's singles competitor heads into the Games unbeaten this season. As we can see courtesy of ABC World News, he's on his way to fulfilling a dream:
As for the Great Britain team, they are forecast for what would be their best display at a Winter Olympics.
Per BBC Sport, UK Sport has set the travelling team a goal of five medals, having won four in 2014. There's reason to believe they can reach that mark, too. Elise Christie is a three-time speedskating world champion, while snowboarding star Katie Ormerod won gold in the big air event at the World Cup.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
