PyeongChang 2018 Gets Ready for Test Events

(ATR) PyeongChang 2018 chief Yang Ho Cho says he is excited about welcoming athletes to the city for test events as the clock counts down to the two-years-to-go milestone.

"POCOG is moving forward with confidence after a very busy and productive year," Cho said in a statement Wednesday.

"We look forward to this next year of preparations and practice that will be put into action starting with our test events in February. The POCOG team is excited to welcome the athletes to PyeongChang and test operations as part of our preparation for a successful Games in 2018."

South Korea’s Winter Olympics leaders have a busy year of test events ahead.

A total of 28 Olympic warm-up competitions will be staged from February 2016 through to April 2017. The program begins with the Feb. 6-7 FIS Ski World Cup at the Jeongseon Alpine Centre. Later in February, the FIS Snowboard World Cup and FIA Freestyle Ski World Cup take place at Bokwang Snow Park.Next December the ISU World Cup Short Track Speed Skating will test operations at the Gangneung Ice Arena.

In a release, PyeongChang 2018 organisers gave an update on construction progress:

Venue

Discipline

Progress Rate

(as of Dec. 25)

Completion

Alpensia Sliding Centre

Bobsleigh, Luge, Skeleton

60.05%

October 2016

Jeongseon Alpine Centre

Alpine (speed)

57.5%

Kwandong Hockey Centre

Ice Hockey II

58.4%

Gangneung Hockey Centre

Ice Hockey I

52.4%

November 2016

Gangneung Ice Arena

Figure Skating, Short Track

50.9%

Gangneung Oval

Speed Skating

22.5%

February 2017

Games organisers will also be looking to ramp up their sponsorship revenues after struggling to secure partners in 2014 and 2015.

The IOC's 2018 Olympic Coordination Commission led by Gunilla Lindberg holds its sixth inspection in PyeongChang March 14-18.

Reported by Mark Bisson

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