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 »Kremlin ‘very glad’ at lifting of ban on 28 Russian athletes
Moscow, Russia | AFP | Russia on Thursday welcomed a decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport to lift bans on 28 of its athletes accused of doping, and said that its efforts to defend its rights were paying off. “We are very glad for our athletes,” President Vladimir …
Read More »N. Korea prepares grand military parade on eve of Olympics: report
Seoul, South Korea | AFP | North Korea is preparing a lavish display of its military strength in a parade on the eve of next month’s Winter Olympics in the South, despite a rare sporting detente with Seoul, it was reported Thursday. Pyongyang, which has rattled the international community with …
Read More »Olympics; Winter Olympics gold medal schedule
Paris, France | AFP | Schedule of finals at the 2018 Winter Olympics at Pyeongchang, South Korea, from February 9-25: Saturday 10 1615 (0815 GMT): Cross country — Women’s 7.5 km + 7.5 km Skiathlon 1900: Short track speed-skating — Men’s 1500 m 2000: Speedskating — Women’s 3000 m 2015: …
Read More »US: Olympics may show North Korea what it’s missing
Washington, United States | AFP | Washington welcomed North Korea’s invitation to South Korea’s Winter Games on Tuesday, suggesting the outing could show Pyongyang what awaits if it agrees to give up nuclear weapons. The long-standing Korean rivals agreed that Pyongyang’s delegation could head south for next month’s Olympics a formal …
Read More »North Korea to attend Olympics in rival South
Seoul, South Korea | AFP | North Korea will send its athletes to the Winter Olympics in the South, the rivals said Tuesday after their first formal talks in more than two years following high tensions over Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons programme. The two sides also decided to hold military talks to …
Read More »Farah won’t rule out Olympic marathon bid
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Britain’s Mo Farah says he could compete in the marathon at the 2020 Olympics if he feels confident of winning a medal. Farah retired from the track in August to focus on road racing and has been coy about his Olympic future. Congratulations Sir …
Read More »Rio Olympic marathon champion fails drugs test – reports
Paris, France | AFP | Jemima Sumgong, the first Kenyan woman to win Olympic marathon gold when she triumphed at Rio in 2016, has failed an out-of-competition dope test, reports claimed Friday. The 32-year-old, who is also the reigning London Marathon champion, tested positive for the banned blood booster EPO …
Read More »YEAR 2016: Bolt, Phelps cap era of excellence
Los Angeles, United States | AFP | Usain Bolt and Michael Phelps towered over the 2016 Rio Games, capping an era of sustained excellence that promises to reverberate through the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and beyond. From Beijing in 2008 through London 2012 and, finally, in Rio, Bolt and Phelps captivated …
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