The Winter Olympics in South Korea are quickly approaching and the safety and security of U.S. athletes has brought up the question of whether Team USA might not be in attendance. The fear for the safety of Americans and our athletes at the South Korean Games comes after a number of missile tests have been launched in recent months.
Pyeongchang, the South Korean town where the games are being held, is 50 miles from the demilitarized zone. This is the heavily-armed border that has divided North and South Korea since their 1950-1953 conflict ended in a truce. This means that the country is still technically at war.
South Korea has pointed out that despite recent events in North Korea they have always put on trouble-free international sports events, including the 1988 Seoul Olympics and the 2002 World Cup. They assured the U.S. that this would be the “safest in Olympic history.”
If Team USA athletes are not at the 2018 Winter Olympic Games, this would be the second major country to not be in attendance to this event. Russia will be the other country not in attendance after the International Olympic Committee banned the country after they were found guilty of state-sponsored doping.
President Donald Trump and his administration are still working on trying to find the best way to keep US citizens and athletes are protected during the international event taking place next month.
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