Olympic Notes: Lotte Group Chair Donates $4.2M For Korean Skiers

Lotte Group Chair Shin Dong-bin has donated 5B Korean won ($4.2M) "for test events leading up to the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games." Shin promised "unreserved support until we achieve the miracle of having a Korean represented in every skiing event and win an Olympic Medal" (CHOSUN ILBO, 1/25). ... The World Health Organization warned that the fast-spreading Zika virus, which is believed to cause birth defects, "has already reached 21 countries in Central and South America." WHO General Dir Margaret Chan described the "explosive spread" of Zika "extremely worrying." São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, which is due to host the Olympics in less than 200 days, "are also affected" (FINANCIAL TIMES, 1/25).