Olympic Update for Sunday, Feb. 04

Excerpted from The Guardian U.S. Edition -- 

AP in Incheon

Wearing a blue logo of a map symbolising peace between North and South Korea, the most talked-about team at the Winter Olympics was in action on Sunday in a friendly that drew thousands of spectators.

The two countries’ female ice hockey players, who only began practising together as a team about a week ago, showed plenty of fight in their first competitive match but never really threatened world no. 5 Sweden who beat them 3-1 in Incheon, South Korea. Korea will play Sweden again on 12 February during the tournament proper. 

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The outcome didn’t seem to matter to the capacity crowd of 3,000 at the Seonhak International ice rink. Fans waved miniature flags showing a unified Korean peninsula, chanted “we are one” and screamed whenever their team went on the attack. The arena erupted when the South Korean forward Park Jong-ah cut the deficit to 2-1...

The Korea team is part of a rapprochement between the two countries for the Pyeongchang Games, which Seoul sees as an opportunity to revive meaningful communication with Pyongyang following an extended period of animosity and diplomatic stalemate over North Korea’s nuclear programmes.

The Olympics begin Friday, with Pyeongchang, which will host the skiing, snowboarding and sliding events, and Gangneung, a coastal city about an hour’s drive away, which will host the ice hockey, skating and curling events. North Korea plans to send hundreds of people to the games, including athletes, officials, artists and a 230-member cheering group...

The Observer view on the Winter Olympics and tensions with North Korea

 

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North and South Korea Exemplify Olympic Spirit!

From Lausanne, Switzerland -- IOC officials met with delegations representing North and South Korea. IOC President Thomas Bach announced today that athletes from both Nations will jointly participate in the 2018 Winter Games. Athletes from the two Koreas will march together under a Korean unification flag during Opening Ceremonies next month. 

Korean athletes and unification flag

Bach said the IOC had been working for several years to address the "special situation" of having the 2018 Winter Olympics on the Korean Peninsula. North and South Korean athletes will jointly compete as a "Korean" Women's Ice Hockey team represented by the unification flag. In addition, North Korean athletes will compete in five sports, i.e., ice hockey, figure skating, short track speedskating, cross-country skiing and alpine skiing.

Source: CNN.com

North Korea accepts offer from South Korea for peace talks

Seoul, South Korea from CNN.com
North Korea - South Korea Talks

North Korea has accepted South Korea's proposal for official talks, in what will be the first high-level contact to take place between the two countries in more than two years.

South Korean Unification Ministry spokesman Baik Tae-hyun told reporters Friday North Korea informed its southern neighbor by fax at 10:16 a.m. local time (8:16 p.m Thursday ET) that they have accepted the South's offer to initiate talks.

The person-to-person talks will be held January 9 -- one day after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's birthday -- at the Peace House, located on the South Korean side of the so-called truce village of Panmunjom, located in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between the two nations, Baik said.

The two sides agreed to work on the details of the talks "through the exchange of documents," Baik said, adding that the agenda items of the talks will be "issues related to improving inter-Korean relationships including the Pyeongchang (Winter) Olympic Games."

Preparing for PyeongChang - A volunteer's journey

Only 79 days remain before the start of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Games!  Excitement builds among host country and international volunteers in support of the Olympic Organizing Committee and People of Korea.

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Becoming a volunteer for an international sporting event requires patience and much persistence. Steps are many, including researching volunteer opportunities and requirements, submitting an online application nearly one year before the event, and review of credentials by Games Organizing Committee. If all steps are passed, the volunteer is invited to complete timed written and verbal examinations, join a SKYPE interview with a Games official, and confirm volunteer duty assignment. 

It is challenging to assemble a talented workforce of thousands of volunteers for hundreds of work roles. Unfortunately, not all applicants will be selected as Games Time volunteers.

Following successful recruitment, the international volunteer must make travel arrangements, secure accommodations, and schedule training of several phases -- online language and culture and in-country training for the Games Time assignment. Don't neglect to purchase travel and international health insurance!

The PyeongChang 2018 Volunteer must complete Korean Language Cultural Awareness Course of 31 lessons hosted by Pagoda Academy, Inc. Content includes Introduction to the Korean Alphabet, Using Public Transportation, Expressing Emotions, Volunteering, Managing Emergencies, Asking for Help and much more! Training is moderated by bilingual teachers in an interactive video format.

For instance, in the lesson Expressing Emotions, the trainee learns how to express happiness, hunger, thirst, preference for a team and athlete, and the importance of respect for elders. There is much to learn to insure a happy, safe and successful Winter Games. Together, we are a committed PASSION CREW - Ari, Ari!

“When PyeongChang welcomes all the world, it will be your smiles, and your warm welcome that people will remember forever,” said the IOC President. “Your passion will connect the world with a wonderful Korean culture and well-known hospitality. Volunteering brings out the best in us. And the Games could not happen without your participation. You are an essential part of PyeongChang 2018. 

Torchbearers Spread Olympic Fever Across South Korea

Follow the torchbearer tour across South Korea, which began November 1, see itinerary. 
The theme for the torchbearer tour is "Let Everyone Shine!" 

Originating in historic Greece, the torch will follow a journey of 101 days by land, sea and air and be borne by young and old. The specially designed torch can withstand extremes, remaining alight including subzero temperatures. 

Torch arrival with fireworks

Torchbearers represent individuals who are pursuing their dreams and opening new horizons, including individuals with disabilities. The route will pass through 9 provinces, 8 major cities and 151 counties and districts. Many gather to happily greet the torch upon its arrival, celebrating with applause, music and fireworks. 

Day 12 Photo - Olympic Torchbearers

What sports will be featured during 2018 Paralympic Games?

The 2018 Paralympic Games to be held 9-18 March, 2018 will feature exciting snow and ice sports, including Para Alpine Skiing, Para Biathlon, Para Cross-Country Skiing, Para Ice Hockey, Para Snowboard and Wheelchair Curling. 

For instance, Para Alpine Skiing debuted as an Olympic sport in Sweden in 1976 by injured veterans who wanted to practice their sport following WWII. Within this classification are Downhill, Super-G, Super Combined, Giant Slalom and Slalom. Athletes are classified into Visually Impaired (B1-B3), Standing (LW1-LW9) and Sitting (LW10-LW12) categories. 

A second Paralympic Winter sport is Para Ice Hockey. Fifteen athletes compete during three 15-minute periods with a time out between each period. Five players (two defensemen and three forwards), plus a goaltender may be on ice for play at one time. 

Spectators will gather in the Olympic Stadium in PyeongChang for opening and closing ceremonies; snow sports will be held in PyeongChang and Jeongseon Area. Ice sports will be held at Gangneung in Olympic Park and at Kwandong University. Planners have mapped routes for autos, express buses, shuttles and train, moving fans and athletes between venues. 

Identity of the Games - "The emblem symbolises a world open to everyone. It combines the image of ice and snow, winter sports stars (athletes), and people from all over the world, coming together in PyeongChang where heaven meets earth."

Paralympics Emblem

Looking forward to 2018 Paralympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, South Korea!

The first Olympic Winter Games was held in Chamonix, France, in 1924 and the 22nd edition was celebrated in Sochi, Russia, in 2014. 

PyeongChang is the host city for the 23rd Olympic Winter Games in 2018. LINK

[Source: Jeongseon-gun]

"Pyeongchang county is the host of the 2018 Winter Olympics. Two main ski resorts in the area, Alpensia and Yongpyong, will host most of the events. Alpensia has the main Olympic Village, hosting the ski jumping, luge, bobsleigh and cross-country skiing, while Yongpyong, which is one of northeast Asia’s better ski resorts, will host the downhill slalom events. The ceremonies will be held in a purpose-built temporary stadium about two kilometres from Alpensia Olympic Village.

The town of Hoenggye (횡계) serves as a transit hub for both ski resorts and provides cheaper eating options, a bit of nightlife, and basic accommodation such as Boutique Olive, which has clean, reasonably priced condo rooms." 

Read more: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/south-korea/gang-won-do/yongpyong-ski-resort/introduction#ixzz4L1WUlAlt