Week 27 at the Pole

Monday, July 22, 2019 - 11:15am

poster for South Pole Olympics
Kathrin Mallot, IceCube/NSF

The second annual Polympics (Pole Olympics) began last week at the Pole.  This event is a modern competition that includes not only sports but also e-sports and other contests, like sled pulling.  The opening ceremony was on Sunday, where they also handed out the first gold medal—for wiffle ball.  The competitions run for two weeks, with a closing ceremony on the last Sunday.  And if the Polympics weren’t enough excitement, last week also held a belated July 4th cookout, radio communications with the pilot of a flight passing over the South Pole, an outdoor group photo with messages for next crew to launch to the ISS, and a surprise emergency response drill.  

People playing wiffle ball in gym
Kathrin Mallot, IceCube/NSF

Close-up of player about to hit pool ball with cue
Kathrin Mallot, IceCube/NSF

group photo holding signs up, outdoors at the South Pole
Robert Schwarz, NSF