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

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

Our World is a small place

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