No.78 Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics and Paralympics

The Winter Olympics this time saw approximately 2,900 athletes from a record 92 countries participating, with the opening ceremony on February 9 and the closing ceremony on the 25th, featuring 102 events across 7 sports.
I think this Olympics had two distinctive features.
The first point is that North Korea's participation was suddenly decided, and a joint team of South Korea and North Korea was formed for women's ice hockey for the first time in history. The Olympics and Paralympics are festivals of sports and culture, but in President Thomas Bach's statements, the reconciliation between South Korea and North Korea was repeatedly mentioned, giving the impression that this event had a very strong political color.
The second point is that Russia, which was accused of systematic doping violations, has been banned from participating as a country by the IOC (International Olympic Committee).
Only athletes whose innocence has been proven from Russia were allowed to participate in the capacity of OAR (Olympic Athletes from Russia) with individual qualifications. While a total of 17 medals were won, two athletes in curling and bobsleigh were banned due to doping violations.
The doping issue remains deeply rooted, and despite the efforts of the relevant organizations, it has not been resolved.
Japan has never had any violators in the Olympics until now, but this time, speed skater Saito Kei tested positive in a doping test and has received a provisional suspension. The final decision on the sanction will be made after the Olympics, but if a violation is confirmed, it will be the first case of a Japanese athlete in the Winter Olympics. Last September, there was an incident involving canoeist Suzuki Kohei, who added banned substances to a rival's drink, damaging the clean image of Japan. I hope the country will work together to restore trust.
Although there were such issues, the athletes' sincere attitude towards sports moved us.
The goal of the Japanese team, consisting of 124 athletes, was to win "more than 9 medals, including multiple golds." Their previous achievements were 10 medals at the Nagano Games and 8 medals at the Sochi Games, but this time they won a total of 13 medals: 4 golds, 5 silvers, and 4 bronzes, surpassing their goal and breaking previous records.
I believe that every athlete has an inspiring story when it comes to participating in the Olympics, but I was particularly moved by figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu, who made a miraculous comeback from an injury last November.

The upcoming Winter Paralympics will be held from March 9 to 18, with approximately 570 athletes from a record 48 countries and regions participating in 6 sports and 80 events.
Similar to the Olympics, Russia is banned from participating as a country in the Paralympics, and participation is allowed in the capacity of NPA (Neutral Paralympic Athlete).
The Japanese team had 38 participants in 5 events. They won 6 medals at the Sochi Games, but in this tournament, they achieved a total of 10 medals: 3 gold, 4 silver, and 3 bronze, setting a new record, the highest ever, just like the Olympics.
The participation of people with disabilities in society reflects the cultural level of a country. In that sense, Japan's 9th place in the world for the number of medals won in winter sports is a good achievement amidst fierce competition among advanced winter sports nations.
The Olympics and Paralympics will be held consecutively in East Asia, with the Tokyo Summer Games in 2020 and the Beijing Winter Games in 2022. This is advantageous for both athletes and television viewers in a time zone-free environment. Let's all cheer together and receive dreams and inspiration!