SportAccord Convention is delighted to welcome the return of Sport Event Denmark as a Gold Partner and Co-Host for the 15th edition of the SportAccord Convention taking place in Aarhus, Denmark from 2-7 April 2017.
Sport Event Denmark is the national Danish sporting event organisation, established and supported by the Danish Government. Its main objective is to help develop and promote sport, to attract and host major international sporting events and congresses.
Lars Lundov, CEO of Sport Event Denmark, said: “It is a unique situation for Sport Event Denmark to welcome SportAccord Convention and all the delegates to Denmark as co-host as well as being Gold Partner once again. We will take the advantage to walk-the-talk in terms of hosting, not only in terms of the Convention but also in terms of the many major international sporting events that are in the pipeline. From the Opening of the Convention until the Closing Event in the ARoS Museum, we will do our utmost to demonstrate why Danes are some of the happiest people in the world and to share how the Danish ‘hygge’ can be translated into an international setting.”
To experience this in action, Sport Event Denmark will be found at the Danish Booth (no. 90) where delegates can take part in an interactive competition with the chance of winning a range of daily prizes including Beoplay H7 – Premium wireless over-ear headphones. Delegates are also invited to join the Danish team for Happy Hour from 16:30 to 17:30 daily from Tuesday 4 to 6 April inclusively, to sip and “exbeerience” one of the most famous beers in the world – Carlsberg.
Commenting on the partnership, Nis Hatt, Managing Director of SportAccord Convention, said: “It is always a pleasure to have Sport Event Denmark onboard as a Gold Partner and particularly this year as Co-Hosts with the City of Aarhus. Their enthusiasm, passion and contribution in putting this event together has been instrumental in helping to make the 15th edition of SportAccord Convention a special one in this year’s European Capital of Culture, Aarhus Denmark, and we would like to offer our sincerest thanks.”
Around 2,000 delegates register and attend the SportAccord Convention to network and discuss the business of sport with over ninety percent (90%) of the delegation being key decision-makers and in a position to take action. The majority of delegates, partners and exhibitors return each year, ensuring the Convention is part of their business strategy.
Category: Event Management
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Sport Event Denmark returns as gold partner and #SAC2017 co-host
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Impressive line-up of bronze partners for SportAccord Convention 2017
SportAccord Convention is pleased to confirm its Bronze Partners for the 15th edition of the Convention taking place from 2-7 April 2017 in Aarhus, Denmark, a city passionate about sport with a strong cultural vibe and offering friendly hospitality – the Hygge way.
Taking place in this year’s European Capital of Culture, the SportAccord Convention Bronze Partners include:
• European Championships Glasgow 2018
• FIBA (International Basketball Federation)
• Finnish Olympic Committee
• Mexico City Sports Institute
• Netherlands Board of Tourism & Conventions
• Melbourne – Visit Victoria
Held in a different city every year, the SportAccord Convention 6-day event is a unique opportunity for key decision-makers from sport and industry to meet, network, and strategically shape global, regional and national agendas, and is attended by up to 1,500 delegates.
Commenting on this year’s Bronze Partners, Nis Hatt, Managing Director of SportAccord Convention said, “We’re delighted to welcome our Bronze Partners for the 15th edition of SportAccord Convention and appreciate the support, commitment and value they bring to delegates. This year’s Bronze Partners demonstrate how the Convention provides the perfect platform for organisations to network and discuss the business of sport from all corners of the globe.”
As part of the Official Schedule, SportAccord Convention will host a 3-day Exhibition as well as a Conference including: the Plenary, City-to-City, City Forum, LawAccord and MediaAccord at this prestigious global gathering. Other features include the Speakers’ Corner, Opening Ceremony, as well as Closing Event to be hosted at the ARoS Aarhus Art Museum.
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3,000 volunteers needed for Glasgow 2018 European Championships
The search is on to find more than 3,000 volunteers who will be the welcoming face of the Glasgow 2018 European Championships – an exciting new multi-sport event that brings together some of the continent’s leading sport.
Applications have officially opened with volunteers set to play an essential role in the experience offered to athletes, officials, media and spectators as they visit Glasgow and Scotland next year. Volunteers will support a wide range of functions from Spectator Services and Accreditation, to Transport and Media and much more.
The Glasgow 2018 Volunteer Programme was launched at Glasgow’s iconic Kelvin Hall, which recently reopened following a £35 million redevelopment. The launch event was attended a team of Glasgow 2018 Volunteering Champions and Still Game star Sanjeev Kohli, who has been named as an official Volunteering Ambassador.
Thousands of people over the age of 16 are expected to express an interest in joining the volunteer team in what will be one of the most ambitious and inclusive volunteering programmes ever undertaken in Scotland, with the Glasgow 2018 volunteers set to be right at the heart of the inaugural European Championships.
Glasgow 2018 is committed to ensuring that the Volunteer Programme is open to all, building on the success of previous programmes delivered in the city including the Host City Volunteers and the Homeless World Cup. Full support will be given to those wanting to be part of the team regardless of their experience or current circumstances.
Glasgow 2018 Championships Director Colin Hartley said: “The Glasgow 2018 European Championships promises to be a memorable event for the whole city and our volunteers will be at its heart. From assisting elite athletes at venues to providing a friendly and welcoming face to the thousands of visitors arriving during Championships time, the volunteers will play an absolutely vital role in ensuring Glasgow 2018 is a success.
“Glaswegians are renowned for their generosity and friendliness and these are valued which we aim to reflect in our volunteers. This will be one of the most inclusive volunteer programmes ever delivered so we want to hear from everyone regardless of their previous experience or current circumstances. There is a real opportunity for you to play your part in sporting history by applying to become a Glasgow 2018 volunteer.”
To be staged every four years, the European Championships will combine the existing European Championships of Athletics, Aquatics, Cycling, Gymnastics, Rowing and Triathlon along with a new Golf team championships. The first edition will be held in 2018 in a unique sporting partnership between Host Cities Glasgow and Berlin.
This partnership will create a new event on the world stage elevating the status of European Champions and attracting a potential television audience of up to 1.03 billion across the continent, with a wider audience via digital platforms. Attendances across Glasgow 2018 are expected to be in the region of 250,000.
Applications will remain open up until July 31, 2017.
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SportAccord Convention 2017 is a runaway success in Aarhus
SportAccord Convention 2017, which took place in this year’s European Capital of Culture, Aarhus, Denmark from April 2-7, was billed as a runaway success.
With more than 1,600 delegates in attendance representing 71 nationalities, including 100 International Sport Federations and Associate Members, the 15th edition attracted key decision-makers from the world of sport.
With sport being the fastest growing sector in the entertainment industry, the six-day Convention included a full conference programme focused on ‘Innovation in Action’. This included the Plenary keynote from Michael Evans, President of Alibaba Group, City Day, MediaAccord and LawAccord, as well as a sell-out exhibition with 66 booths representing some of the international federations, cities and many industry sectors.
SportAccord Convention also received a royal visitor with Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark and heir apparent to the throne who visited the exhibition, as well as legendary goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel who greeted delegates on the Sport Event Denmark stand.
This year saw 135 cities and regions attend the SportAccord Convention who brought more than 300 delegates between them, including the 2024 bid cities who delivered introductory presentations at the ASOIF General Assembly.
Francesco Ricci Bitti, President of SportAccord Convention and ASOIF said: “SportAccord Convention is flying again. Following a difficult transition period, the SportAccord Convention in Aarhus has been a great success with special thanks to our hosts, Sport Event Denmark and the City of Aarhus.
“In the last few days, we have also had meetings with 15 cities interested in hosting future conventions from Asia, the United States of America, the Middle East and Europe. This confirms how relevant SportAccord Convention is for the international sports community.”
The glittering opening ceremony organised by this year’s Convention hosts was attended by more than 850 delegates. Held in the Musikhuset, the event featured culture, music and the performing arts, as well as speeches from the presidents of SportAccord Convention and the International Olympic Committee, and the Mayor of Aarhus.
The 16th edition of the SportAccord Convention was announced by Deputy Prime Minister Tanasak Patimapragorn and will take place in Bangkok, Thailand from April 15-20, 2018 and H.E. Mrs. Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, Thailand’s Minister for Tourism and Sports was also in attendance with her delegation.
The closing event took place in the iconic art museum of ARoS where hundreds of guests enjoyed panoramic rainbow views of the city, exclusive access to the new exhibition ‘The Past’, and cocktails and tapas accompanied by live music.
Lars Lundov, CEO of Sport Event Denmark, a long-term gold partner and this year, co-host of the SportAccord Convention, said: “Playing co-host to SportAccord Convention together with the City of Aarhus has been a privilege and honour, and we hope and believe that all delegates have enjoyed our hospitality and experienced the beautiful City of Aarhus. Thanks to SportAccord Convention for giving us the opportunity, and we look forward to catching up with the world of sport in Bangkok next year.”
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Glasgow to make cycling history at 2018 European Championships
Glasgow will become the first city in the world to simultaneously stage four Olympic-discipline cycling championships within its boundaries following a host city agreement (HCA) between the Glasgow 2018 European Championships and the Union of European Cycling (UEC).
The European Championships is a new multi-sport event that will see the continent’s leading athletes compete for career-defining moments of glory at world-class venues throughout Scotland. The first edition will be held in 2018 in a unique sporting partnership between Host Cities Glasgow and Berlin. It will combine the existing European Championships of athletics, aquatics, cycling, gymnastics, rowing and triathlon along with a new golf team championships at the famous PGA Centenary Course at Gleneagles.
Glasgow is host city for all events with the exception of athletics, which takes place in Berlin. Around 3,000 athletes will visit Scotland during the Championships while a further 1,500 athletes will compete in Berlin.
An action packed 11-day sports schedule will begin on August 2, 2018 with 10 days of television coverage providing a seamless viewing experience for a potential TV audience of more than one billion across Europe.
The four individual European Cycling Championships for road, track, BMX and mountain biking will all take place in Glasgow attracting 650 of Europe’s top cycling names to the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome at the Emirates Arena, the Cathkin Braes Mountain Bike Trails, the streets of Glasgow and a new world championship and Olympic-standard BMX track to be built in the Knightswood area of the city.
The HCA with the Union Européenne de Cyclisme (UEC) pledges to deliver an event that elevates the status of European cyclist in all disciplines as they compete for the status of European champion.
David Lappartient, president of the Union Européenne de Cyclisme, said: “For the first time ever in cycling, four major European Championships will take place in the same city and will last two weeks. This is a historic moment for European cycling enabling us to forge ahead with our development programme.
“The city of Glasgow has always loved the bike and is an ideal venue for combining the tradition of Road and Track cycling with the modernity of BMX and Mountain Bike, in a setting that will be particularly appreciated by all fans and experienced cyclists.
“We are looking forward to this experience with great enthusiasm in the knowledge that these 2018 European Championships promise to be a great success.”
British Cycling’s cycling director, Jonny Clay, said: “It’s fantastic to have the European Championships coming to British soil. With the 2014 Commonwealth Games , a national road race championships, and two rounds of the track world cup all hosted in Glasgow, the city’s appetite for cycling knows no bounds and the Championships will no doubt draw the crowds from across Britain.”
Glasgow’s Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome hosted the opening round of the UCI Track Cycling World Cup last November and the city also staged events for road, track and mountain biking during the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
Glasgow 2018 will see a major BMX event come to the city for the first time ever and the new track at Knightswood will leave a lasting legacy for the sport in Scotland.
Glasgow 2018 Championships director Colin Hartley said: “Cycling has historically attracted wide support in Scotland and we are delighted to be bringing four different disciplines to Glasgow 2018.
“With cycling events spread across the city and competition on the streets and roads of Glasgow and surrounding areas, we hope to give as many people as possible the chance to see sporting history being created.
“Moreover the creation of a world-class Olympic standard BMX venue in Knightswood will provide a long-standing legacy for the sport beyond the Championships.”
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UK to be main delivery partner of Lima 2019 Pan-American Games
UK International Trade Minister Greg Hands has signed an arrangement with the organisers of the 2019 Pan-American Games, making the UK the lead partner in helping deliver the fourth largest sporting event in the world.
The games, hosted in Peru for the first time in Lima in 2019, will bring together the nations of North and South America, with more than 5,000 competitors in 36 different sports. As part of the agreement, a team of UK experts with experience running more than 100 major sporting events including the 2012 London Olympics, will work closely with the Lima 2019 organising committee, helping it deliver the infrastructure and organisation of the games on-time and on-budget.
Contracts worth hundreds of millions of pounds will be open to UK companies to help deliver the organisation of the games in areas like event management, security and construction where the UK is a world-leader having been involved in the organisation of every major international sporting event since the 2000 Olympics.
Carlos Neuhaus, president of the Lima 2019 organising committee, said: “This arrangement with the UK government is fundamental to our progress in successfully organising and delivering the Lima 2019 Games. We are thrilled to be working in close collaboration with our British partners, benefitting from their extensive expertise to make the Lima 2019 Games a success.”
Hands added: “Since the Sydney Games in 2000 the UK has been involved in every major global sporting tournament offering support in areas like construction, transport and event organisation. This new agreement will deliver that world-leading expertise to help make the Lima 2019 Games a success, creating opportunities for UK companies and a lasting legacy for the Peruvian people as we did at London 2012.”
British ambassador to Peru, Anwar Choudhury, added: “This is a significant new milestone for our two countries. We are in this together, as friends and as long-standing partners. Through our support and expertise, we are confident we can make the Lima 2019 Games a tremendous success and leave a lasting legacy for Peru, just as the 2012 Olympic Games did in London.”
Knowledge transfer is also part of the bilateral arrangement. The team of British experts has an accumulated experience of more 100 large sporting events, including the 2012 Olympic Games in London, to help the Special Project ensure effective time-management and quality delivery of the Lima 2019 Pan American Games.
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ITU President, Marisol Casado, appointed to four IOC Commissions
[Source: ITU] The International Triathlon Union is pleased to announce that ITU President and International Olympic Committee member, Marisol Casado, has been appointed to four of the IOC Commissions. During the next year, Casado will serve on the Women and Sport, Olympic Solidarity, Public Affairs and Social Development Through Sport and Evaluation for the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad Commissions, while ITU Honorary Member Dr. Sarah Springman will serve on the IOC Sustainability and Legacy Commission.
“I am absolutely delighted to be involved in the four Commissions at the IOC,” said Casado. “To be able to present the IOC with the voice of an International Federation is always remarkable, and I commit myself to serve with dedication, transparency and loyalty to help develop not only our sport, triathlon, but also the whole world of sports.”
IOC President, Thomas Bach, announced the composition of the 26 IOC Commissions, highlighting the fact that 38% of the places are now held by women. “These changes are aligned with the implementation of Olympic Agenda 2020 and show that a stronger participation of women and a more diversified continental representation are our top priorities,” said IOC President Bach.
For the first time, female members are present on each of the Commissions. The IOC has also approved to increase the number of members from America, Africa and Asia, guaranteeing a more diverse continental representation.
Ms. Casado was appointed a member of the IOC in 2010, and since then she has been playing an active role on multiple commissions and activities. She joined the Women and Sport Commission in 2014, being also the only female president of a summer Olympic International Federation.
In 2015, she was appointed to the Public Affairs and Social Development through Sport Commission, presided by Mario Pescante, and the following year, in 2016, she was elected as a member of the Evaluation Commission for the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad, to which the cities of Los Angeles and Paris are bidding.
The last commission to be joined by Casado is the Olympic Solidarity, presided by the Sheik Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, which is focused on giving assistance to all the National Olympic Committees, particularly those with the greatest needs, through multi-faceted programmes prioritizing athlete development, training of coaches and sports administrators, and promoting the Olympic values.
ITU Honorary member and former Vice President, Dr. Sarah Springman, has also been appointed to serve on the Sustainability and Legacy Commission, presided by Prince Albert II of Monaco.
The new make-up of the IOC Commissions, which will provide assistance to the IOC and the Olympic Games Organising Committees, is also marked by the inclusion of young men and women who represent a new generation and will be the sports leaders of tomorrow.
“I am really excited that some young faces are joining us working on the Commissions. Mentoring the new generations is always a great investment for all, as we’ve been doing during the last few years, also at ITU,” said Casado. -
Accommodation upgrades taking place for PyeongChang 2018
The PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games organising committee is working to enhance and develop accommodation after concerns were raised over a shortage of rooms.
At February’s PyeongChang 2018 Chef de Mission Seminar, it was reported that while construction and planning for the Games venues were impressive, accommodation and transport links were an issue.
Because of a potential lack of rooms in the mountain and coastal clusters, spectators may be forced to book accommodation outside of the Olympic areas. Some may even have to travel from the capital city Seoul, which is more than an hour away by high-speed rail and more than two hours away via the expressway.
At a PyeongChang 2018 roadshow organised by the Korea Tourism Organization in London, officials were asked what is being done to allay the fears of a shortage in rooms. Hyung Koo Yeo, secretary general of the PyeongChang Organising Committee for the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (POCOG), told media that adjustments were being made for accommodation.
He said: “Regarding the client groups there are 21,000 rooms accredited by the IOC. The accommodation development plan is in progress regarding the contracts with various stakeholders and there are some changes such as cancellations, some additional reservations. We are in the process where we adjust these type of things.
“Regarding the spectators the host cities are preparing for this. We are in the process where we enhance and develop the quality and environment of these accommodations.”
During the 2018 Winter Olympic Games 12 competition venues will be used, with six new venues purpose-built for the event. Four of the six venues – Gangneung Oval, Gangneung Ice Arena, Gangneung Hockey Centre and the Kwandong Hockey Centre – are 100% complete. The Jeongseon Alpine Centre and Alpensia Sliding Centre are 86.7% and 94.15% completed respectively.
According to POCOG overall construction progress of venues is at 96.8% as of April 17.
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New PASO president Neven Ilic to meet with Lima 2019 organising committee
Neven Ilic, the newly-elected president of the Pan American Sports Organization (PASO), is travelling to Lima to discuss preparations for the Lima 2019 Pan American Games with president of Peru Pedro Pablo Kuczynski and the Lima 2019 organising committee.
On his first international trip as PASO President, Neven Ilic will meet President Kuczynski at the Lima Government Palace on Tuesday at 10:00 local time.
President Kuczynski and the Lima 2019 Organising Committee will use the senior PASO delegation’s visit to the Peruvian capital as an opportunity to present the preparations underway for delivering a world-class event that leaves a positive legacy for Peru and the PASO region.
Lima 2019 president Carlos Neuhaus said: “We very much look forward to welcoming President Ilic to Lima. The new president has made it clear the Pan American Games is a strategic priority for PASO and that is a responsibility all of us here at Lima 2019 take very seriously. We are grateful for the opportunity to show him our progress to date and our plan of action for the coming months.
“We are confident that this is the beginning of strong relationship between Lima 2019 and the new PASO leadership as we work together to deliver a Games that PASO and Peru can be proud of, a great experience for every participant, and a meaningful legacy for the people of Peru and beyond.”
Following his meetings at the Lima Government Palace, President Ilic will travel to the Lima 2019 offices where he will receive presentations on the current status of preparations before being taken on tour of Lima 2019 venues and construction sites.
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“Hello PyeongChang” – Exclusive interview, Hee-beom Lee, CEO, POCOG
Ask any elite athlete what it takes to win an Olympic title and you will probably hear an answer including words such “hard work”, “lots of training” and “perseverance”.
Well, the same thing can be said for any city or country bidding to host a summer or winter Olympic Games.
After missing out on both the 2010 and 2014 events, the Korean county of PyeongChang finally won the bid for the 2018 Winter Olympic Games when it secured 63 votes compared to Munich (Germany) 25 votes and Annecy (France) seven votes in the 2011 IOC election.
In both the 2010 and 2014 bids, PyeongChang actually won the first stage of voting but lost out in the final rounds to Vancouver and Sochi by three and four votes respectively.
Losing once may be tough, losing twice may be soul destroying, but the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee were not going to give up on its Olympic dream easily. So once PyeongChang finally secured the bidding rights the organising committee was going to make sure that the “third time is a charm” – especially for its long-term sporting and social legacy plans.
A major test for Korea
Thirty years since the capital city Seoul held the Summer Olympic Games of 1988, Korea is preparing to welcome back the Olympic movement in February.
PyeongChang 2018 will see 102 events in 15 sport disciplines taking place at various locations, including six new venues purposely built for the winter games.
In order to be ready for 2018, a rigorous testing schedule under the “Hello PyeongChang” banner has seen the delivery of 25 test events (20 Olympic and five Paralympic) since February 2016 with thousands of athletes competing at 12 competition venues.
Speaking to Host City, Hee-beom Lee, the president and CEO of the PyeongChang Organising Committee for the 2018 Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games (POCOG), explained the importance of learning from the test events.
He said: “Overall the hardware [venues and infrastructure] and software [operational know-how, sponsorship and promotion] preparations are progressing as the POCOG team, Gangwon Province and the Central Government continue to work closely together.
“The average completion rate for six of our new competition venues is 97%. For our non-competition venues, construction is also well underway and we expect them to be completed by September 2017.
“Even with the end of the test events, our team will still use opportunities from milestone events and other activities to further fine-tune the Games preparations to ensure we can deliver the best Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in 2018.”
Thirty years after Seoul 1988 put Korea on the global sporting map, PyeongChang 2018 has the potential to do the same again for winter sports. Lee added: “We saw the impact of the Summer Games back in 1988 on Korea and the perception of Korea by the outside world and we know that 30 years on the Winter Games can do the same for the country.”
Progress and legacy of the venues
The 2018 Winter Olympic Games will see events held in two main clusters in the Gangwon-do province – the PyeongChang Mountain and Gangneung Coastal clusters.
Located in the north-east of the country, the mountainous Gangwon-do province has multiple ski resorts and national parks. A key factor to the hosting bid was that all PyeongChang 2018 competition venues are within 30 minutes’ driving distance from the PyeongChang Olympic Stadium.
POCOG’s president Lee said: “Out of the six brand-new competition facilities, four have been completed and two are still on-going. As for the non-competition venues, they are well on track for completion.”
In the long-term, the 2018 venues will have a lasting legacy for Korea’s elite level sportsmen and woman and also its residents. “We have developed a post-Games venue legacy plan to keep the Olympic spirit alive,” said Lee. “The venues for PyeongChang 2018 have been designed as much around what happens after the Games as during it. These world-class facilities will serve communities and athletes for years to come.
“Many of the competition venues will continue to be used by athletes from Korea and all around Asia. The Sliding Centre [will be used] by the Korea National Sports University, Gangneung Hockey Centre by the new Daemyung ice hockey team and Alpensia Sports Park for Nordic skiing.
“Other venues will be open to the public and benefit the local residents. Ice arena as a multi-use sport-for-all facility and the Kwandong Hockey Centre used by the university.”
Accessibility is key
While the sporting venues are either complete or in the final stages of construction, there’s also much work being done to make sure athletes, officials and visitors can easily access the games.
Transport links between Seoul and the games clusters have had huge upgrades and improvements as part of PyeongChang 2018’s long-term legacy plan. New motorways and high-speed railway are among the major projects.
“Looking at transport, the constructions of the high-speed railway, expressways and the road networks are on schedule,” said Lee. “The 2nd Yeongdong Express Highways was completed last year. We have seen great improvements in the traffic flow from Seoul to PyeongChang as congestions have been reduced. There is also an increase in traffic with more people driving into PyeongChang.
“The high-speed railway will be completed in June this year and it will undergo thorough testing throughout the rest of the year. Once completed, people can travel easily from Incheon Airport to PyeongChang and Gangneung in just 98 minutes and 113 minutes respectively.
“This is great news for those travelling from Seoul who can now reach PyeongChang with ease and at a much shorter time – around 70 minutes via train and within two hours by car. The transport system will make the Games very accessible to many people.”
Transportation within the venue clusters is also high on the agenda for POCOG and the host locations. The transportation system in host cities comprises of two categories – the one provided by POCOG, and the other provided by host cities.
The POCOG transportation system for spectators includes a total of three transport malls (Jinbu and Hoenggye Mall in the Mountain Cluster and North Gangneung Mall in the Coastal Cluster) and 10 parking lots with a total 11,170-car capacity.
Dedicated free shuttle buses will be also provided to the public from the transport malls in the mountain and coastal clusters to the various Olympic venues.
Sporting legacy
The PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games marks the start of a memorable six years for Asian sport as the first of three Olympic events scheduled for the region, with Tokyo 2020 and then Beijing 2022 taking over the baton.
But while the 2018 games will again put Korea in the spotlight, the event is as much for Asia as it is for the republic.
“We have realised our dream by being given the honour of hosting the 2018 Games and we are now working hard to bring that dream to life,” said Lee. “We want to create many more life-changing experiences and open up new horizons for everyone that will be touched by the Games.”
Grassroots sport is one sector that POCOG and the local authorities have focused on since winning the bid. Schools have been engaged by the POCOG education department to create lesson plans and multi-media materials for teachers to deliver to students so they are given the opportunity to take part in the Olympic movement by participating in competitions and try out different sports. This education programme will grow in the months leading up to the 2018 Winter Olympics.
Another initiative launched by POCOG is its ‘Dream Programme’, which began in 2004. POCOG’s aim with the programme is to promote winter sports at grassroots level but on an international scale.
Lee said: “The aim of this programme is to offer young people from countries that lack the natural environment for winter sports, the opportunity to experience winter sports and advance the Olympic and Paralympic movement worldwide.
“A total of more than 1,500 people from 83 countries have participate in this programme by this year. We want to engage the younger generation and get more of them involved and excited by winter sports.”
Long-term tourism
With sporting and social legacy plans now in place one of the major industries that is looking to capitalise on the 2018 Winter Olympics is Korea’s tourism sector.
From the upgrades in venues and facilities to the new transport links, POCOG is working with government departments such as the Korea Tourism Organization to promote the country as a winter sports destination – not just in the run-up to next year, but also in the years after the event is held.
Lee said: “With the ‘New Horizons’ vision, we aim to develop winter sports and relevant industries in Asia, leaving a lasting legacy in the host region by transforming PyeongChang and Gangwon Province into an Asian winter sports hub and year-round tourist destination. This is part of the sporting legacy of POCOG 2018.
“The Gangwon province has the potential to go from a small region in Korea into a hub of winter sports. Its proximity to Seoul is a really strong selling point making the slopes and snow more accessible for everyone, especially with the new transport links that are currently being developed.”
Seunghyun Hwang, director of the Korea Tourism Organization in London, agreed that PyeongChang and the Gangwon-do province have the potential to be a winter sports hub. But Korea can also, according to Hwang, play a huge part in the run-up to the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.
“North Asia is quite lucky that in the two years after PC2018 there will be the Tokyo summer Olympics and then Beijing 2022, which gives our region a huge opportunity to solidify North Asia as a winter and summer sporting hub,” said Hwang. “The 12 venues and the Gangwondo province as a whole will become ideal training camps for athletes ahead of 2022. Asia is likely to see a major winter sport increase over the coming years with both 2018 and 2022 putting spotlight on region.
“The fact that Korea tried to get the Winter Olympics in 2010, 2014 and was successful for 2018 means there has been much time to create such things as a ‘ski school’ to encourage the best young Asian ski athletes from across South East Asia to get involved in elite [and amateur] and encourage a new generation to these type of sports.”
Factbox: PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games
When: February 9-28, 2018 (Winter Olympics); March 9-18, 2018 (Paralympic Winter Games)
Where: PyeongChang will host the opening and closing ceremonies and most snow sports. Alpine speed events will take place in Jeongseon, and all ice sports will be competed in the coastal city of Gangneung
Number of events/sports: 102 events in 15 sport disciplines
Venues:PyeongChang Mountain Cluster: PyeongChang Olympic Stadium, Alpensia Ski Jumping Centre, Alpensia Biathlon Centre, Alpensia Cross-Country Skiing Centre, Alpensia Sliding Centre, Yongpyong Alpine Centre, Jeongseon Alpine Centre, Bokwang Snow Park
Gangneung Coastal Cluster: Gangneung Hockey Centre, Gangneung Oval, Gangneung Ice Arena, Gangneung Curling Centre, Kwandong Hockey CentreDid you know? The 2018 Olympic Winter Games will be held in Korea 30 years after the Seoul Summer Olympic Games of 1988
Venue readiness
Progress of competition venues (as of May 2017)
Gangneung Oval (Speed skating): 100%
Gangneung Ice Arena (Short track): 100%
Gangneung Hockey Centre: 100%
Kwandong Hockey Centre: 100%
Jeongseon Alpine Centre: 86.7%
Alpensia Sliding Centre: 94.2%
Progress of non-competition venuesOlympic Plaza: 54%
International Broadcasting Centre: 92.8%
PyeongChang Athlete’s Village: 61.95%
Gangneung Athlete’s Village: 76.78%
Gangneung Media Village: 80.9%
New high-speed rail (Wonju to Gangeung): 88%
PyeongChang 2018 venue legacy plans
Kwandong Hockey Centre (main stadium, training venue)
Legacy operator: Catholic Kwandong University
Legacy plan: Multi-purpose sports facility
Gangneung Ice ArenaLegacy operator: Gangneung
Legacy plan: Gym and indoor sports stadium; theme parks and entertainment plaza (ice rink, outlet mall)
Gangneung Ice Arena (short track training venue)Legacy operator: Yeongdong University
Legacy plan: Multi-purpose sports facility
Gangneung Curling CentreLegacy operator: Gangneung
Legacy plan: Multi-purpose sports facility
Bokwang Snow ParkLegacy operator: Bokwang Co., Ltd
Legacy plan: Existing Ski Resort
Olympic StadiumLegacy operator: Gangwon Province
Legacy plan: Olympic History Museum
Alpensia Sliding CentreLegacy operator: Korea National Sport University
Legacy plan: Training facility for athletes; gyms, educational facilities
Gangneung Hockey Centre (main stadium, training venue)Legacy operator: Daemyung Holdings
Legacy plan: Stadium for a new professional ice hockey team (Daemyung)
Pending legacy plans: Jeongseon Alpine Centre, Gangneung Oval