Topic: Pyeongchang Winter Olympics
Background: On February 9, the 2018 Winter Olympics will begin in Pyeongchang, South Korea, exactly twenty years after Seoul’s 1988 Olympics. The Pyeongchang Olympics have drawn attention for security concerns over the North Korean nuclear and missile threat and the inter-Korean talks culminating in plans for the two Koreas to march under a unification flag and compete on a joint women’s ice hockey team.
Guiding Ideas:
– What are your thoughts on the unification flag and joint women’s ice hockey team? What is the significance of these events for inter-Korean relations?
– How do the 2018 and 1988 Olympics compare? How do they reflect South Korea’s role in the international system?
– What factors will contribute to a successful or unsuccessful Olympics for South Korea?
– What can sports diplomacy through the Olympics accomplish? What are its limitations?
The questions above are only suggestions; please feel free to take your own creative approach to the topic!
