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AS THE OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES PYEONGCHANG 2018 PASS THE ONE-YEAR-TO-GO MILESTONE, GAMES AMBASSADOR YUNA KIM BELIEVES THE HOST CITY IS ON TRACK TO STAGE A MEMORABLE EVENT, WHICH WILL HELP WINTER SPORTS FLOURISH IN THE REPUBLIC OF KOREABEYOND THE RINGSCONNECTING KOREA WITH THE WORLD With less than 12 months to go until the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018, excitement is growing for the first Games to be held in my home country, the Republic of Korea, in 30 years. As I was born in 1990, I have only been able to experience the Olympic Games Seoul 1988 through photos, videos and stories told by my elders. I was able to live the dream I had when I first started figure skating by competing in two editions of the Olympic Winter Games. Participating in the Games as an athlete was truly beyond my imagination. Vancouver 2010 was my first Olympic Winter Games and all my memories of the well-equipped facilities, athletes’ passion and cheering crowds still remain dearly in my heart. A few things went through my mind when PyeongChang was announced as the host of the Games six years ago. The first thing was that hosting the Olympic Winter Games could awaken the Republic of Korea’s potential to become a winter sports powerhouse. Athletes representing Korea would also be able to prepare for the Games in a familiar environment. In addition, PyeongChang 2018 could offer a chance for less appreciated winter sports in Korea – such as skiing, snowboarding and bobsleigh – to shine. The Republic of Korea will have the honour of staging the world’s greatest sporting event a second time. As I mentioned in my presentation for PyeongChang’s Olympic bid, the Olympic Winter Games will bring “New Horizons” and leave a “human legacy”, raising the standard of Korea’s winter sports. Only two Olympic Winter Games have been held before in Asia. With PyeongChang becoming the third Asian host city, I truly believe these Games will help winter sports flourish throughout the region. Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to visit the Gangneung Ice Arena where the figure skating and short track speed skating events will take place during the Games, and I skated on the ice to promote the host city in my role as an Ambassador. The Gangneung Ice Arena is so beautiful and equipped with such state-of-the-art facilities that I feel absolutely certain that PyeongChang is on the right track to stage a successful Games. We are now in the middle of a busy test event season. I am sure all our spectators and guests will bring a terrific energy to the stadiums next year to create one of the best atmospheres ever experienced at an Olympic Games. With only a year left until the Games, seeing all of the progress being made right in front of my own eyes, I am so proud both as a Korean and as an Olympic Ambassador. For the rest of the year, I will focus all my energy on promoting PyeongChang 2018. I am sure it will be a year full of excitement. I hope you can feel the excitement too. ■Yuna Kim competed in figure skating for the Republic of Korea at two editions of the Olympic Winter Games, winning women’s singles gold at Vancouver 2010 and silver in Sochi four years later.Pictured Competing in the Olympic Winter Games fulfilled a lifelong dream for Yuna Kim 28 OLYMPIC REVIEW COLUMN