Here we go! The 23rd Winter Olympic Games opened this Friday, February 9th, in Pyeongchang (South Korea). Ninety-two countries are participating in the event, and nearly 2,900 athletes paraded in the magnificent setting of the Olympic stadium.
The parade of athletes from the two Koreas, united under a single flag, was the first symbol, materializing the spectacular rapprochement between the “enemy brothers” on the occasion of these “Games of Peace.”
The other powerful image of these Games occurred at the very end of the ceremony, when two athletes, one South Korean and the other North Korean, carried the Olympic flame together hand in hand. Another beautiful symbol for these Games of Peace.
New medal record? Led by its flag bearer Martin Fourcade, the French delegation consists of about a hundred representatives, compared to 114 at the previous Winter Games in Sochi. In 2014, France collected 15 medals, including 4 gold, its best record in the history of the Winter Games.
The French prospects. France will rely on biathlon and its world number one Martin Fourcade, who captured two titles in Sochi. He will attempt to win at least one gold medal to match Jean-Claude Killy, currently the most decorated French athlete in the Winter Games. Giant slalom world champion Tessa Worley is another great French hope, as are skaters Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron.
