2018 PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games

Sign Language Service at Paralympics Enhancing Experience for Athletes and Fans: Anchor: The Paralympics in PyeongChang are in full swing. A sign language service to assist the hearing impaired is making a world of difference to athletes and fans alike who all want to enjoy the games to the fullest. Our Park Jong-hong has this report. Report: More than a dozen sign language volunteers are roaming the Paralympic venues offering much-needed services to the hearing impaired. As a sign language volunteer Lee Ki-sang says, for the hard of hearing, it can be tough to navigate through the vast sports complex. [Sound bite: Lee Ki-sang - Volunteer (Korean)] "The Paralympics are not just Olympics for the disabled and the Olympics are not just for the non-disabled. Things like interpretation services and wheelchair accessible buses must also be provided during the Olympics, so that the disabled can also enjoy the event." Having lived near a school for the deaf when he was growing up, Lee said he is proud that the Paralympics are being held in Korea. He said he had always dreamed of providing substantial help for the hearing impaired with the skills he has acquired. Many visitors couldn’t be more grateful and say sign language interpreters are helping them better enjoy the Paralympics. [Sound bite: Yoon Young-soo - Visitor (sign language)] "Without an interpreter, it would be difficult to understand what is happening. However, with an interpreter, the message is relayed and I can enjoy the Paralympics better." The host province of Gangwon is operating a call center for deaf and hard-of-hearing visitors to PyeongChang at 010-4418-8745 where sign-language video conversation services are provided. In Korea, the Korean Sign Language law went into effect in August 2016. Among a number of stipulations, it mandates that a Korean sign language service be provided during live broadcasts. Although there is more to be done to accommodate the needs of the physically challenged, many agree the country has come a long way and constant efforts by authorities are making a huge difference to many lives. Park Jong-hong, KBS World Radio News.; 2018-03-14
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Moon Calls for More Public Attention on PyeongChang Paralympics: President Moon Jae-in has called for more public attention on the ongoing PyeongChang Winter Paralympics. In a meeting with his secretaries at the top office on Monday, Moon hoped that the PyeongChang Paralympics will serve as another opportunity to significantly enhance South Koreans’ perceptions of the disabled, just as the Seoul Paralympics did 30 years ago. The president said the PyeongChang Winter Olympics will be declared a genuine success only when the PyeongChang Paralympics succeed, adding a successful Paralympics will help create a beautiful world where people with and without disabilities live harmoniously. Quoting South Korean cross-country skier Sin Eui-hyun, Moon also directed his officials to review whether it is possible to increase local media coverage of the Paralympics. After winning the country’s first medal at the PyeongChang Paralympics during the untelevised men’s 15-kilometer sitting cross-country skiing event on Sunday, the bronze medalist said he wants to see more sporting events at the Paralympics broadcast.; 2018-03-12
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Athletes from Two Koreas Carry Torch Together at Paralympics: Athletes from South and North Korea carried the torch together Friday at the opening ceremony of the PyeongChang Paralympic Winter Games in a display of harmony. Para skiers Choi Bo-gue from South Korea and Ma Yu-chol from North Korea entered the Olympic Stadium carrying the flame together. The two Koreas did not march together due to differences over the image of the Unified Korean flag. As reported previously, the South followed the International Paralympic Committee’s recommendation not to politicize sporting events, while the North insisted the flag depict the Korean Dokdo Islets in the East Sea that Japan claims as its own territory. The two Koreas marched under a Unified Korean flag that did not depict the islets at the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics last month.; 2018-03-10
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Curtain Rises on 2018 PyeongChang Paralympic Games: The PyeongChang Paralympic Winter Games have kicked off a ten-day run in South Korea with a grand opening ceremony. The event got under way at 8 p.m. on Friday at the PyeongChang Olympic Stadium in the county in eastern Gangwon Province. Bringing together 570 athletes from 49 countries, including North Korea, it is the biggest Paralympics to date. A total of 80 gold medals are up for grabs, which is eight more than the Sochi Games in 2014. They will be sought after in six sporting categories: alpine skiing, snowboarding, biathlon, cross-country skiing, para ice hockey and wheelchair curling. North Korea has sent a 24-member delegation, including two athletes to compete at the Games, para Nordic skiers Ma Yu-chol and Kim Jong-hyon. This is also the first time the communist regime has sent its athletes to a Paralympics. Because of a state-sponsored doping scandal, Russia will participate in the Games under the banner of Neutral Paralympic Athletes. The two Koreas did not march together during the opening ceremony as was expected due to their different stances on the image of Dokdo being included on the unified Korean flag. The South followed the International Paralympic Committee’s recommendation not to politicize sporting events, while the North insisted the flag show the Korean islets in the East Sea that Japan claims as its own territory. As the host country, South Korea is also fielding its largest Paralympic delegation at PyeongChang, with 83 representatives, including 36 athletes. Team Korea is aiming for a top ten finish with the target of one gold, one silver and two bronze medals.; 2018-03-09
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Moon: Peace on Korean Peninsula Becoming Reality: President Moon Jae-in says the dream of denuclearization and peace on the Korean Peninsula is coming true. Moon made the remark during talks with foreign dignitaries visiting South Korea for the opening ceremony of the PyeongChang Winter Paralympics in Gangwon Province on Friday evening. Referring to recent agreements to hold an inter-Korean summit late next month and a Pyongyang-Washington summit in May, Moon said the small symbol of peace created through the joint Korean women’s ice hockey team for the PyeongChang Olympics has been snowballing. Moon also praised the success of the PyeongChang Olympics as an Olympics of peace, saying it has become a great present for South Korea. He said he believes the South Korean Olympics and Paralympics, as well as the country’s efforts, will help create “new world peace.”; 2018-03-09
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Paralympics Set to Start on Friday for 10-day Run: Anchor: Sports fever is expected to be rekindled with the PyeongChang Paralympic Winter Games set to kick off on Friday. With 670 athletes from 49 countries competing, it will be the biggest Winter Paralympic event ever. Our Park Jong-hong has the details. Report: The spirit of the games will be reignited in Pyeongchang at the 2018 Paralympic Games. The global sports event will kick off for ten days from Friday with the opening ceremony set for 8 p.m. The games will be the largest ever with 670 athletes from 49 countries, including North Korea, taking part. A total of 80 gold medals are up for grabs in six sporting categories: Alpine skiing, snowboarding, biathlon, cross country skiing, para ice hockey and wheelchair curling. South Korea is fielding a total of 36 athletes. Keeping with the punitive measures against Russia for its systemic doping scandal, Russian athletes will enter the games under the flag of the International Paralympic Committee and be designated as Neutral Paralympic Athletes. Team Korea aims to win one gold, one silver and two bronze medals to finish tenth in the overall medal standings. The elaborate opening ceremony aims to shed light on the athletes’ passion to perform beyond their limitations, and to use this passion as an inspiration to achieve unity and harmony around the world. Park Jong-hong, KBS World Radio News.; 2018-03-09
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No Joint Korean March at Paralympics due to Flag Dispute: The two Koreas will not march together at the opening ceremony of the PyeongChang Winter Paralympics set for Friday. The South's Korean Paralympic Committee(KPC) said Thursday that the two Koreas decided not march together at the opening ceremony. South and North Korea previously agreed to have a joint parade carrying a unified flag, which shows image of the Korean Peninsula in blue, as they did at the opening ceremony of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics. However, in a related meeting on Thursday, North Korea insisted that the unified flag should show Dokdo, the eastern islets of South Korea that Japan claims as its own territory. The North said that not showing the islets in the flag hurts the pride of Koreans. South Korea took the position that it wants to use the flag without Dokdo in accordance of with the International Paralympic Committee’s(IPC) recommendation not to politicize sporting events.; 2018-03-09
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Paralympics Set to Start on Friday for 10-day Run: Anchor: Sports fever is expected to be rekindled with the PyeongChang Paralympic Winter Games set to kick off on Friday. With 570 athletes from 49 countries competing, it will be the biggest Paralympic event ever. Our Park Jong-hong has the details. Report: The spirit of the games will be reignited in Pyeongchang at the 2018 Paralympic Games. The global sports event will kick off for ten days from Friday with the opening ceremony set for 8 p.m. The games will be the largest ever with 570 athletes from 49 countries, including North Korea, taking part. A total of 80 gold medals are up for grabs in six sporting categories: Alpine skiing, snowboarding, biathlon, cross country skiing, para ice hockey and wheelchair curling. For the first time in Paralympic history, two North Korean athletes will compete, and just like at the Winter Olympics, the athletes from both Koreas will march into the PyeongChang Olympic Stadium under the flag of a united Korean Peninsula. South Korea is fielding a total of 36 athletes. Keeping with the punitive measures against Russia for its systemic doping scandal, Russian athletes will enter the games under the flag of the International Paralympic Committee and be designated as Neutral Paralympic Athletes. Team Korea aims to win one gold, one silver and two bronze medals to finish tenth in the overall medal standings. The elaborate opening ceremony aims to shed light on the athletes’ passion to perform beyond their limitations, and to use this passion as an inspiration to achieve unity and harmony around the world. Park Jong-hong, KBS World Radio News.; 2018-03-07
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N. Korean Paralympic Delegation Arrives in South: North Korean athletes and officials participating in the PyeongChang Paralympic Winter Games arrived in South Korea on Wednesday morning via the overland Gyeongui Line. The 24 delegates, including six athletes, left for Pyeongchang shortly after crossing the border. Para Nordic skiers Ma Yu-chol and Kim Jong-hyon will compete in cross country events. The four other athletes are observers. It is the first time for the North to participate in the Winter Paralympics. The athletes and officials will return home next Thursday. The PyeongChang Paralympic Games will begin on Friday for a ten-day run.; 2018-03-07
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2018 PyeongChang Paralympic Winter Games: The 2018 PyeongChang Paralympic Winter Games will kick off for ten days from Friday with the opening ceremony set for 8 p.m.; 2018-03-07
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