Team USA Could Break Winter Olympic Participation Record

(ATR) With PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics qualification events ramping up as 2018 begins, Team USA could be on the verge of setting an Olympic record – just not in a sport.

If the requisite number of athletes qualify for the Games this February in South Korea, Team USA could field a team of more than 235 athletes, surpassing the previous Olympic record for athlete delegations – 232 – set by Russia at their home Games in Sochi in 2014.

A delegation of 235 athletes would surpass Team USA’s own record of 230 athletes that were sent to Sochi 2014.

But it won’t just be athletes who represent the United States in South Korea. For approximately every athlete, there will be one Team USA official or staffer, bringing the total Team USA delegation to nearly 500 people.

A U.S. Olympic Committee spokesperson tells Around the Rings the delegation will begin to arrive once the Olympic Villages open on Feb. 1.

"Team USA will begin arriving as the Olympic Village opens and continue to arrive throughout," the spokesperson says. "Everyone is very excited to get on the ground and get the competitions started."

The Olympic Villages in PyeongChang and Gangneung will be open a week before the Winter Games begin on Feb. 9 with the Opening Ceremony at PyeongChang Olympic Stadium.

Team USA athletes will compete in each of the 15 Winter Olympic sports and disciplines across the 17-day event. With so many athletes in the field, Team USA hopes to also break its Winter Games medal count record of 37 set at Vancouver 2010.

The PyeongChang Winter Games conclude on Feb. 25.

Written by Kevin Nutley

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