Cold weather expected for opening ceremony of Winter Games

 

Seoul (VNA) – The state weather agency of the Republic of Korea has said it expects wind chill below minus 10 degrees Celsius at the opening ceremony of the 2018 Winter Games scheduled for February 9 evening.

"Temperatures will range between minus 5 C and minus 2 C, which is on par or above what is normal for this time of year," Yonhap news agency quoted the Korea Meteorological Administration as saying on February 7. "Due to being on the edge of high pressure on the evening of Friday [February 9], there will be thick clouds across the region."

The event will be hosted in the alpine town of PyeongChang, 180km east of Seoul, on February 9. The agency said wind chill is expected to fall as low as minus 14 C in other mountainous areas in Gangwon Province.

Due to the rising concern over weather conditions, event organisers have installed wind shields at the pentagonal open-air PyeongChang Olympic Stadium to keep athletes and spectators warm. They have also prepared 18 heat shelters and 40 large heaters at the venue.

"Still, as wind chill will still be minus 10 C, visitors should brace themselves," Yoo hee-dong, an official from the weather agency said. "The organisers will also provide various supplies, but individuals should also make enough preparations."

The organisers said they will provide six heating items to visitors at the ceremonies: a rain coat, a small blanket, a winter cap, heating packs for hands and feet and a heating pad that visitors can sit on.

The weather agency added that temperatures will be normal throughout the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, as well as during the Winter Paralympics, set to follow in March. - VNA