In South Korea, Bak Se-hwan notes dozens of Olympics staff who are "locked up at a remote youth training facility due to norovirus infection have blamed the organizers for the spread of the sickness in Gangwon Province, accusing them of 'irresponsible action.'" Five support staff said they had “heard from no one when they should get back to work or be released from quarantine.” The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that as of yesterday, a total of 194 cases of norovirus "were confirmed, including infections outside the facility." No athletes so far have tested positive "for the virus" (KOREA HERALD, 2/13).
SONG REQUESTS: The AP's Dave Skretta notes the Int'l Skating Union's "popular decision to allow lyrics in all performances" after the '14 Sochi Games has "expanded the breadth of what is available, and skaters have taken broad liberties with it." Figure skaters are performing to artists like Ed Sheeran, Coldplay, Imagine Dragons, Snow Patrol, Benjamin Clementine, Lorde, Christina Aguilera and Adele. German figure skater Paul Fentz during his short program last week "wound up doing Paul Anka's version of the Oasis hit 'Wonderwall'" (AP, 2/13).
