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Agence France-Presse

Hong Kong’s Arabella Ng is still yet to make her Olympic debut after the alpine skiing programme at the Pyeongchang Winter Games was thrown into chaos on Wednesday with the postponement of a third event, the women’s slalom, because of strong winds.
“Due to the current weather situation, today’s slalom is postponed to Friday, February 16,” the International Ski Federation (FIS) announced.
Results - Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games
The two legs of the slalom will be raced either side of the men’s super-G, at 10am (9am Hong Kong time) and 1.15pm.
Strong winds buffeted the Rainbow course in Yongpyong, forcing organisers to delay the start then call it off altogether.

It means another delay for 16-year-old Ng’s opening appearance in South Korea, Hong Kong’s sole representative at the Games having seen the giant slalom postponed on Monday.
The GS was rescheduled for Thursday, with the two legs to be raced either side of the men’s downhill.
The blue riband downhill was also postponed on Sunday because of high winds and an unfavourable weather forecast which saw the cancellation of Monday’s downhill training for the men’s combined event.




Schedule - Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games
So far the only race to have gone ahead is the men’s combined on Tuesday, Austrian Marcel Hirscher winning his first Olympic gold on the Jeongseon course.
But that race was also disrupted. The downhill section of the combined was also affected by blustery winds, officials moving the start gate down to the start of the super-G. The blue “wind line” was also used to reduce jumps by up to 15 metres.

Wednesday’s postponement meant disappointment for a good crowd that had gathered at the foot of a piste that links back into Yongpyong, South Korea’s oldest ski resort, dating back to 1975.
With North Korea’s Kim Ryon-hyang set to start in the 83rd and final position on the first leg, the stands were buoyed by the presence of dozens of her country’s Olympic cheerleaders.
Medal count - Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games
Dressed in their red uniforms with red and white woolly hats, the cheerleaders’ chanting and flag-waving quickly geed up the atmosphere, until the FIS announcement of the postponement sent the crowds draining away in an instant.
Given that skiing is an outdoor event, at the mercy of the elements, its Olympic programme is always designed with contingencies at hand.

The 11 medal events are run over 17 days, the scheduling allowing FIS to be able to tinker with the line-up. That normally means bringing forward more technical events like slalom and giant slalom which can be raced in heavy snow and also often in wind.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said it had faith in FIS, adding there was “plenty” of time left for the competition.
Winter Olympic Games results history
“If the wind continues to blow for the next 15 days then I guess it might be a problem,” said IOC spokesman Mark Adams.
“But … the International Ski Federation is well used to disruption by wind, by too much snow, by too little snow, by too much rain … At the moment we’re pretty happy.”
There is no doubt, however, that FIS will be desperately hoping the winds that have been pummelling the South Korean venues soon dissipate.


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Pyeongchang Winter Olympics 2018

Arabella Ng still waiting at Winter Olympics as wind causes alpine chaos with Pyeongchang slalom postponed

Stewards adjust a net as winds blow after the alpine skiing women’s slalom was cancelled set to weather. Photo: AFP

epa06523238 Members of the North Korean delegation wave flags as they wait for the start of the Women's Slalom race at the Yongpyong Alpine Centre during the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Games, South Korea, 14 February 2018. The Women's Slalom race is being canceled due to weather conditions EPA-EFE/JEAN-CHRISTOPHE BOTT

epa06522945 Course workers are seen on the track as the Women's Slalom race is being canceled due to weather conditions at the Yongpyong Alpine Centre during the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Games, South Korea, 14 February 2018. EPA-EFE/CHRISTIAN BRUNA

Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics - Opening ceremony - Pyeongchang Olympic Stadium - Pyeongchang, South Korea - February 9, 2018 - Arabella Caroline Yili Ng of Hong Kong carries the national flag during the opening ceremony. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

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Women’s slalom becomes third event of alpine skiing programme called off at Games but organisers refuse to panic


Arabella Ng still waiting at Winter Olympics as wind causes alpine chaos with Pyeongchang slalom postponed

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Women’s slalom becomes third event of alpine skiing programme called off at Games but organisers refuse to panic

Women’s slalom becomes third event of alpine skiing programme called off at Games but organisers refuse to panic