By: Elliott O'Malley 

The 2018 Winter Olympic Games are only a few months away. The skillful athletes, competitive countries, and host nation are all anxious for the upcoming event. This could be said of any Olympic year; however, there is special cause this year to be particularly nervous about the games. This is because the 2018 Olympics will be held in  PyeongChang, South Korea. PyeongChang is just 50 miles from the demilitarized zone, the only thing which separates the peaceful South from the highly aggressive and unstable North Korea.

The Olympics are an opportunity for the world to come together in the spirit of peaceful competition.  For centuries the Games have brought nations together, often in times where the world is a tense and dark place. Although most nations put politics aside during the Games, some fear North Korea will not be so civilized. North Korea has been a unstable and unpredictable country for decades. “You’ve got to know that [Olympic officials] are nervous,” said Mark Dyreson, a sports historian at Penn State. “They’re in a tough situation.” With multiple nuclear and ballistic missile tests in recent months it would appear that North Korea does not have peace on its. Olympic organisers in PyeongChang admit that far fewer spots had been reserved and sold than previously implied, and concerns growing over North Korea’s nuclear antics. North Korean Dictator Kim Jong-Un has also recently traded words and treats with U.S. President Donald Trump, bringing tessions to an all time high.

Despite North Korea's close proximity to the games, there involvement may be limited. No athletes from North Korea have qualified for the games in PyeongChang. There have been talks of a unified team that would bring together both North and South Korea. This could be a great way to ease some tension and help to bring a more positive feeling to a uneasy situation.

 

Wharton, David. “U.S.-North Korean Rhetoric Battle May Be Making Olympic Officials

Nervous about Winter Games in South Korea.” Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2017, www.latimes.com/sports/olympics/la-sp-olympics-korea-20170814-story.html.