The Winter Olympic Virus: Day 9

• The Council for the Arbitration of Sport has stated it may be prepared to rule tomorrow on Kamila Valieva, at least as it relates to the women's figure skating eligibility.
• The Chairman of the Beijing Coordination Commission has praised the efforts in putting on the Games in the face of the pandemic.
• You may recognize his name:  Former IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch.
• Niels van der Poel believes Dutch speed-skating officials are trying to influence the rinks to make the ice more to the Dutch athletes' liking, and likens the process to drug doping.

Medal Count entering Day 9:

• The Germans in the sliding events, the Norwegians in the cross-country.  As a result, both have eight gold medals. The Germans top the table on silver tiebreaker, five to three.
• The USA is third on the table, five gold, five silver, one bronze.
• Norway holds the total lead with 17, Germany and Austria 14 each.  Illegal Russian Team and Canada with 12.  USA, Netherlands, and Italy with 11.

Other stuff:

• Heavy snow has adversely impacted Day 9 -- they got one run of the Giant Slalom in so far, and the entire ski slopestyle competition is being moved at least 24 hours due to the current conditions.

Medal Count ending Day 9:

• A gold medal in the women's biathlon pursuit gives Norway the table lead over Germany.  Norway has nine golds, Germany eight.
• The Netherlands won the short-track 3000m women's speed-skating relay, the USA's Erin Jackson won gold at 500m in the long-track competition.  Each country has six golds.  The USA's five silvers make them third on the table vs. the Netherlands' four.
• Sweden is fifth on the table, the only nation with five gold medals.
• In the total, Norway with 21, the illegal Russian team with 17, Germany, Austria, and Canada with 14 each (Canada has nine bronzes).
• 21 nations have won gold medals so far.
• The medal table still contains 26 nations.
• 65 of the 109 events have been completed
• Only four gold medals in Monday's action -- but the United States is favored in one of those events, the women's monobob (1-woman bobsled) and has a shout in a second (the ice dancing).