Page 34

rekkers along the Seonjaryeong Ridge have long been drawn to its striking views and strong winds. Gusts power 53 giant wind turbines that stretch into the distance, providing clean energy down below.These days those winds carry an air of excitement, and next February will sweep in a new era in Korean sports with the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018.Seonjaryeong, a 1,157m mountain in the Baekdudaegan range, forms a boundary between PyeongChang, where the snow events will be held, and the coastal city of Gangneung, home of the ice arenas. Both sides have seen a fl urry of activity, with venues almost completed and a programme of test events drawing athletes from around the world, as well as enthusiastic volunteers and curious spectators.Gangwon Province, known as the place where the fi rst sun rises in the Republic of Korea and the fi rst snow falls, is a fi tting host for the Games and the chosen theme of “New Horizons”.“PyeongChang 2018 marks 30 years – one generation – since the Olympic Games Seoul 1988 were hosted in the Republic of Korea,” says Sung Baik-you, spokesman for the PyeongChang 2018 Organising Committee (POCOG). “This will be a chance to showcase to the world how the Republic of Korea has developed during those years and is now emerging as a leading country, putting us on the world map for sport and tourism once again.”Organisers hope to transform the area, already popular regionally for its ski resorts, into an Asian winter sports hub and year-round tourist destination. Interest in the Olympic Games is expected to boost the growth of winter sports here by reaching new audiences and attracting homegrown talent, with the help of 5G technology, social media and new viewing platforms.PyeongChang marked one year to go on 9 February with more than a week of festivities. These included the unveiling of the countdown clock in the capital Seoul, the launch of ticket sales and the introduction of the Olympic torch and the Olympic torchbearer uniforms.Throngs of people turned out for a performance of the country’s signature K-Pop music, the PyeongChang Culture Arts Festival, a fi reworks tournament and – even more dazzling – an impressive slate of test events in speed skating, freestyle skiing, snowboard, ski jumping, and fi gure skating, all presented under the “Hello PyeongChang” banner.Lee Sang-hwa, two-time Olympic champion speed skater in the women’s 500m and Games Ambassador, says imagining the Olympic Games in PyeongChang is “simply exhilarating. Winter sports in the Republic of Korea are developing at a remarkable pace, and hosting the Games will provide further momentum”.TAbove A view of the venues in the Alpensia resortRight Organisers hope to turn the host region into a winter sports hubONE YEAR TO GO34 OLYMPIC REVIEW