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become the fi rst male fi gure skater to win two consecutive titles since Dick Button (USA) in 1952, while the “King of Biathlon”, Norway’s 13-time Olympic medallist Ole Einar Bjørndalen, will be 44 in PyeongChang when he bids to add to his record winter haul. While Olympic fans will have plenty to look forward to on the fi eld of play, the Games will give the Republic of Korea an opportunity to share its unique hospitality through its culture and food. The Gangwon Potato Festival celebrates a side dish that is more popular than rice in the province, while Seongsan Food Village at the foot of Daegwallyeong Pass is famous for its steamed codfi sh head dish, and the waters abound with other fi sh varieties.The offi cial PyeongChang 2018 slogan – “Passion. Connected.” – refl ects not only this generous hospitality and Olympic spirit, but also the connection of generations through new technology, cultural convergence and improved transportation options, as well as a link between past, present and future.When IOC President Thomas Bach visited just ahead of the 500-day mark, he remarked: “Thanks to the strong support of the Korean people and authorities, PyeongChang is on course to deliver truly cutting-edge Olympic Winter Games. The momentum is building and the world will connect to the passion and energy of Korea.”You can already feel it in the wind. ■Right Figure skating at the Gangneung Ice ArenaBelow The short track test event attracted 29,000 fansOpposite PyeongChang 2018 mascot Soohorang has been helping to build excitement across the country‘PYEONGCHANG IS ON COURSE TO DELIVER TRULY CUTTING-EDGE WINTER GAMES. THE WORLD WILL CONNECT TO THE PASSION AND ENERGY OF KOREA’IOC PRESIDENT THOMAS BACHONE YEAR TO GO40 OLYMPIC REVIEW