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Mail & Guardian

2018 Winter Olympics

latest news & developments
Akwasi Frimpong of Ghana practices during Men’s Skeleton training ahead of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at the Olympic Sliding Centre on February 7, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)
2018 WINTER OLYMPICS

How Chadwick Boseman inspired Africa’s first black skeleton racer

Inspired by Chadwick Boseman’s portrayal of King T’Challa in ‘Black Panther’, Akwasi Frimpong set out to make his look, and impact, rich, black and cross-cultural

  • Tolu Olasoji, The Continent
4 min read
Simidele Adeagbo became the first woman from the continent to compete in the Winter Olympic sport of skeleton racing.
2018 WINTER OLYMPICS

Africa’s first woman skeleton racer becomes a global inspiration

After four months of intensive training, Simidele Adeagbo became the first woman from Africa to compete in the Winter Olympics, ranking 20th overall

  • Gemma Ritchie
2 min read
US snowboarder Shaun White competing in the men’s half-pipe on February 14 at the Pyeongchang Winter Games
2018 WINTER OLYMPICS

White claims gold, slams ‘gossip’ as winds throw Games into chaos

The US snowboarding great may have won his third Olympic gold, but he still faced questions over sexual harassment claims laid against him

  • Talek Harris
3 min read
Gold medallist Chloe Kim of the U.S. celebrates while flanked by silver medallist Liu Jiayu of China and bronze medallist Arielle Gold of the U.S. during the flowers ceremony.
2018 WINTER OLYMPICS

American teen Kim melts hearts with tearful snowboarding gold

The 17-year-old, who has melted the hearts of home fans in Pyeongchang, justified her status as the hot favourite with an eye-popping top score

  • Alastair Himmer
3 min read
Kim Yo Jong claps next to Kim Yong Nam at the women’s preliminary ice-hockey match at the 2018 Winter Olympics
2018 WINTER OLYMPICS

Sister act: Kim Yo Jong visit dominates South Korea headlines

Educated in Switzerland like her brother, Kim Yo Jong has risen rapidly up the ranks since he inherited power from their father Kim Jong Il.

  • Agency
4 min read
2018 WINTER OLYMPICS

Angry snowboarders hit out at ‘dangerous’ Olympic final

None of the snowboarders suffered major injury, but the IOC and International Ski Federation faced questions as to why the final was not shelved.

  • Peter Stebbings
3 min read
Woolworths food and clothing retailer.
2018 WINTER OLYMPICS

Winter Olympics calling for Ghana’s skeleton ace

After failing to qualify as a sprinter, Ghana’s Akwasi Frimpong is set to become the second athlete from West Africa to compete in Pyeongchang

  • Alastair Himmer
3 min read
The Brisbane Action Plan is aimed at add more than $2-trillion to the global economy and create millions of jobs.
2012 LONDON OLYMPIC GAMES

‘Terrifying’ – Nigerian women fight fear to make Olympic bobsleigh history

Billed as "Cool Runnings" reloaded, the Nigerian women’s bobsled team admit they battle their demons every time they climb into the sled.

  • Alastair Himmer
4 min read
SMS X-ray: Through pain and discomfort
2018 WINTER OLYMPICS

Olympic torch arrives in Seoul ahead of 2018 PyeongChang Winter Games

The Olympics torch arrived in Seoul on Saturday for a four-day relay throughout the capital city

  • Staff Reporter
5 min read
Game on: Organisers of the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea are upbeat despite tensions elsewhere
2018 WINTER OLYMPICS

North Korea to attend Olympics in rival South

Seoul was keen to proclaim the Games in Pyeongchang, just 80 kilometres south of the DMZ, a "peace Olympics" but it needed Pyongyang to attend

  • Hwang Sunghee
4 min read
Pressure: Publishers have thrown the book at the government for the three months it has given them to produce textbooks
2018 WINTER OLYMPICS

South Korea proposes high-level talks with the North

In his speech Monday, Kim said the Olympics could provide a reason for officials from the neighbours "to meet in the near future".

  • Agence France Presse
3 min read
2018 WINTER OLYMPICS

Kim Jong-Un: North Korea could participate in the South’s Winter Olympics

Seoul and organisers have billed the Winter Games which begin on February 9 as a "peace Olympics" and have been keen for the North to take part.

  • Agence France Presse
3 min read
Inspired by tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams
2018 WINTER OLYMPICS

Nigerian athlete slides into history

From the sand to the ice, Africa’s first woman skeleton racer gears up for the Winter Olympics

  • Sarah Smit
  • Gemma Ritchie
5 min read
2018 WINTER OLYMPICS

Let’s share the 2018 Olympics, says North Korea

A senior North Korean sports official has been quoted saying North Korea would like to share some events in the 2018 Winter Olympics with South Korea.

  • Staff Reporter
2 min read
2018 WINTER OLYMPICS

Small nations can host the Olympics too

Developing countries across the world have been urged to take heart from Pyeongchang’s winning bid to be the host of the 2018 Winter Olympics.

  • Staff Reporter
2 min read