PYEONGCHANG, South Korea — Canada appears to be living up to its reputation for politeness.



An executive from the Canadian Olympic Committee met on Thursday with counterparts representing Russian athletes at the Winter Games here and apologized over an episode that may not actually have involved a Canadian.

At issue is an altercation that took place this week, when a Russian coach said he had been verbally abused at a canteen in the Olympic Village about the participation of Russian athletes.

Tensions are running high among athletes and officials over the presence in Pyeongchang of more than 160 Russians, who will be allowed to participate even though their country was banned in punishment for the systematic doping program at the 2014 event, hosted by Sochi, Russia.

The athletes will compete under the banner of “Olympic athletes from Russia.” The situation has been exacerbated by appeals by some Russian athletes and officials to allow them to participate in the games after they had been barred by the International Olympic Committee over links to the doping program. A final group of 47 had their appeals rejected Friday, just hours before the opening ceremony.