The IOC today said that it is "'closely monitoring' rising tensions on the Korean peninsula" less than six months away from the scheduled start of the '18 PyeongChang Games, according to Karolos Grohmann of REUTERS. The Games "risk being overshadowed by the mounting crisis involving North Korea" and the country's "apparent progress in developing nuclear weapons." An IOC spokesperson said, "The IOC is keeping itself informed about the developments. We continue working with the organizing committee on the preparations of these Games, which continue to be on track" (REUTERS, 8/10). USA TODAY's Christine Brennan notes as "long as there is uncertainty surrounding the alarming developments between North Korea and the U.S., there naturally will be uncertainty" about the status of the Games. USOC Chief External Affairs Officer Patrick Sandusky said, "We are working with the organizers and the relevant law enforcement agencies, as well as the American State Department, to ensure that our athletes, and our entire delegation, are safe" (USA TODAY, 8/10).
