Follow unique experiences of a volunteer helping during Summer and Winter Olympic Games! Learn steps for selection and training, as well as roles performed during international events.
Today, we arose early in order to greet the dawn and rising sun at Sokch Seorak Sunrise Park. Hot coffee and warm clothing buffered us against 1C temperature and mild winds. The time before dawn is most peaceful to walk along the seashore. Many Sokcho residents were still sleeping and businesses closed. We met only a few other intrepid souls and remembered those we miss while traveling as Paralympic volunteers.
Jung Mi is a great Team leader for international volunteers!
Many fisherman were already at sea for first days' catch.
A couple of stragglers rushed to join the others; must have
been late risers! We teased the groggy sun, which
seemed to slowly rise at first, and then rapidly filled the
sky as a fireball.
Wake-up sleepy sun!
Sokch Seorak Sunrise Park with Seoroksan (snow rock) Mountain in the distance
On Sunday evening following final competition, the Closing Ceremonies will be held in PyeongChang Olympic Stadium. The theme is "Passion Moves Us" and athletes from different Nations will be seated stage front for best viewing. South Korean K-Pop, traditional singers and dancers will perform, as well as a dance troupe from the People's Republic of China.
PyeongChang Olympic Stadium
Last night we practiced roles as volunteers for the Closing Ceremony. Despite -1C temp and snow, we proudly carried flags of the Nations into Olympic Stadium, watched performers refine their song and dance, and considered most efficient method of seating athletes as honored guests.
Gangneung Olympic Park
Making new friends while in South Korea
We look forward to a special tribute to physicist Stephen Hawking, who died on 14 March. Professor Hawking long-championed disability rights. The flag of the IPC will be presented to representatives of China, host of Beijing 2022 Winter Games.
All you need to know about when the 2018 Winter Paralympics started and will finish, when the closing ceremony is, what time it starts, when it’s on TV, the current medal count and the planned tribute to the late Stephen Hawking.
Our Passion Crew volunteer group enjoys Medals Ceremonies
Ceremonies and Event Services Volunteers head to work!
Enjoying a walk through PyeongChang City
Volunteers carry National flags into Olympic Stadium during rehearsal
Who would think a Paralympic Games volunteer from USA would travel more than 7,000 miles and be assigned a roommate, who is a Korean National and a fellow alumnus of The University of South Carolina?
Although we had not met before, we were both graduate students in Columbia during the same period 25 years ago! Go Gamecocks! Byungkook Jung earned his MSW in 1992. I graduated with an EdD in 1993; it's truly a small World!
Passion Crew volunteers and roommates - Brian Geiger (USA), "Baker" Jung (ROK) & Mitchell Biersner (USA)
Snow returned to PyeongChang in time for snowboarding, alpine skiing and cross-country competitions. Our small volunteer team assigned to help with Ceremonies was featured in Korean media. "Passion Crew" volunteers strive for successful Paralympic Winter Games - LINK to Insight Korea
Sokcho - 15 March, 2018 We returned to Sokcho located in Gangwon-do Province via taxi. We had an unexpected free afternoon after rehearsal for Closing Ceremonies was canceled due to rain and colder weather. Olympic Stadium is open and not protected from the elements.
Sokcho Tourist Fish Market
The City of Sokcho is well known for its fresh and dried fish markets, which attract locals and tourists alike. Select your supper and cook on site or carry home to make your own special dish. Within the Fish Market, we found vendors selling buckwheat flour and noodles, fresh and dried fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, toys, clothes, and an unusual frozen beer and ice cream float!
What is your pleasure -- fresh octopus, varieties of crab (snow, king), cuttlefish, ray, sea squirt, sea cucumber, jetting squid, abalone, pen shell, whelk, clams, mackerel, knife fish, sea bass, fat rock fish, huge flounder, cuttlefish sausage, seaweed and oysters? From TripAdvisor.com, "But throughout the day, there is on display just about everything that swims, slithers, or sits about under water and is edible - plus a few things that don't exactly look too taste-tempting. Most people go in the evening between 7pm and 9pm to eat and drink."
This afternoon, we selected steamed snow crab with numerous tasty banchan. These small dishes included Dak-gangleon (spicy fried chicken in a sweet sauce), chili radish, fiery small green peppers, kim-chee, soondae (Korean blood sausage), corn salad, lettuce with apple dressing, sweet cabbage and fish cake. Our gracious hostess offered to mix the crab eggs and innards with fried rice. The last course was spicy ramen with vegetables. All dishes were delicious!
Steamed snow crab anyone? Sweet, no butter needed!
Navigating streets and alleys of Sokcho
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According to Lonely Planet.com, "Sokcho is only about 60km from the border and was part of North Korea from 1945 to the end of the Korean War. Most of the coastline is lined with barbed wire. At night, remember that lights in the water are to attract squid; lights on the beaches are to detect infiltrators."
Reminds me of the famous bull on Wall Street in NYC!
Try fresh octopus for dinner -- Imagine enjoying with spicy sauce!
On 12 March, 2018, I watched with fascination as Team USA played Czech Republic during the second preliminary round game in Gangneung Hockey Stadium. Paralympic Sled Hockey is a physical game with many exciting moments as pucks are passed, stolen and shot toward goals. Pay attention or you will miss the fast-paced action!
Fans were polite, applauding for both teams and expressing disappointment when a goal was missed or player overturned his sled. Game SUMMARY and STATS Team USA was victorious in this preliminary game scoring 10-0 against its opponent. Spectators expect thrilling semi-final games today, hometown favorite Team Korea versus Canada this afternoon, and Team USA versus Italy tonight!
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View video and read MORE about Para-ice hockey from Paralympics.org
Para ice hockey follows similar rules to its able-bodied version, with the main difference in the equipment used. Swap ice skates with sledges, and two hockey sticks instead of one, and you pretty much have Para ice hockey.
It is one of two team sports at the Paralympic Winter Games, featuring fast-paced and physical action that makes it a spectator favourite.
History
Para ice hockey was invented at a rehabilitation centre in Stockholm, Sweden, during the early 1960s by a group of Swedes who, despite their physical impairment, wanted to continue playing hockey. The sport made its Paralympic debut at Lillehammer 1994 in Norway.
In 2016, the sport was renamed and rebranded from IPC ice sledge hockey to Para ice hockey, and is governed by World Para Ice Hockey.
The competition
As in ice hockey, each team attempts to outscore its opponent by shooting the puck across the ice and into the opposing team's goal while also preventing the opposing team from scoring. Six players (including the goalkeeper) from each team are on the ice at one time.
The competition is a mixed team tournament, in which women can play alongside men. There are three 15-minute periods with 15-minute breaks. The match goes into overtime if the score is tied after the third period. If there is no goal in overtime, penalty shots are applied.
Equipment
Players sit in specially designed sledges that have two hockey skate blades. Each player has two sticks with metal pics on the butt end that allow players to propel themselves. Goalkeeper wears leg pads, body pads, a helmet with a visor and a catcher glove to protect the athlete from pucks flying up to 100 km/h.
