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Winter Olympics Underway; President Moon Shakes Hands With Kim Jong-un's Sister; Fireworks At Olympics Opening Ceremony; Will Winter Olympics Impact Korean Diplomacy; Unified Korea Hockey Team Bonding Ahead Of Games. Aired at 8-9a ET
Aired February 09, 2018 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[08:00:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through a translator): Bringing the Olympics to Pyeongchang is a historic achievement.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A high-ranking delegation from Pyongyang including Kim Jong-un's sister just arrived here in Pyeongchang.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think it's great there. You know, the North Koreans are going to be able participate in these.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Russian athletes and two coaches lost their last-minute bid to take part of the games.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have seen some fairly furious reactions already coming from Russia.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is set to be the coldest Winter Olympics in decades.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome a special edition of News Stream for the opening ceremonies of the 2018 Winter Olympic Games. I'm Kristie Lu
Stout in Hong Kong.
AMANDA DAVIES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And I am Amanda Davies live in Pyeongchang. The Winter Olympics is almost official underway. The opening
ceremony taking place here in Pyeongchang, just a little way away from a historic opening ceremony, one that has seen, North and South Korea
walkouts together under a unified flag.
The theme of this Olympic Games were very much be about building bridges, the message has been one of peace and talking about how will this games can
unify and build bridges, not only in schools but around the world.
The teams have made their procession out into the stadium where fans have been given cold weather packs, heated gloves, blankets to keep them warming
in temperatures, which are well below zero.
We have seen the South Korean president addressed the crowd. The IOC President Thomas Bach, and a number of well-known athletes walk out with
the flag as the flame is set to be lit to signal the real start of the Winter Games. Kristie.
LU STOUT: And, Amanda, we are waiting for that moment for the flame to be lit, as you mentioned, the theme of the opening ceremonies is that a piece,
a remarkable moment happening about an hour and a half ago of both athletes from North and South Korea marching under one unified flag.
And of course, we know that tomorrow that's when the women's ice hockey team, the inter-Korean will take to the ice. I want to watch out for it
right now in Pyeongchang.
It's the feeling of the Olympics spirit, as the opening so many brings thousands of athletes from all around the world to that one stadium there.
But there is tension surrounding North Korea, that's hanging over the entire event.
[08:05:00] CNN's Will Ripley joins me now with more on that. And, Will, as the Winter Games kick off, we have been admiring the opening ceremony, the
theme, the pomp, the ceremony, while studying the seeding plan as well. Could you tell us a little bit about who is in attendance and could
geopolitics still the show?
WILL RIPLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it was certainly an awkward seating arrangement to say the least but if you think about it, what other choice
did they have to have? We have South Korea's President Moon Jae-in kind of right in the middle here, sitting next to his most important ally, the
United States represented by the U.S. Vice President Mike Pence.
But North and South Korea marching under a unified flag during a time when they revive the North Korean thoughts, they need is to stay close together
as well. And so, you had the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Kim Yo-jong sitting just behind President Moon.
She was separated by just one role and four seats from the U.S. vice president. So if you look at the image, it was almost uncomfortably close.
We don't know if there were any interactions but it seemed as if everybody was keeping eyes forward on the ceremony itself.
We know that the vice president actually skipped out on a dinner earlier in the evening with Madame Kim, and also, the other North Korean delegate Kim
Yong-nam, the ceremonial head of state.
He had a previously scheduled dinner with the U.S. Olympians which is why he did not attend that dinner and it is believed that he has been trying to
avoid any incidents of bumping into the North Koreans, especially because they said they have no intention or desire to interact or speak with the
United States at this event.
The vice president just days ago announced a new, even stronger sanctions against North Korea. Today, he met with North Korean defectors here in
Pyeongchang, he brought with him the father of Otto Warmbier. His name is Fred Warmbier who has been a grieving father who has really been a champion
against the North Korean government.
He has spoken out very publicly against that it. He was seen in a photograph hugging North Korean defectors, Vice President Pence said that
the United States stands in solidarity with the North Korean people who he says, neurons for freedom.
Of course the North Korean government sees it very differently, they view the United States as an oppressor and that is a message that they are
certainly going to be delivering here in Pyeongchang.
They arrived today on Kim Jong-un's official jet at Incheon Airport in South Korea and when they came here to Pyeongchang, there were handshakes
on a couple of different occasions between Kim Yo-jong and President Moon, himself.
But the most significant event is going to be happening tomorrow in Seoul at the Blue House. That is when President Moon will host a lunch and that
the North Koreans will be in attendance, and three diplomatic sources that with deep knowledge of North Korean's intentions told me that there is a
very good chance that Kim Yo-jong, the sister of Kim Jong-un will speak with President Moon of South Korea and invite him to visit Pyongyang at
some point this year.
Now that would be a significant development. President Moon has indicated that he wants to engage with the North Koreans and would be willing to
visit North Korea at some point if the conditions were right.
And we still don't know what the South would want and what the North would want in exchange for some sort of a meeting like that to take place,
perhaps further delay of joint military drills, a reduction of sanctions or an easing of diplomatic isolation, or economic pressure.
These are all things that would be discussed and an informal lunch gives really the ideal opportunity for Kim Yo-jong to do that. She's not
technically the highest ranking member of the delegations with, it were to have official talks, it would be Kim Yong-nam peaking on behalf of the
North Koreans.
But because the setting is a lunch setting, she can have casual conversations. She can leave the room, possibly make that invitation and
of course, from the North Korean perspective, this could be an attempt to try to drive a wedge further between Seoul and Washington.
Because you have Vice President Pence saying that he wants President Moon to disengage with North Korea after the Olympics to join the United States
in pressuring North Korea.
And then you have the North Koreans saying, hey, maybe we can get together potentially and have even bigger meetings, perhaps possibly a meeting
between the two leaders of the two countries. So you can see what's happening here, it's almost a diplomatic tug-of-war here at the Olympics,
even before the games begin in Pyeongchang. Kristie.
LU STOUT: Absolutely. Looking forward to hear what sort of news emerges from that lunch to take place tomorrow at the Blue House, if it is going to
be a wedge driven between the U.S. and South Korea, if we are going to further solid relations between North and South. Will Ripley reporting
live for us. Thank you so much.
Forty-seven Russian athletes and coaches have failed in their last minute bid to join the Pyeongchang Winter Games. Now the Court of Arbitration for
Sport rejected their appeal after the IOC refused to invite them.
The Kremlin says it regrets the court's decision and that it continues to defend its athletes' rights. The IOC and the world anti-doping agency are
praising the ruling, saying that it reassures people that the games will be clean.
One hundred and sixty-eight other athletes from Russia were clear to anticipate and will be competing at the games in neutral uniforms under the
Olympic flag. North and South Korea did march under one flag as a sign of unity inside the Olympic stadium in Pyeongchang. But it is a very
different scene outside the venue.
[08:10:02] CNN's Ivan Watson is there. He joins us now live. And, Ivan, have you been seeing protesters angry with the presence of this North Korea
delegation?
IVAN WATSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, I'm sorry. The Olympic Cauldron was just lit behind me and we've just had a small fireworks display as well.
But, yes, in addition to the fanfare, to the grand spectacle that's been taking place in the stadium behind me, throughout this, there has been a
small group of noisy demonstrators probably 50, less than 100...
(CROSSTALK)
LU STOUT: Ivan, I'm going to have to stop you for a moment there. We want you to just listen in to the pyrotechnic display. We just missed the
pyrotechnic but as you can see, the Olympic flame has been lit.
Live pictures there on your screen from the Pyeongchang Olympic stadium, Ivan Watson is there outside the stadium, monitoring the reaction there.
Ivan, sorry to interrupt you just then, but I don't know if you can see it on your return. The Olympic flame has been lit. Just spread the
atmosphere for us.
WATSON: That's right. The flame has been lit. It is a freezing night here in the hills of Pyeongchang. The winds, we're told sweep all the way
down from Siberia.
You can certainly feel them on this rooftop and I'm certain that despite the precautions, that some have taken in the Olympic stadium behind me that
they're probably fueling the chill as well.
That said, everybody's here for a festival of sports for an international gathering of this small town of just 43,000 people where the mayor told me
he expects up to 2 million visitors in the coming weeks for the Olympics and the Paralympics with all the international eyes on this location.
And it is remarkable diplomacy underway. North Korea located just about 100 kilometers North of here which was not on basically speaking terms with
South Korea, up until a little bit more than month ago.
And now you've got a sibling of the North Korean leader who has been standing behind the South Korean president during the opening ceremony.
There are some more fireworks going on behind me over here.
You know, it's a remarkable -- it's a remarkable night here for this small town and for South Korea as well, where the athletes marched off together
under a unification flag, Kristie. And at that moment, the South Korean president shook hands with the leaders of the North Korean delegation,
including Kim Jong-'s sister, Kim Yo-jong.
They are scheduled to have a more formal meeting on Saturday but as the government has explained it, they want this to be the peace games and a
steppingstone for something better for the Korean Peninsula.
Keep in mind that North and South Korea, their athletes have marched together similarly under the unification flag in three previous Olympics in
the -- in the arts, in the previous decade. And then relations deteriorated, so we will see where this moment of Olympic diplomacy takes
the Korean Peninsula. Kristie.
LU STOUT: The Olympic flame has been lit, the sense of excitement in the year, the frigid there no less, those Siberian winds. Ivan Watson,
reporting live from Pyeongchang on the left, take care and enjoy the sport -- Ivan Watson, there.
You are watching News Stream. And still to come in the program. They are being pushed as the peace games with North and South Korea marching in the
opening ceremony under one flag but will this span in relations last. And how does the United States factor into all this? That angle is next.
[08:15:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LU STOUT: Live in your screen, a vivid pyrotechnic display, lighting up those frigid night skies above Pyeongchang marking the beginning of the
Winter Games. I love the fireworks. This has been absolutely thrilling to watch.
The Olympic flame was just lit a few moments ago, the athletes, they are ready to compete, welcome back. You are watching the special edition of
News Stream coming to you live from both Pyeongchang and here in Hong Kong. Now in South Korea the Opening Ceremony of the 23rd Winter Games is under
way.
The Olympic venue Pyeongchang has been a buzz with excitement, as well as, controversy and diplomacy as well. Kim Jong-un and sister is there as part
of a high-level North Korean delegation and their plans for the South Korean president to fall talks with here that can place tomorrow at the
Blue House.
Now the Pyeongchang games, they have been dubbed the games of peace. But will sports diplomacy have a long-term impact. Duyeon Kim is a visiting
senior fellow at the Korean Peninsula Future Forum, she joins us now live from Seoul.
Duyeon, thank you so much for joining us here in the program. What a moment! We had -- earlier, we saw North and South Korea marching together
at the opening ceremony under that single unified flag. I mean, this is an incredible moment for sports diplomacy but is it still too early to call
this the peace Olympics?
DUYEON KIM, VISITING SENIOR FELLOW, KOREAN PENINSULA FUTURE FORUM: Thanks for having me back. Yes, it is still too early to predict how the story
will end. Certainly, the two Koreas are focusing a lot on atmospherics as should.
Both Koreas are on their best behavior. They're both -- the North, you saw Kim Yo-jong, she clearly is under a game with her charm offensive, her
smiles, her nose held high, showing an air of superiority, also getting off the air that she definitely is a member of the royal family.
And you've got the South Korean delegation, the government giving -- following a protocol in giving the type of treatments that it would like to
give the North Korean delegation and so, both Koreas, yes, they are trying to -- they are creating the mood for peace.
But as you say, it's still too early. It's a very delicate road ahead. We've heard news reports that have aired South in the U.S.' differences in
public. We've heard reports that Vice President Pence has wishes that all doors shutdown after the Winter Olympics.
That were back to the maximum pressure campaign but you've got the South Korean presidents who has staked his political legacy and future on inter-
Korean reconciliation.
The president who has wanted to see -- to sit down, to have an early summits with the North Korean leader because his frustration has always
been that previous for past two summits -- two Korean summits, came too late, in a presidential term to implement all their agreements.
So you really have a delicate few weeks ahead and also the most immediate question mark is what happens after the games are over, when will U.S.-
South Korean joint military exercises resume, how old the North react.
Will the North try to convince the South or maybe South comes out in the open and try to convince Washington to postpone the military exercises
until maybe, until August to try to give this diplomacy a shot and to ride this wave of her (Inaudible) diplomacy further for a few more months.
[08:20:06] And we also have to see tomorrow. Kim Yo-jong, well of course, the North Korean delegation headed by Kim Yong-nam, the ceremonial head of
states, they will be meeting with President Moon Jae-in tomorrow.
And will Kim Yo-jong bring with her, deliver some sort of message to President Moon, some sort of hint or signal blatant invitation by Kim Jong-
un for President Moon's visit -- future visit to the North. Many questions but very delicate.
LU STOUT: Very delicate and it's so hard to predict what's going to happen next. But from the signs delivered so far, this incredible PR charm
offense has delivered by the North Koreans, this almost warming of relations between North and South, Mike Pence, the U.S. Vice President
continuing with this type approach. Do you think the games will be remembered as the peace Olympics or the Pyongyang Olympics?
KIM: Well you know, that specifically see the two different strands of threads pulling at each other for South once this should be the peace
Olympics and North clearly is trying to make it the Pyongyang Olympics because no global media attention spotlight will be on it.
Its delegations, its performance, its athletes, specially Kim Jong-un's younger sister, Kim Yo-jong, and so you've got in a sense, a competition of
the spotlight.
And you've got the American vice president whose trying to also take away some of that spotlight from the North by bringing in Otto Warmbier's father
by meeting with defectors, by visiting between the South Korean (Inaudible).
So we have got the politics happening also at an event that intended to be an international sporting event, intended to raise hopes and dreams for
peace. And so, we really have to see. You know, it's definitely preferentially, we prefer -- I think everybody hopes for the best.
I think everybody does want this to peace actually happen or at least to ride this, how the Olympics be a springboard to some sort of U.S.-North
Korea talks.
But there is caution because of the skepticism, because of what we know about North Korea's tactics and intentions because of what we know about
some South Korean progressive thinking on these issues.
And because we know -- historical precedent, this is -- you know, the North has done this over and over again, the charm offensive after 10 cycles and
natural provocations...
(CROSSTALK)
LU STOUT: As you say, everybody wants this to be a peace Olympics but caution must be exercised. Duyeon Kim, nonproliferation expert joining us
from Seoul. Thank you so much for joining us here on the program. Again, you are watching the special edition of News Stream.
We are going to switch gears now and we're going to get back to all of the sporting action at the 2018 Winter Olympics. Amanda Davies, she is going
to be live from Pyeongchang, she will have a look at the unified Korea women's hockey team and how its legacy will go far beyond the ice. Keep it
here.
[08:25:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
DAVIES: Welcome back. Live to Pyeongchang where the 2018 Winter Olympics has officially been declared open with a spectacular opening ceremony. We
have been talking as much about politics and sport in the build up to this game though with one of the biggest stories in a position of women's hockey
players from North Korea to the South Korean team.
Twelve skaters from the North were added just last month to create a unified Korean team, anagrams political gesture of diplomacy by sports, and
while a last minute disruption of team chemistry may make it even harder for an already underdog Korea team to compete in Pyeongchang.
One of the world's most decorated women's hockey Olympians told me that while she does have reservations, she knows that this team is much more
about history than the medals.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HAYLEY WICKENHEISER, FORMER CANADIAN ICE HOCKEY PLAYER: My real reservation -- my only reservation is, one of the men's team, too. And I
haven't to this day been able to get a good enough explanation as to why that hasn't happened.
So that's I think would've been -- would've been good to include both the men's and women's teams as united front. I mean if it helps for world
peace, if it pushes things forward, if it is positive for the world then, I think it's good.
The other difficulty that I have is you know, we made this decision two weeks before the games, when the team have been training 3 1/2 years for
the Olympics and so that makes it very difficult on the South Korean team, on players that now lose their spots and things like that.
So in the grand scheme from the big pictured view, of course, it could be good for the world, and maybe that wins over the little things and I hope
that these women know that they are part of history and I have a significant place.
And it should be the women both the North and South Korean women that are propped up and congratulated, and not the politicians that have put them in
this position.
DAVIES: How long would it usually take to bring together a hockey team? If you let the parachutes in, this number of players' ideal time frame,
what you be looking at?
WICKENHEISER: Well I mean, for an Olympic Games to be a serious contender and do this right, we need years really. I mean you could - in a few
months, you can throw together a group of players that are competent good and figure it all out and have systems in place that, you know maybe three
weeks before the games like this is happening.
It's very difficult. You have got team systems in place, even the way you communicate to each other and knowing your players as a coach, there's just
so many factors there. So hockey is probably the most complex sport here the Olympics to throw people together and do that. I am so admire that
they are actually going to make this happen.
DAVIES: It is interesting year, isn't it? Twenty years since women's hockey was entered into the Olympics. Is this, in your opinion, going to
help or hinder the bigger cause of women's hockey because on the one hand, the greatest profile. But then of course, if the team is even as
competitive as a result of this, doesn't that harm the competition?
WICKENHEISER: I think from a competitive standpoint, this probably won't affect the results of what have how the team does regardless of whether
they have three players of North Korea in the lineup are not, the fact is they're not going to be competitive with the top teams in the world.
I hope that they can be in some good games and maybe surprised some people in the middle of the pack but the same was to said for the men's team if
they were to compete. I think we would see the exact same results.
And so, if this shines a light on the women's game because people are talking about women's hockey and because the president of South Korea will
all go to a women's hockey game, and people of the building that never otherwise would, then I think that this is the positive thing for the game
moving forward.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
DAVIES: And not long until that women's unified team take to the ice and play their first game on Saturday. But stay with us on this special --
special program. After this short break, we'll take you a closer look at perhaps the most watch event at the Pyeongchang games, and the sister of
the North Korean in Pyeongchang.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[08:30:00] KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN NEWS STREAM SHOW HOST: Welcome back to special edition of "News Stream" to mark the start of the 23rd Winter
Games. I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong.
AMANDA DAVIES, CNN SPORTS PRESENTER: I'm Amanda Davies live in Pyeongchang. The Olympic opening ceremony has ended. The first Olympic
Games held in Asia in 20 years is officially underway, culminated as it always has with the historic moment, the lighting of the Olympic flame.
It was spectacular as you would expect. This has been a long time coming for South Korea having successfully won these games after missing out in
advance not only in 2010 but also 2014. The lights have been spectacular. The fireworks have been incredible in the opening ceremony. The director
said it was designed to show South Korea to the world.
That concluded with some of South Korea's biggest sporting stars coming together to light that flame. The 2018 games here in Pyeongchang will be
the 23rd Winter Olympics. The first Winter Games was held in 1924 at the foot of Mont Blanc in Chamonix, France.
Two hundred fifty-eight athletes from 60 nations took part, but there were just 11 female athletes off the South Korea. The Winter Games move to
Beijing in 2022. One of the big concerns here in Pyeongchang has been ticket sales or a lack of them in the run out to the games, but it does
seem that things have been picking up in the last week. There was a full house at the opening ceremony, 35,000 people inside the stadium.
A spokesperson for the organizing committee has told CNN that more than 80 percent of tickets have now been (INAUDIBLE). That's about 856,000 tickets
in all across 13 venues. The most popular events include the bobsled, the curling, the alpine skiing, and the ski jumping. Organizers are hoping as
things get up and running, the momentum will very much build behind those sales.
And more than 60,000 security personnel has been deployed for the Winter Games here in Pyeongchang. The spokesperson for the organizing committee
has told CNN that amongst them, 50,000 are military personnel and over 13,000 are police officers.
Let's head back to Kristie in Hong Kong. Kristie, it has been very, very noticeable in the last couple of days were the big politicians,
[08:35:00] all the IOC members in town for their committee meeting, there has been plenty of security. You wonder whether that will last for the
remainder of the games. It's quite an expansive area.
LU STOUT: High-level delegations there from as you point, the IOC, you got the U.S. vice president, Mike Pence, there. The ceremonial head of state of
North Korea there as well. And we are following just the easing of tensions between north and south, taking part at the games underway in Pyeongchang.
South Korea's President Moon Jae-in is now scheduled to have lunch with the sister of Kim Jong-un, Kim Yo-jong. That is due to take place the Blue
House tomorrow.
Now, it is a move not welcomed by everyone. Paula Newton is in Seoul with more on the significance of all this. She joins us now. Paula, again, South
Korea's president, Kim Jong-un's younger sister. They are scheduled to have this lunch. They've already shaken hands. How she would take all this in?
PAULA NEWTON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: This is highly significant. You know, we are talking about the performance in Pyeongchang
but make no doubt there is going to be a performance at the South Korean Blue House tomorrow for that luncheon.
It will be informal and that is important. That means that the younger sister of Kim can bring any kind of personal informal message that her
brother might have been giver her, whether it is written down or verbally.
And they can have a little bit of a chat and that means that also if Moon Jae-in has a message that he wants her brother to get, he can give it to
her directly. What's key here though and it is starkly simple as far as the United States is concerned is that they do not want South Korea to give
over any concessions.
I know we've already reported that one of the possibilities is that North Korea may invite Moon Jae-in to have a visit to Pyongyang. That would be
obviously highly significant in a departure for what's going on the Korean Peninsula for several years.
But the point is this. Is the -- are these Olympics can have any lasting legacy when it comes to peace? Right now after those Paralympics, after
March, it is supposed to go business as usual, Kristie. They are going to have those military exercises on the part of South Korea and the United
States and by all accounts the continuation of that nuclear program in North Korea. And that is a problem as far as the United States is
concerned.
What is is going to be interesting here is if North Korea will give anything because what is the problem for South Korea right now is that the
United States is going to say we cannot capitulate on many different points when it comes to North Korea being a nuclear arms state.
And for South Korea to begin those talks at all in any way, shape or form, they're going to have to try and reconcile that the demands of the United
States and their own security, demands here on the peninsula, was trying to extend that hand which has been on display here during the Olympics.
LU STOUT: You know, it is a really important point that you're making here. North Korea made a full PR overdrive here, casting a new overhauling,
a new image for the world with its self power and participation at the games, but its weapons program still goes on. Some smart diplomacy is
needed here.
We know that the U.S. vice president is there at the games. He has a special guest with him, the father or Otto Warmbier. Is this going to be an
opportunity for diplomacy or for a potential confrontation?
NEWTON: I think that the South Koreans -- you got to give them credit, Kristie. They are tap dancing as fast as they can in trying to make this
work. We have been looking at those images of having the vice president in the same box as Kim's younger sister there and the head of the North Korean
government, the ceremonial head. And that is significant.
South Korea has already managed to, you know, dodge that, if you can say. Mike Pence apparently did not shake hands with the North Korean delegation.
We are still awaiting more word from what is going on right now at this very moment, Kristie, in terms of if there is any interaction between them,
unlikely that there would be.
South Korea has got to understand at this point what kind of tight rope they can walk with wanting so much for the tensions on the Korean peninsula
to diminish, but yet knowing that that ally, the United States, is so important to them and that they will have to devise the return.
Kristie, I can tell you, western officials here in this city tell me that so far, South Korea has been very, very careful to let the United States
know it, every turn exactly what's going on.
LU STOUT: Absolutely. They have to coordinate very, very closely together. Months ago, South Korean President Moon Jae-in called these games the peace
Olympics. We know that the north's participation at these games has been seen as (INAUDIBLE) of bilateral ties. But bottom line here, Paula, is this
going to lead to any impact on North Korea's nuclear ambitions?
NEWTON: You know, you are going to take a straw poll, everyone would say absolutely not. I can tell you U.S. officials don't expect that and I doubt
South Korean officials do as well. Remember what's on the table here is the freeze for freeze. China wants that. Russia wants that.
That means U.S. and South Korea stop their military exercises. North Korea, freeze your nuclear program. You know what, Kristie? The problem is that's
not good enough for the United States. And one has been an issue here is that South Korea is looking
[08:40:00] at the situation of North Korea now being so advanced in its intercontinental ballistic missiles that they are wondering what is going
to convince North Korea, you know, to really stop that nuclear program, when they feel it has already given them so much leverage at the table.
And remember, Mike Pence made it very clear in coming here, the United States is still set to unveil the toughest and most aggressive sanctions
against North Korea that are possible and that is all coming up behind this.
LU STOUT: All right, Paula Newton reporting live, thank you.
Wow, Pyongyang politics providing plenty of drama at the Pyeongchang games, but at the end of the day, it is all about the sports.
Let's go back now to Amanda Davies. She is standing by in frigid Pyeongchang. Amanda, all yours.
DAVIES: Kristie, it's all about sports, but there has been another story that many have built a political story that have been dominating the
headlines in the build up to this game, the fight by the Russian athletes to be allowed to compete here in Pyeongchang.
A very, very much hot topic in the media sense at the athlete village. The court of arbitration for sports denied an appeal by 47 Russians who were
trying to overturn their Olympic bans for doping. For more, we have Oren Liebermann in Moscow. Great to see you, Oren.
It has been very interesting walking around here, the Russian media, the Russian delegation, there have been lots of anger. How much is that
(INAUDIBLE) in Moscow where you are?
OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Anger is certainly one of the emotions being felt here. At least the story is partially about sports even if its
just as much about politics. We saw as the Russians walk and the Russian athletes carrying that Olympic athlete for Russia moniker, the athletes
themselves were smiling. They seem to be happy and excited to compete at the games.
But in statements, we heard both from Russian coaches there as well as from Russian politicians, there are certainly some anger and disappointment.
Some of the statements we received both from coaches and from Russian politicians including the deputy prime minister have said the decision from
the court of arbitration for sport and here are some of the words that have been used. All lies, shameful, and political.
You got the sense of that anger. There certainly was a whole fear that there would be a decision for the Russians which is to say decision to
allow dozens of Russian athletes to compete after the court last week overturned 15 lifetime bans on the part of Russian athletes.
But that hold certainly didn't pan out as the court said look, we are siding with the IOC, the International Olympic Committee, on this one.
These athletes will not be allowed to compete.
And the court's decision was essentially a technical one. The court said that the IOC invitation process is an eligibility decision, not a sanction
or a punishment, and the Russians had not shown any bias or any discrimination in the eligibility process that the IOC uses.
Therefore, the court sided with the IOC on this one and denied those Russians a change to compete. And there you saw the anger. Some Russian
politicians have said they will appeal the decision to the Swiss Supreme Court which has jurisdiction over the court of arbitration for sport.
But that is truly a symbolic move. It is not going to change the fact that these Russian athletes won't be allowed to compete at the games.
And so you have seen a tremendous outpouring of anger as well as for the athletes who are allowed to compete under that neutral flag and outpouring
of support and hope that they bring those medals home. Amanda, we have seen some defiance.
The Russian athletes we have spoken with and who have spoken to state media have said look, everyone knows who we're here for, everyone knows where
we're from, and everyone knows where those medals will be going if the Russians win some of those in Pyeongchang.
DAVIES: Oren, thanks very much. We can get a closer look at this story. Jim Walden is the lawyer of former Russian lab director, Grigory
Rodchenkov, the man very much the whistle blower that started the unfolding of this Russian doping scandal. Mr. Walden joins us live now from New York.
Thank you very much for your time. Have you spoken to Dr. Rodchenkov since the day's verdict from CAS? What is his reaction to the news?
JIM WALDEN, LAWYER FOR GRIGORY RODCHENKOV: So Dr. Rodchenkov does know about the news and thinks that CAS made the right decision in this case.
But let's be clear about this. This is a very small glimmer of hope in a very broken system. The IOC's integrity has been knocked down. It is time
for the IOC to get up and turn the page and support clean athletes again.
DAVIES: You were pretty damning of CAS after last week's decision, who do you feel is more at fault here? Is it CAS or is it the IOC in terms of how
they dealt with this in the (INAUDIBLE)
[08:45:00] first Olympic Games we have been dealing with this issue but the second Olympic Games?
WALDEN: I think that they share responsibility but the responsibility is largely on the IOC in general and Thomas Bach specifically. There was no
reason to rush this appeal. There was no reason to exclude significant evidence from CAS's consideration and so the very good lawyers who are
representing the IOC had to fight with one arm tied behind their back.
The CAS applied the wrong standard. They applied the standard as if it was a criminal case. It is not. All the CAS had to do was to determine whether
or not the IOC had enough evidence to satisfy the standard of comfortable satisfaction and by overturning the work of WADA and Professor Richard
McLaren who verified the existence of the state-sponsored system and these athletes' participation.
And to IOC disciplinary committees that spent a lot of time researching and corroborating the state-sponsored system. For CAS to just simply throw
those opinions aside with the stroke of a pen is going to forever damage the fight for clean athletes.
DAVIES: What was your feeling watching the Olympic athletes from Russia walked out at the opening ceremony?
WALDEN: Well, Dr. Rodchenkov has no vendetta against the athletes and for those who have proven themself clean, they should participate. He has been
strikingly saying that from the beginning. Let us remember that it was his evidence that exonerated two of the Russian athletes who he had no reason
to believe actually did participate in doping.
But at the same time, you can't look at their uniforms that say the word Russia and give the IOC any credibility whatsoever when they say that it's
a neutral designation, it's not. It's just one of the many things that Thomas Bach gave as candy to the Russians. And mark my words.
This is not the last time that the IOC has been stabbing clean athletes in the back. Before the end of this game, Bach is going to lift the suspension
of the Russian Olympic Committee and the flag is going to fly at this very Olympic Games and that will forever be a blemish on the Olympics.
DAVIES: OK, Jim Walden, than you very much for your time. A story that we will no doubt continue to be talking about for a long time to come here on
CNN. Still to come, for those who can't get enough winter sports, there are some new events including an exciting twist on the snowboarding.
[08:50:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LU STOUT: Welcome back. We will then get back to all the action in Pyeongchang for the opening of the Winter Games in just a moment. But
first, let us take a look at some of the other stories making headlines today.
The U.S. Congress has passed a bipartisan budget deal and President Donald Trump says that he has just signed it into law. It ends a brief government
shutdown. It is the second time the government was shuttered in three weeks.
Crews in Hualien, Taiwan are now looking for a family of five amongst the rubble, three days after that 6.4 magnitude quake hit the city. The rescue
operations are starting to wind down. The quake topples buildings, ripped up roads, and injured more than 270 people.
U.S. stock futures are mixed after the Dow plunged more than 1000 points on Thursday. Asian markets closed down after pretty rough trading day on
Friday and its losses follow Wall Street's wild ride. As you can see, plenty of down arrows on Europe stock market as well. They try to
(INAUDIBLE) some of those losses earlier but has stepped back into the red.
Now, let's go back to my colleague Amanda Davies live in Pyeongchang, city of fire and ice. The Olympic flame has been lit and you have been reporting
in some ice cold temperature. Amanda?
DAVIES: Yes, the flame is lit and we are all left feeling like a little block of ice. It was spectacular. The opening ceremony did warm the hearts.
But now, it is all eyes on the competition while there have been official events already underway since Thursday morning. The first medals will
actually be awarded tomorrow, Saturday, with cross-country skiing handy out the very first of the 102 golds.
Overall, there are four new events in this year's Olympics. Big air snowboarding. That consists of a massive jump and trick. Snowboard starts
at top of big snow ramp and then perform tricks off a big jump. At 49 meters tall, the ramp in Pyeongchang is the biggest in the world.
Freestyle skiing is an event that combines skiing and acrobatics. Athletes will compete in aerials, moguls, ski cross, halfpipe, and slopestyle
categories.
In mass start speed skating, there would be seven events for men and women in a range of distances between 500 meters and 10,000 meters. Twenty-four
athletes will compete for gold.
In mixed doubles curling, each team consists of one man and one woman. Each team has six stones. There are eight ends of play. Two position rocks to
start and both players can switch (ph). Curling is the only event in fact that takes part every single day of the games.
From news that has been coming out of the athletes village here in Pyeongchang, it has been announced that the defending halfpipe champion
Laurie Blouin known as I-Pod won't be defending his title due to a brain injury he suffered at the Winter X Games last month, just a couple of weeks
go.
In fact, in a statement released by the Swiss Ski Federation, he says, when I received this diagnosis, it was clear to me that I had sustained a
serious and dangerous injury and that participating in the Olympic Games would pose a great risk to my health. The second MRI yesterday, Thursday,
has revealed that although progress is recognizable, my condition is far from stable enough to snowboard at a level required for such a competition.
Meanwhile, the 21-year-old snowboard medal favorite Lauri Blouin was taken from the slopes on a stretcher after a crash in Friday training. Blouin
fell heavily when her board got stuck in a crack after she landed a double jump. The Canadian's the reigning halfpipe world champion was hoping to be
here competing at Olympics for the first time. Wish both of them well with their recovery.
As we mentioned earlier, the U.S. skating favorite Nathan Chen also fell (INAUDIBLE) during Friday figure skating team competition. Alexei Bychenko
kicked off Israel's bid for its first ever Winter Olympics medal with a strong performance though beyond the second place finish.
But it was Japan's Shoma Uno who dazzles with a (INAUDIBLE) performance to run away from the competition, earning a whopping 14 more points in
Bychenko and firing Japan into a commanding lead. (INAUDIBLE) will be a major threat to Yuzuru Hanyu for the men Olympics title. Hanyu was the
defending champion.
Finally, let us take you back to the very first official events that kicked off these games, mixed doubles curling, making its Olympic debut back on
Thursday morning which (INAUDIBLE)
[08:55:00] should be Olympic athletes from Russia taking on the Americans. We had a chance to see team OAR uniforms which were plain white shirts with
black (INAUDIBLE) and Olympic athletes from Russia (INAUDIBLE). It was the United States who got the (INAUDIBLE) with siblings Matt and Becca Hamilton
leading the team to a 9-3 win. Team OAR (INAUDIBLE) prevailing over Norway.
That is just a taste of what is to come of the next two and a half weeks of competition, Kristie. Plenty to get excited around here in Pyeongchang.
LU STOUT: I am starting to get excited. I am starting to get really (INAUDIBLE) about the sport. You got the inter-Korean women's hockey team
taking to the ice tomorrow.
About the fun, how cool is the white tiger mascot and seeing that white tiger puppet on the opening ceremony? I thought that was amazing. And the
fact that they played "Gangnam Style." They had to play "Gangnam Style" and they did.
I wanted to hear that be delivered. And also the fashion, I have a request, when you were talking to Coy Wire, he had this epic leather teen USA gloves
with the fringe hanging off of them. If you see an extra pair lying around, could you just (INAUDIBLE) it to Hong Kong?
DAVIES: They look like something that you use to fly big birds, like falcon flying gloves. They are amazing. My own are quite so sexy-looking but they
got battery in them so they are keeping my hands warm although you can only wear one when you got to use your I-phone and hold piece of paper. The
logistical (ph) issues here are quite spectacular, I can tell you, Kristie.
LU STOUT: And also the amount of battery power in your gloves, also your vest as well. You got to keep warm. You to keep warm.
DAVIES: Yes, absolutely. It was interesting. There was -- one of the Australian team actually didn't want to take part in the opening ceremony.
She said she didn't want to carry the opening flag which normally is the pinnacle of so many athletes, Kris, because she was worried about the cold.
So a lot of the teams had extra heating and protection but now very much the focus of course is the competition.
LU STOUT: Yes, and of course, pictures of that shirtless (INAUDIBLE) athlete, yet again, he's not afraid of the cold. Anyway, we've been told to
wrap. Amanda Davies, thank you so much. That has been the special edition of "News Stream" for the opening ceremonies of the 2018 Winter Olympic
Games. I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong.
[09:00:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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