On February 8th, the entire world will come together in Pyeongchang, South Korea for the 2018 Winter Olympic Games.

 The Olympic Games are two weeks in which the best winter athletes from around the world come compete for the ultimate prize—an Olympic gold medal.

 For two weeks, all world conflict is thrown out, and countries compete on the grandest stage of them all. The beauty of the games lies in the competition, and the competition brings everyone together.

 Although competition starts on February 8th, the Games will officially open up on February 9th. Due to the fourteen hour difference in time, the opening ceremonies will take place at 6:00 am EST. However, you can catch a recorded version of the ceremonies at 8:00 pm EST on NBC.

 The Americans look poised for another strong winter games after finishing with twenty-eight total medals and 9 gold medals at the 2014 Sochi Games.

 Leading that group of poised Americans is twenty-two year old skier, Mikaela Shiffrin. Shiffrin is the favorite to take home 3 gold medals in skiing. Her teammate, Lindsey Vonn, is also primed for a gold medal if she can stay healthy until the games.

 On the men’s side, Shaun White, the two-time gold medalist in the halfpipe is back for his fourth Olympics. He is looking to get back on the top of the podium four years after missing the podium in Sochi.

 Over the course of the 2 week Games, there will be 102 gold medals on the line, meaning plenty of events to watch and root for Team USA.

 On November 1, 2017 the Olympic Torch relay was underway. After a 101 day tour of South Korea and about 7,500 torch bearers, the Olympic Torch will be carried into Pyeongchang. The flame will be lit on February 9th, thus officially starting the twenty-third Winter Olympic Games.