What are the biggest olympic events? It depends on where you're from

Here is how some other countries are seeing the games.

South Korea

In the host country, it’s all about short-track speedskating, especially for women. Shim Suk-hee and Choi Min-jeong are going to contend in just about every event.

More generally, said Lee Sung-han of the Yonhap News Agency, the country has shown a “concentration on ice-related sports, not as much on snow events.”

Skeleton was not too popular five to 10 years ago, but thanks to the gold medal hopes of Yun Sung-bin, it is attracting attention this time around.

But a medal is not mandatory for interest. The women’s ice hockey team, which will include a few players from North Korea, will be a hot topic, regardless of its results, Lee said.

Germany

In Germany, popular sports include a number barely registering in the United States.

Biathlon, which Nicolas Reimer of Sport-Informations-Dienst called “the Formula One of the winter,” was always popular, but it grew even bigger with the success of Laura Dahlmeier, who won five gold medals at the 2017 world championships.

Reimer also ticks off “Luge, the women for sure. Ski jumping will be big.” But he worries about Nordic combined. Germans “won everything last season. This season they are a little bit weak.”

Still, the country will be watching.

Sweden

Cross-country skiing will be the most popular sport, “no doubt,” said Karl Forssell of Expressen Sweden. “Charlotte Kalla is the most popular athlete by a big margin.”

Kalla has parlayed cross-country fame into endorsement deals for electric toothbrushes and vegetarian meat substitutes.

Ice hockey is huge in Sweden, and after it was announced that NHL players would not participate this year, “there was less interest,” he said. “But when the tournament is on ... it’s Sweden. If they can get into the semifinals, people will watch.”

Japan

The country’s biggest star, and one of the world’s biggest, is defending men’s figure skating champion Yuzuru Hanyu.

But it’s not just Hanyu. Figure skating is “far more popular than the other sports,” said Daisuke Hasegawa of Kyodo News. “The are enthusiastic fans who go around the world for figure skating events. So many Japanese fans will be here for Hanyu.”

Only baseball and soccer can rival figure skating’s popularity, Hasegawa said.

Britain

As in the United States, interest in winter sports skyrockets in Britain every four years. One sport in particular. “Every time the games come on, curling goes bonkers,” said Ed Langford of Team GB. “It’s a national obsession for a fortnight.”

Short-track speedskating has also drawn a following “because of one athlete,” Elise Christie, who could win a medal.

The freestyle skiers and snowboarders in big air and slopestyle events could also become national darlings.

Canada

Canada has the second-biggest delegation to these games and a strong team in a number of sports. Among the biggest stars, said Photi Sotiropoulos, the team’s press secretary, will be ice dancers Scott Moir and Tessa Virtue — “The nicest people you’ll ever meet” — and freestyle skier Mikael Kingsbury. But as you might expect, hockey is still the king. Even without NHL players, interest will be very high in both the men’s and women’s events, Sotiropolous said.

Australia

Australians will be looking to the newer events for their stars this year, especially the freestyle skiing and snowboard events, said Geoff Lipshut, the deputy chief of mission.

Among them is snowboarder Scotty James, who carried the nation’s flag in the opening ceremony.

Pairs skater Harley Windsor is likely to attract a lot of attention, too. He is the first aboriginal Australian to compete at a Winter Games.

And every four years, there is interest in short-track speedskating, Lipshut said. That’s largely because of the story of Steven Bradbury, who took gold at the Salt Lake City Games in 2002 when everyone else fell down. The memory is so sharp in Australia that people still tune in, perhaps hoping for a repeat.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.

What are the biggest olympic events? It depends on where you're from

But there are places where skating raises a yawn, and fans thrill to the anticipation of the Nordic combined or skeleton competitions.

Enhance Your Pulse News Experience!

JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!

Recommended articles

How to save a life by doing CPR during an emergency

3 reasons most airplanes are painted white

How 1 woman became first lady of 2 different countries — she married 2 presidents

Kuami Eugene shares post-accident recovery photos, expresses gratitude to supporters

'Biggest' Fella Makafui treats herself to a GH¢100k+ Santos de Cartier Watch

Here are 5 things you need to know about applying deodorant between your thighs

BoG appoints Dr. Joseph O. France as monitoring advisor for UMB recapitalisation efforts

Government halts implementation of price stabilization and recovery levy on petroleum products

Teaching Music and Dance in schools: How it is becoming a neglected subject