PyeongChang Delegation "Observing and Learning" at Universiade

(ATR) More than one hundred staff members from the PyeongChang 2018 Organizing Committee (POCOG) have been onsite in Gwangju observing elements of Summer Universiade 2015.

Staff members have observed key aspects of the 13-day multi-sports event under the International University Sports Federation (FISU) umbrella, including ceremonies, accreditation, transportation, media operations, security, communications, village operations, IT, venue and village operations and accessibility.

PyeongChang 2018 president Yang-ho Cho joined other members of the organizing committee team at the opening ceremony in Gwangju, located approximately 270 kilometers south of Seoul, on July 3rd.

POCOG director of international media relations Jihye Lee said the team’s visit has been a positive experience in preparation for hosting the 2018 Winter Games.

"Of course there is difference in the specific sports, the climate and many more requirements, but some functions are fundamentally similar when organizing a mega-event, so these areas are what we intend to observe and learn from," Lee told Around the Rings.

In the past, POCOG staffers have also reviewed functions while attending other major multi-sport events such as London 2012, Sochi 2014 and the 2014 Incheon Games.

"Experience is an important factor in hosting such mega events," Lee said. "POCOG has several staff members who have worked at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games, and some from the Gwangju Universiade Organizing Committee (GUOC) may also join POCOG later on."

More than 13,000 student athletes from 141 countries are competing for 272 sets of medals in 21 sports at Universiade, which concludes on July 14.

In addition to observing and attending events, POCOG is operating a spacious welcoming booth within the Universiade’s Market Street. The theme is "Whitely Amazing, imagining PyeongChang in winter 2018."

A hot attraction is a snow-making machine allowing visitors to experience a cold winter during South Korea’s mid-summer months.

"The Universiade is a festival of the world’s youth, and we hope the PyeongChang2018 booth can be another location for them to make more memories," Lee said.

PyeongChang Welcomes Record Breaking Program

Six new winter events being added (and two removed) to the Olympic program by the IOC gives PyeongChang 2018 the distinction of becoming the first Winter Olympics in history which will award more than 100 gold medals.

The approval of the alpine nations team event, snowboard big air (men and women), mass start speed skating (men and women), and mixed doubles curling brings the total number of events to be contested in PyeongChang to 102.

"We look forward to having the new events to invite more interest, fun and participation to the Olympic program," Lee said.

Lee advised that the six new events and larger program will not alter ongoing preparations for the Games.

"POCOG will continue to work closely with the IOC and relevant international federations to make sure that the athletes will have the same optimal conditions for competing in the new events as those that are already on the Olympic program," Lee said.

The enhanced program will allow for a record number of female events, mixed events, number of female athletes, and a projected increase in the overall female participation rate at the Olympic Winter Games.

PyeongChang Venue Progress Update

Progress with construction of six new venues in PyeongChang’s two clusters is moving forward with just over two-and-a-half years until the 2018 Games.

The first test events are scheduled for early February 2016 – FIS World Cup alpine skiing downhill and super-G races are planned for Jeongseon.

"The Jeongseon Alpine Center will be approximately 40% completed for the test event next February, meaning the course and major facilities will be ready to hold a good competition," Lee advised.

In terms of other venue construction as of last week, the Gangneung Ice Arena (figure skating/short track) is 21.9% completed, the Gangneung Hockey Center is at 24.4%, the Alpensia Sliding Center (bobsleigh/luge) is at 38.5%, and the Gangneung Oval (speed skating) is at 8.2%.

The 5th IOC Project Review of PyeongChang 2018 is scheduled for July 23-24.

Homepage photo: PyeongChang 2018

Written by Brian Pinelli

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