Moscow, Russia | AFP | The International Olympic Committee has lifted a ban against Russia, Moscow officials said on Wednesday, after the country had been barred from the Pyeongchang games over state-sponsored doping. The news, confirmed later by the IOC, was announced as Olympic athletes were feted in the Kremlin, thanking …
Read More »World Cup in mind, Brazil obsesses over Neymar’s injury
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | AFP | In Brazil, the land where football is king, Neymar’s foot injury has unleashed sharp emotions and concern, rumors and speculation about the star player upon whom so many hopes rest for World Cup victory in Russia. “We just might have lost the World Cup …
Read More »Russia hacked Olympics computers, turned blame on N Korea: report
Washington, United States | AFP | Russian military spies hacked hundreds of computers used by Winter Olympics organizers and tried to make it look like the work of North Korea, the Washington Post reported Sunday, quoting US intelligence sources. South Korea had previously announced that it was investigating the failure of …
Read More »North Korea’s Kim lauds South’s hospitality
Seoul, South Korea | AFP | North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has praised the welcome the South gave his sister and said it was important to build on the Olympics-driven momentum for dialogue on the divided peninsula. Kim’s younger sister Kim Yo Jong — one of his closest confidantes — …
Read More »Kim Jong Un invites S. Korea’s Moon to Pyongyang
Gangneung, South Korea | AFP | North Korean leader Kim Jong Un invited the South’s President Moon Jae-in for a summit in Pyongyang Saturday, Seoul said, even as the US warned against falling for Pyongyang’s Olympic charm offensive. The invitation, delivered by Kim’s visiting sister Kim Yo Jong, said Kim …
Read More »Norway’s Olympians shell-shocked as they’re sent 15,000 eggs
Pyeongchang, South Korea | AFP | You had one job! Norwegian chefs hoping to buy 1,500 eggs to feed hungry Olympic athletes have had their dinner plans scrambled after a mix-up with a grocery order. Norway’s army of nutritional experts were left shell-shocked in Pyeongchang when a lorry delivered 15,000 …
Read More »S. Korea dog meat restaurants refuse to stop serving for Olympics
Seoul, South Korea | AFP | Almost all the dog meat restaurants in South Korea’s Pyeongchang county, where the Winter Olympics opening ceremony will be held on Friday, have defied a government request to stop serving the food, an official admitted Thursday. South Koreans are believed to consume about one million …
Read More »Pope praises Korean Olympic rapprochement
Vatican City, Holy See | AFP | Pope Francis on Wednesday praised as a gesture for a “better world” plans for a joint parade Friday by delegations from South and North Korea to open the Winter Olympics. “The traditional Olympic truce this year takes on special importance,” the pontiff said …
Read More »Near-flawless CHAN boosts Morocco World Cup bid
Casablanca, Morocco | AFP | Morocco were near-flawless hosts of the 2018 African Nations Championship (CHAN), which ended at the weekend, confirming they are creditable candidates to stage the 2026 World Cup. FIFA member nations will this June select the kingdom or a Canada/Mexico/United States alliance to host the global …
Read More »Sex abuse trauma centres set up for Olympic athletes
Pyeongchang, South Korea | AFP | As American sport reels from a horrifying sexual abuse scandal, athletes competing in this month’s Pyeongchang Olympics will have access to trauma units for the first time in Games history. The Winter Olympics open in South Korea on Friday after long-time USA Gymnastics team doctor …
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