GANGNEUNG, South Korea — Russia isn’t supposed to be at these Olympic Games, and yet the country is very much here.
There are nearly 170 Russian athletes in South Korea and even a converted seafront wedding hall decked in all manner of Russian paraphernalia that is serving as Russia’s social headquarters.
At about 9.30 p.m. Saturday, Russia’s national anthem filled the hall, known simply as “Sports House.” Many of the two dozen people rose to their feet and sang along with gusto.
They were celebrating a first Russian medal at the 2018 Winter Olympics, a short-track speedskating bronze won by Semen Elistratov.