The Yellow Peril?: Asia's Impact on the Winter Olympics

Wednesday, March 03 2010

When the score was announced for Kim Yu-Na, South Korea's darling figure skater, it signaled more than just her ascension to the top of the figure skating world.

The performance by Asian countries, and namely Northeast Asian countries (China, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Mongolia and Taiwan), in the 2010 Winter Olympics was the best medal haul for the region at the Winter Games. 

But this performance is not an anomaly; it is simply part of the maturation of the winter sports programs of the Asian states and a process that began to show results 18 years ago.

The Winter Olympics have long been dominated by European states.  Make no mistake here that those countries, as well as the United States and Canada, continue to dominate the sports of the Winter Olympics.

But Asia is beginning to serve as staunch challengers to their counterparts from the West.  These countries have come a long way.

The first Winter Olympics were held in Chamonix,...
(Full Story)

Send to a friend

Leave a Comment

Recent Links in Headline Sports News