Pyeongchang 2018, Week One: Welcome to the Real World

The first week of competition for the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea began with an Opening Ceremony that included (A) North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un's sister and Vice President Mike Pence sitting in close proximity, with neither acknowledging the other, (B) an appearance by a shirtless, oiled-up Tongan dude in the Parade of Nations, and (C) the presence of NBC's Asian expert Joshau Cooper Ramo on their telecast, whose declaration that Japan had a lot to do with the transformation of South Korea as a nation (while neglecting to mention that they were under Japanese occupation from 1910 to 1945, and that many of their women were used as sex slaves) got him fired.  And with that, let the Games begin.

As of February 19, the top three medaling countries are:

• Norway with 28 (11 golds, nine silvers, eight bronzes)
• Germany with 20 (10 golds, six silvers, four bronzes)
• Canada with 17 (six golds, five silvers, six bronzes)

The United States has 10 medals (five golds, three silvers, two bronzes), which puts them in a tie for sixth place with Australia, France and Japan.

Most of those American golds have come from snowboarding (Jamie Anderson, Chloe Kim and Red Gerrard), which is the Olympics' attempt to get millenials interested in the Games.  In a more traditional sport, Mikaela Shiffrin won the women's Giant Slalom.

Shaun White also won gold in the snowboarding category for the third time in as many Olympics.  Unfortunately for him, the MeToo movement managed to overshadow his accomplishment as he got hit with questions about a sexual harassment settlement with a former female rock band member of his, claiming it was all "gossip".  White used the following day's appearance on the post-Matt Lauer "Today" show to apologize for using the word "gossip".  Crash and burn.

Skiier Lindsay Vonn (she once dated Tiger Woods, in case you didn't know) botched a gate during her run for gold in the women's Super G.  Then she heard from the thousands of not-so-well-wishers who'd rather see her break a leg than bring home a medal.  All this is because Vonn joined the list of athletes who have vowed not to be in the same room with President Donald Trump when it comes time to visit the White House.

And, oh yes, the International Olympic Committee's ban on doping Russian athletes, which has resulted in the country's official removal from these Games, and has forced its remaining (clean) athletes to compete under a different name and flag--well, how's that working out?  A curler just had his bronze medal in mixed doubles taken away for alleged doping violations.

One more week of all this.  What's going to happen next?