First Royal Attendance Confirmed For PyeongChang 2018

The XXIII Olympic Winter Games will kick off on February 9th in PyeongChang, South Korea, and the first royal attendances have been confirmed.

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of The Netherlands will be attending to cheer on Dutch athletes at the beginning of the Games: the King will attend from February 9th to February 13th, while Queen Máxima will only attend until February 11th. They will be present for the opening ceremony on February 9th. The King will also attend the International Olympic Committee President’s Dinner on February 8th.

The King is an honorary member of the International Olympic Committee.

The couple will previously be in China on a working visit, where they will meet with President Xi Jinping on February 7th, accompanied by the Dutch Foreign Minister Halbe Zijlstra.

From Sweden, King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia will be attending in the second week of the Games, from February 17th to February 25th.

It is expected that many of Europe’s royal families will be represented at the Games – Prince Albert II of Monaco, Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg, Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark, Britain’s Princess Anne and Princess Nora of Liechtenstein are all members of the International Olympic Committee (Prince Albert has even competed at Winter Olympic Games previously, in bobsleigh). A representative from the Norwegian Royal Family is also likely, as Norway does incredibly well at the Winter Olympics.

Filed under Sweden, The Netherlands
Tagged Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, China, King Willem-Alexander of The Netherlands, Olympic Games, President Xi of China, PyeongChang 2018, Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, Queen Silvia of Sweden, Sport, Working Visit.