POSTED: 2012-02-09 07:12:06
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LAURA WALDEN & NIKKI WICKS / Sports Features Communications
TAMPA/LONDON: PyeongChang is preparing to welcome hundreds of winter sports fans as the YongPyong International Ski Festival celebrates its 30th anniversary.
Located around 200km from Seoul, the YongPyong Resort hosts the International Ski Festival each year with the aim of promoting the development of ski culture as well as good relations amongst foreign residents living in Korea.
The festival invites foreigners and their families living in Korea to participate in the Olympic-style event, that includes an opening ceremony, skiing competitions and medal ceremonies.
Irish Ambassador Eamonn McKee, who recently took up the role of chairman of the YongPyong festival committee, has urged the foreign community to come together for the event, including members of the Irish community “even though skiing is not a great tradition in Ireland for obvious reasons.”
Commenting on the festival, McKee told The Korea Herald: “It has been one of the highlights of the year for expatriate families living in Korea for thirty years and the festival is celebrating its 30th anniversary.”
To encourage visitors to join in the winter festivities, all participants and their families are awarded 30% discount on accommodation, ski rental equipment and lift passes at YongPyong Resort during the festival.
Opened in 1975 as the first modern facility of its kind in South Korea, YongPyong has established a reputation as an internationally renowned winter resort and has hosted a number of international competitions, including the FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup Ski and the Asian Winter Games.
The resort will also be the venue for the alpine skiing (technical) competition for the 2018 Winter Olympics, which was awarded to PyeongChang in July last year.
SportsFeatures.com had a chance to speak to executive committee member and New Zealander Peter Walshaw, who is area vice president at Hyatt Hotels & Resorts in Seoul, has lived in Korea for over 20 years. Commenting on the International Ski Festival, he said:
“It is the one event that brings the international community together. We don’t open it to Koreans to keep it for expats. Only expat Koreans, we already get about 800 people and we couldn’t cope with more.
“It is very popular in the international schools and all the kids are talking about who will get the medals and getting excited.
“Most of the European countries participate and Japan brings about 100 people with the biggest delegation.”
Walshaw, who has witnessed first-hand South Korea’s development as a world-class winter sports destination said PyeongChang would continue to become more accessible as it head towards hosting the 2018 Winter Olympics.
“PyeongChang will become more accessible as time goes on,” he said.
“Twenty years ago it took quote a while to get there as there was a single road each way but now you have the expressway.
“It will be easy to get to the Olympic area and people could stay in Seoul at the Grand Hyatt and commute even,” added Walshaw.
The YongPyong International Ski Festival takes place February 10-12 this year that is just prior to the six year out mark for the PyeongChang 2018 Games.
For more information contact:
Laura Walden ()
Keir Radnedge ()
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