Meanwhile in Pyeongchang

Hey the Winter Olympics are on!  That sporting event that seems to have been designed so that countries who wouldn't stand a chance in the Summer games might have an opportunity to win a medal or two.  They're being held in Pyeongchang, South Korea (or, Artillery Target #2 as it's known north of the DMZ) and representatives from every country that has even heard of snow (or kimchi) have been flocking to the location for a couple of weeks of gruelling competition as the skills, training and chemistry talents of the world's best are put through their paces.

At least I assume that's what happens.  To be honest I'm just taking everything I know about the regular Olympics and adding a sprinkling of snow.  The Winter Olympics, it must be admitted, do not bulk large in my consciousness.  I have the vague impression that skis and ice skates must be involved if only to get the competitors to their accommodation.  Apart from that you could tell me that snowman making was a competitive sport and I'd probably believe you.

But seriously, wouldn't competitive snowman making be amazing?  There could be marks awarded for size, realism and the propensity of the entry to star in heart warming children's Christmas specials.  North Korea would probably win.

But as if Winter sports weren't enough for the long suffering people of Pyeongchang they have also been inflicted with the 2018 Cultural Olympiad.  The cultural Olympiad seems to be an attempt by those who aren't particularly sporty to share some of the limelight that is associated with Olympic games.  Note that they have a Cultural Olympiad, because a mere "Olympic games" is way to plebeian and redolent of shed sweat to be appealing to the more cerebral amongst us.

More cerebral incidentally would be their definition rather than mine.  Among the "events" are a winter music festival, a DMZ peace art festival,  a trout festival (that one's a bit odd) and something called Jazz on the Coffee which I really hope lost something in translation.  Oh, there's also a recreation of a royal funeral.  According to the website they are re-enacting the funeral of some dead monarch as an expression of the wish for a successful Cultural Olympic Games and creation of Olympic Cultural Heritage.  If the sort of people who take part in a Cultural Olympiad wonder why people refuse to take them seriously, this is a pretty good explanation.  It's also an indication that it isn't only the athletes who should be drug tested.

Eventually of course the winter sportspeople and winter cultural thingies will pack up their bags and return home (weather permitting) and Pyeongchang will be left in peace.  Apparently there's a rather decent ski resort you can visit when the place isn't being overrun by skiers.