9.02.2018
The Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 got underway today with a magnificent Opening Ceremony held at the PyeongChang Olympic Stadium in Pyeongchang, Republic of Korea.
Turkish athletes Hamza Dursun, Ömer Ayçiçek, Ayşenur Duman, Serdar Deniz, Özlem Çarıkçıoğlu, Alper Uçar and Alisa Agafonova walked alongside Turkish flagbearer Fatih Arda İpçioğlu during the flag ceremony at the Olympic Stadium.
The Turkish delegation watching the Opening Ceremony from the stands included Youth and Sports Minister Osman Aşkın Bak, Ambassador of Turkey to the Republic of Korea Ersin Erçin, Turkish Olympic Committee (TOC) President and IOC Vice-President Prof. Dr. Uğur Erdener, General Director of Sports Mehmet Baykan, Deputy General Director of Sports Ozan Veli Çakır and TOC Secretary General Neşe Gündoğan.
Approximately two hours into the Opening Ceremony, International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach and PyeongChang 2018 Organising Committee President and CEO LEE Hee-Beom made their opening speeches. Republic of Korea President Moon Jae-in was then welcomed onto the stage by the IOC President to officially declare the Games of the XXIII Winter Olympiad open as a blaze of fireworks launched into the night sky.
Peace was the core message of the Opening Ceremony which was best exemplified when Republic of Korea and North Korea walked under the same flag during the flag parade.
Turkey will be represented by eight athletes in four sports at PyeongChang 2018 which will end on 25 February.