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 9 February evening.

Illustrative image (Source: Internet)

"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 7 February. "Due to being on the edge of high pressure on the evening of Friday [9 February], there will be thick clouds across the region."

The event will be hosted in the alpine town of PyeongChang, 180km east of Seoul, on 9 February. 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.

The 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics officially kicked off on February 8 with the competition of mixed doubles curling although the opening ceremony is still a day away, according to Yonhap news agency.

The round robin session in mixed doubles curling is the first official event of these Olympic Games. Eight nations, including host Republic of Korea, is in action at Gangneung Curling Centre in Gangneung, the host of all ice events located just east of PyeongChang.

Duo of Jang Hye-ji and Lee Ki-jeong from the RoK are set to have two matches on 8 February, one with Finland in the morning and the other with China in the evening.

Korean mixed doubles curling team of Jang Hye-ji (front) and Lee Ki-jeong practices at Gangneung Curling Centre in Gangneung, Gangwon province, on 7 Feb., 2018.(Photo: Yonhap News)

In ski jumping, the qualification round for the men's individual normal hill event will start at 9:30 p.m. at Alpensia Ski Jumping Centre in PyeongChang.

Kim Hyun-ki and Choi Seo-u will represent the RoK. They'll be making their sixth Winter Olympics appearance, tied for most among athletes of the RoK.

The top 50 will reach the first round scheduled for 10 February.

(Source: VNA)