Japan and China Cooperate to Host Games in Asia

TOKYO 2020 AND BEIJING 2022 COME TOGETHER IN SPIRIT OF OLYMPISM 

29 October, 2018

News from www.olympic.org

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ORGANISING COMMITTEES FOR THE OLYMPIC GAMES TOKYO 2020 AND OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES BEIJING 2022 RECENTLY SIGNED A MOU pledging cooperation for outstanding summer and winter games.  

"The two Organising Committees will exchange knowledge via the IOC’s transfer of knowledge programme and through an exchange of personnel, as well as by sharing their experiences related to sustainability, Olympic and Paralympic education and the use of emerging technology.

In addition to sharing Games-specific information, Tokyo 2020 and Beijing 2022 envisage promoting sports and cultural exchanges between the two countries, underlining the power of sport to bring cultures together in the spirit of friendship, excellence and respect." 

Beijing Vice-Mayor Zhang Jiandong commented, “This is a milestone event in the cooperation between our two organisations. We thank the International Olympic Committee for its strong support for the successful signature of this MoU. Both the Beijing 2022 Games and the Tokyo 2020 Games provide unique opportunities for promoting cultural exchanges and friendship between the peoples of China and Japan...I wish every success for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.”

Tokyo 2020 CEO Toshiro Muto added, “We are pleased to have signed this Memorandum of Understanding promoting cooperation between the two Organising Committees responsible for delivering consecutive Olympic and Paralympic Games in East Asia. Based on this MoU, we will promote the exchange of knowledge between the two organisations as well as contribute to the promotion of cultural exchange, and we will proceed steadily with our preparations for successful delivery of the Games.”

Decorated Olympic Swimmer Promotes Water Conservation

From CBS News, 16 September, 2018

Highly praised US Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps calls for each person to conserve and protect clean drinking water. Phelps joined Colgate's #Every Drop Counts Campaign as Global Water Ambassador. He recognizes current and pending water crises affecting the USA and many other nations. 

https://swimswam.com/michael-phelps-quashes-comeback-in-baltimore-sun-profile/

During an appearance on CBS This Morning, Phelps said, "We can all do something so small by turning off the faucet when we're brushing our teeth.. if we can all get on board, we can make a serious change." 

The first step is being aware of your water usage while bathing, washing clothing, gardening, etc. The Campaign estimates one can save up to 8 gallons of water daily by turning the faucet off when brushing teeth!  Little changes add up to protect the health of our planet. 

WATCH Phelps video

Summer Youth Olympic Games coming to Buenos Aires

Young athletes from many Nations will compete for glory in Buenos Aires from October 6-18, 2018. You can watch the action of the Summer Youth Olympic Games! Watch live on The Olympic Channel beginning October 7, https://www.olympicchannel.com/
Need to check in later? Watch twice daily one-hour highlights.

Launched in 2010, the Youth Games foster athletes ages 15-18 years, who compete in 32 sports. Four new sports will debut in Argentina, roller sports, dance sport, karate and sport climbing. This year, organizers achieved gender balance with equal numbers of male and female youth athletes.

Planning to attend? Register online for a Youth Olympic Pass electronic bracelet, and then pick up your Pass for free admission to the four Olympic parks and sports venues.

Empty Net Paralympic documentary

Empty Net," the first feature documentary film on the USA Paralympic Sled Hockey Team from the 2018 PyeongChang Paralympic Games will air throughout the month of June on the Olympic Channel and the NBC Sports app. Click here to view the trailer.

Spirited folk musicians lead spectators cheering for Team USA

Team USA competes in PyeongChang 2018 Winter Paralympics

Uncovering Determinants of Sexual Abuse of Gymnasts

LIVE - C-Span
Watch C-Span1 Live Stream from testimony to a Senate subcommittee with former MSU President Dr. Lou Anna Simon about sexual abuse of Olympic athletes by its former employee and physician to USA Gymnastics, Dr. Larry Nasser. Unfortunately, former USA Gymnastics President Steve Penny departed after invoking the Fifth Amendment, restricting the exchange of information. The desired outcome will be new protections for all athletes, preventing future recurrence by other abusers. 

World of Synchronized Swimming - WATCH

Olympic Channel Show - Original content

Watch Synchro Sisters, a series of four episodes

Episode 1: The World-Class Rivalry of Aquanuts and Aquamaids (11 minutes)
Synopsis - Dive into the historic rivalry of two of the elite synchronised swimming clubs in the US (Walnut Creek Aquanuts and Santa Clara Aquamaids) as they prepare to compete at nationals.

Walnut Creek Aquanuts

Santa Clara Aquamaids at 2018 US Collegiate and Senior National Championships

US Olympics 2018 Summer Champions Series

Follow the action as talented athletes compete nationally in four sports to join Team USA and compete in Tokyo in 2020!  Xfinity presents television coverage on NBCSN beginning May 12 at 7:30 p.m. Eastern with Volleyball Collegiate Beach Championships from Hermosa Beach, California.

Next up is USA Diving Senior National Championships on May 19 and 20, 2018 from Dallas, TX.

The third event in the series is USA Track and Field Outdoor Championships to be broadcast from Iowa on June 22-24, 2018. Finally Phillips 66 National Swimming Championships held in Irvine, California will be broadcast by NBCSN from July 25-28.

Watch on NBCSN, the Olympic Channel!

Thanks to Passion Crew Olympic and Paralympic Volunteers from IOC

Dear Passion Crew,

Thank you for your dedication and enthusiasm in making the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 a success. You should be proud of what you have achieved!

Athletes, spectators and guests from around the world experienced your warm welcome. They all left PyeongChang with unforgettable memories and a deep appreciation for the Republic of Korea.

We hope that you enjoyed your experience and we would like to stay in touch with you.

The International Olympic Committee Team

THANK YOU from athletes and volunteers for Great 2018 Paralympic Winter Games!
VIDEO

Samcheok's Beautiful but Unusual Haesindang Park

Drying seaweed for sale, a staple of Sinnam's local economy

Beautiful coastline of Gangwon Province, ROK

A group of adventurous Passion Crew volunteers from U.K., USA, Russia, Korea and 

Brazil met at the inter-city bus terminal for coffee and pastries. We then set off for an 

early morning adventure to Gangwon Province and Samcheok to tour Haesindang Park. 

We were quite surprised by the large number of phallic sculptures lining elevated trails

and gardens of Haesindang and couldn't resist jokes and posing for photos. 

From Fabiola Monteiro, National Geographic Traveller India

"...A little village named Sinnam near Samcheok, a town on the east coast of South Korea, 

hit a roadblock in its fishing industry at some point in history. According to legend (and South 

Korea’s official tourism website) this is because a young maid was caught in a storm while 

harvesting seaweed and drowned. The village folk believed that the only way to get the fish 

back in their nets would be to appease the maid’s spirit with male genitalia." 

Somewhat shocking at first to see so many phallic symbols, but the
natural setting is breathtaking

We warmed ourselves on the coast, happy to be free from the ice and snow of PyeongChang

Lore says that villagers pee in the sea each year to satisfy the spirit of a drowned maiden
and insure a successful fish harvest

"Other versions of the tale say that the locals figured out the connection between the need for phallic offerings and an abundance of fish when one of the fishermen relieved himself in the sea and the fish returned. To rid the town of this curse, giant penis sculptures were 
erected; some believe to help satiate the virgin’s inability to consummate her marriage..."

"Regardless of the details though, Haesindang 
Park stands on a hill in Samcheok and is popular 
with tourists. The emotive penises, some stone, 
some wooden, appear everywhere: as wind 
chimes, totem poles, hollowed out benches 
and little armrests. Some of the sculptures have 
faces and limbs. While there isn’t an exact date to pinpoint when the park came into being, locals 
continue to uphold the legend with rituals 
conducted to keep the curse at bay."

The temple erected to honor the maiden lost in a storm. Villagers bring tributes of food, drink,
money and carved phalluses

Je Joon, a Korean volunteer was embarrassed by the sculptures and his Western
travelers' enjoyment of the park sculptures. He soon joined in the fun and made sure
we didn't lose our way during transfers from inter-city to intra-city buses.

Not a surprise that the lighthouse is phallic shaped!

Medals Ceremonies and Closing of Paralympic Games

PyeongChang, Republic of Korea
17 March, 2018

Passion Crew members applaud para-athletes during evening Medals Ceremonies and rehearse for Closing Ceremony of the 2018 Winter Paralympics. Shh, we cannot share the secrets about tonight's performances, but you may watch it LIVE

We met Yoshihiro Nitta, Japan's Gold medal skiier in Olympic Park when he showed us his medal and posed for photos. We felt in awe marching by twos into Olympic Stadium carrying the flags of Nations participating in the 2018 Paralympic Winter Games. Dancers surrounded the stage welcoming each flag bearer.

Japan's Yoshihiro Nitta won gold in the standing category of the
cross-country 10-kilometer classical skiing

A large "hometown" crowd gathered to celebrate the victory of Eui Hyun Sin, who won the first
Gold medal for South Korea during a Winter Paralympics. He finished the Men's sitting 7.5km in the lead position. 

One final photo with Sohoorang and Bandabi

Jake Adicoff and guide Sawyer Kesselheim earn Silver Medals for Men's 10km Classic
Cross-Country Skiing, Visually Impaired

We prepare to enter Olympic Stadium as flag bearers for dress rehearsal
of Closing Ceremony

Korean dance and drum corps awaits entry to Olympic Stadium
for dress rehearsal

Hard-working Passion Crew volunteers inside Olympic Stadium can handle any assignment!

Celebrating Accomplished Para-athletes and Korean Culture

As we near the close of these historic Winter Paralympic Games, let us celebrate Korean culture and the achievements of exceptional athletes! We visited the Traditional Korean Pavilion in PyeongChang Olympic Park and happily completed crafts introducing us to traditional arts - woodblock print tote bag and floral art in the form of a molded scent diffuser. It's fun to create our own Paralympic souvenirs!

Belfry with cast dragon bell outside of the Hanok,
Traditional Korean Pavilion

Outside of the Hanok Building, a traditional Korean house, we met Team USA Snowboarder Mike Minor and his mother. Mike is enjoying his first Paralympic Games and shyly shared with us his Gold medal. He posed for photos. Soon, he was overwhelmed with interested spectators eager to meet a medalist!

Mike Minor, Snowboarder of Team USA and Paralympic Gold Medalist Greets Volunteers

Another treat was a live performance of Guk-ak or traditional music played by an instrumentalist and drummer. We listened raptly to the soothing sounds during a recording session with media representatives.

Enjoy a video excerpt of Guk-ak traditional music