(Olympics) S. Korean athletes, officials celebrate Lunar New Year at modest event in Beijing

▲ Yoon Hong-geun (C, kneeling), head of the South Korean athletic delegation to the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics participates in a traditional celebration of the Lunar New Year's Day at the athletes' village in Beijing on Feb. 1, 2022, in this photo provided by the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

▲ This photo provided by the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee shows the table setup for the celebration of the Lunar New Year's Day on Feb. 1, 2022, for the South Korean delegation to the Beijing Winter Olympics. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

▲ Participants of the Lunar New Year's Day celebration for the South Korean delegation to the Beijing Winter Olympics pose at the athletes' village in Beijing, in this photo provided by the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee. From left: short track speed skater Kim A-lang, short track speed skater Kwak Yoon-gy, chief delegate Yoon Hong-geun, short track speed skating coach Lee Young-seok, and deputy chief delegate You In-tak. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

(Olympics) athletes-Lunar New Year

(Olympics) S. Korean athletes, officials celebrate Lunar New Year at modest event in Beijing

By Yoo Jee-ho

BEIJING, Feb. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korean athletes and officials in Beijing for the upcoming Winter Games celebrated the Lunar New Year on Tuesday in an understated event at their Olympic village.

Though Jan. 1 on the Lunar Calendar is one of South Korea's biggest holidays, the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC) only organized a small celebration at the athletes' living quarters, mindful of the risks of the coronavirus and athletes' preparation for the quadrennial competition.

The KSOC said short track speed skaters Kwak Yoon-gy and Kim A-lang were the only two athletes on hand, joined by Yoon Hong-geun, head of the athletic delegation, You In-tak, deputy head of the delegation, and Lee Young-seok, the women's short track coach. Kwak and Kim will also be the flag bearers at the opening ceremony on Friday.

Training sessions and preliminary action are scheduled in the days leading up to it. The competition will close on Feb. 20.

South Korea sent 64 athletes and 61 officials to Beijing.

They have all been placed into a bubble, formally called "closed loop," as part of countermeasures to combat the spread of COVID-19.

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