The 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics are officially underway. Over the past couple Olympic Games, we have started to see a changing of the guard, so to speak. While the United States used to dominate the Winter Games a dozen or so years back,, the emergence of more dominant competitors have posed as a challenge to the metaphorical “throne.” So far this year, we are seeing that same trend.

This year’s Olympics are set to be shown through a potent fog of controversy. Among the controversy, things like the combination of the oft-hostile Korea’s into one nation, as well as the banning of the Russians have stolen the early headlines. Still, the Olympics have once again proven to be all about athletic prowess-a place where some of the best athletes in the world showcase what they have to offer.

It’s at this time when we, as college students, feel horrible about what we have done with our lives. There are 17 year olds from Ohio winning gold medals, while we try to summon the strength to get off the couch and take out the overflowing (once white) trash bag 15 feet to the dumpster. Maybe that one is more of a personal struggle.

Regardless, we have already been treated to some beautiful performances in the first week. Namely, Shaun White’s 3rd Gold Medal in the Snowboard Halfpipe, The Netherlands’ Sven “now the most decorated speedskater in history” Kramer’s 8th medal in his 5000 meter speedskating run, and countless others. Through 7 days of competition, the medal count is as follows:

1. Norway (6 Gold Medals Earned, 19 Total Medals Earned)

2. Germany (9 Gold, 15 Total Medals Earned)

3. Netherlands (6 Gold, 13 Total Medals Earned)

4. Canada (4 Gold, 13 Total Medals Earned)

5. USA (5 Gold, 8 Total Medals Earned)

6. Austria (3 Gold, 8 Total Medals Earned)

7. OAR (0 Gold, 8 Total Medals Earned)

8. France (3 Gold, 7 Total Medals Earned)

9. Japan (0 Gold, 7 Total Medals Earned)

10. Sweden (4 Gold, 6 Total Medals Earned)

(AS OF FEBRUARY 16, 2018, 8:30 PM)

Looking at the medal count, a couple of things stand out right away. First off, Germany is putting in an incredible performance early on. Finishing 6th in the total medal count back in the 2014 Sochi games, the Germans currently lead the gold medal count with a stunning 9 medals, as well as 15 total medals earned (4 silver, 2 bronze). Contrarily, it is more than a little bit concerning to see the USA in 5th place after a week. One cannot forget that the USA finished with the most total medals all the way back at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic games and it was considered a “down year” at the 2014 Sochi Games when the US of A finished with the 4th most medals total. Though one spot may not seem like a lot (4th place to 5th place), it is the sizeable gap between us and the leader that has me chomping at my fingernails. Through one week, the place we call home is a whopping 11 medals behind Norway’s total.

On a different note, no, you are not going crazy. That “country” with the 7th most medals right now is indeed OAR. You know OAR right? There’s the famous saying: “in Mother OAR, the car drives you.” Not ringing a bell? How about when Sarah Palin famously said: “I can see OAR from my window.” Still nothing? Join the family. OAR actually stands for “the Olympic Athletes from Russia.”

If that is confusing to you, it should be. Why does every other country get to compete under their flag and proper country name? Well, it actually stems from issues the country had back in the 2014 Sochi Olympics, where over 2 dozen athletes were caught “doping”, or in other words, taking steroids. As a result, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) dropped quite the penalty on the overall medal leaders of the 2014 games. “The country’s government officials are forbidden to attend, its flag will not be displayed at the opening ceremony and its anthem will not sound.”

In other words, “Mother Russia” is competing under another mother: the classic rings of the Olympic Flag. Any medal won this year by a Russian athlete does not count towards the country’s historical total; meaning they will be marred with a big, fat asterix in the history books.

Undoubtedly, this has to be a crushing blow to the Russian athletes. Though we may look at it as a “sucks to suck” situation from where we stand, a large part of the whole mindset going into the Olympics is “performing for one’s country.” We may not love the Russians, but it is hard not to feel for them at this moment. Still, the Olympic Athletes from Russia currently sit in 7th place, with 8 total medals earned.

What is omitted from those 8 total medals, however, is a single gold medal. And of course, as Olympic traditions go, any winner of a gold medal gets to stand and watch as their anthem is played and their flag is risen. With the inability to do either for the OAR, the disappointment keeps growing. Of course, this is not only a major disappointment to Russia, but also to “Late Show with Stephen Colbert” host, Stephen Colbert. Colbert, on his December 5th episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, joked how awkward it would be for a Russian athlete to win a gold medal. Instead of the anthem, he joked, the committee would just play whatever was on the radio. He further remarked: “I would love to see a speedskater tear up to My Sharona.” Hopefully soon Mr. Colbert, hopefully soon.

The Olympics are certainly an odd sell when trying to get someone to tune in. For pure, American sports fans, the lack of basketball, football, or baseball being shown may cause boredom-or at the very least, skepticism–and, on the other hand, for those that don’t like sports at all, selling a multi-week event full of (at least) a dozen different sports may seem like torture. I’m not saying you have to fall in love with the Olympics; I, myself, a lover of (nearly all) sports, even get a little bored with Cross-Country skiing or Curling. But, if you can find an hour or two to carve out of studying, partying, or socializing in the next few weeks, I think the Olympics are a pretty great option to turn to. I, personally will be cheering my United States athletes on to make a comeback…right after I take out that garbage bag, that is.