Ice-cold facts


The XXIII Winter Olympic Games are taking place in South Korea in february. Most people don’t necessarily associate South Korea with snowy mountains and ski resorts, but wrongly so, as our quiz of cold and curious trivia related to the international event reveals


1. One of the following was an Olympic discipline at the last games, but it isn’t on the program in South Korea. Which one?
a) Snowboard parallel slalom
b) Ice dancing
c) Snowfing (snow surfing)
d) Ice sailing

2. Athletes will be competing for medals in 102 events. The last pure gold medal was awarded in 1912. What is the top prize primarily made of today?
a) Silver
b) Gold
c) Bronze
d) Copper

3. Mountain lodges in Korea don’t serve kaiser­schmarrn, the Austrian pancake specialty that’s so popular in the Alps. What’s traditional in Korea?
a) Kimchi soup
b) Fried chicken
c) Noodle soup
d) Steamed rice balls

4. The name of the venue was changed to make it easier to distinguish from the North Korean capital. How is it spelled today?
a) Peongyang
b) Pyongchang
c) Pyeongchang
d) Peonchang

5. The Winter Olympics’s mascot is a tiger. What’s the mascot of the subsequent Winter Paralympics?
a) A panther
b) A panda
c) A moon bear
d) A lynx

6. The Koreans have never yet won a medal for their prowess on skis. Which winter discipline are they best at?
a) short track
b) skeleton
c) figure skating
d) luge

7. What is the key ingredient of soju, the après-ski liquor Koreans drink to keep themselves warm?
a) Gingko
b) Rice
c) Potatoes
c) Barley

8. Seventy percent of South Korea is covered in mountains. How high is the tallest peak on the mainland?
a) 1915 meters
b) 4050 meters
c) 1765 meters
d) 2300 meters

9. In promotional videos for the Winter Games, the magician Yu Ho-Jin performed some crazy athletic tricks. But which of the following was not one of them?
a) Soaring above Seoul on a snowboard
b) Skating across water
c) Gliding down a skyscraper on skis
d) Skiing backwards up the ski-jumping ramp

10. After a day on the slopes, Koreans like to unwind in the sauna at a public spa called a jjimjilbang. Which of the following is true?
a) Men and women sweat separately?
b) Visitors have to wear loose-fitting shirts and pants
c) Many visitors wear saltwater-­and-algae facemasks
d) There’s live entertainment in the form of poetry and karaoke

11. In 1975, Yongpyong became the first ski resort to open in Korea. It is also the country’s largest and has 28 ski runs, all with striking names. Which one is made up?
a) Rainbow Paradise
b) Mega Green
c) Unicorn Pink
d) Gold Fantastic

12. Relay runners carried the Olympic torch 2018 kilometers across the country. The Haenyeo, who dive for shellfish off the coast of Jeju, also carried it part of the way. Which of the following statements is true?
a) The Haenyeo can remain underwater for three minutes without breathing apparatus
b) They dive to depths of up to 25 meters
c) The women learn their trade at Jeju College
d) They only wear cotton suits for diving