POSTED: July 4th 2011
NewsUpdate
Yu-Na Kim receives a warm South African welcome from the Dream Program
LAURA WALDEN in Durban / Sports Features Communications
DURBAN, Jul 04: Gold medal figure skater, Yu-Na Kim, received a warm South African welcome by one of the PyeongChang ‘Dream Program’ participants driving home the effect of the Gangwon winter sport promotional program.
Tamarah Jacobs met with Kim as she arrived in Durban for the presentations to the IOC supporting the PyeongChang 2018 bid for the winter Games.
Being South African, Jacobs had never experienced winter sports until 2005 when she traveled to PyeongChang and participated in the ‘Dream Program’ as a 13 year old. She got her first taste of figure skating and now even practices the sport here and coaches children in Durban as she attends the university.
Jacobs said, "Going to PyeongChang in 2005 for the 'Dream Programme' was one of the best experiences of my life, and it opened my eyes to the wonderful world of winter sports. The Programme gave me and so many other children around the world where winter sports aren’t available the chance to learn and practice my winter sports skills.
"I remember watching Yuna Kim win Gold in Vancouver and it was so amazing to meet her today in my home town of Durban. I really hope that the Winter Games go to PyeongChang in 2018 and it will be great to go back there again when it is an Olympic city."
Superstar skater Kim is a strong supporter of using the PyeongChang 2018 bid as a catalyst to develop winter sports across Asia.
Kim said, "I'm delighted to be in Durban to support PyeongChang 2018, and I'm so thrilled to meet a young Figure Skater who was inspired by PyeongChang's 'Dream Programme'.
"I remember being a little girl watching Figure Skating and feeling so lucky that I had incredible local winter sports facilities where I could train and practice every day. There are so many children around the world who aren’t as fortunate to live where winter sports are available so I'm very proud that PyeongChang's 'Dream Programme' offers these young people the chance to have amazing winter sports experiences."
The ‘Dream Program’ has been functioning since 2004 and has provided 935 children from 57 countries the opportunity to participate and experience winter sports.
Keywords · PyeongChang 2018 · Yu-Na Kim · Dream Program
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