PyeongChang, the South Korean host city for the 2018 Olympic Winter Games is ready to hold its first test event of the winter next month after a successful visit from the International Olympic Committee (IOC)’s Coordination Commission.
The event, scheduled for 23-26 November, will be the FIS Snowboard Big Air World Cup and, with the event set to make its Olympic debut at PyeongChang 2018, Team GB fans can keep an eye out for the likes of Billy Morgan and Katie Ormerod.
The Commission, led by IOC member Gunilla Lindberg, assessed every aspect of Games preparations during three days of venue visits and collaborative discussions with the PyeongChang 2018 Organising Committee.
The Games organisers reported that, on average, the new venues in PyeongChang and nearby Gangneung are 90 per cent complete in advance of 26 test events scheduled between this November and April 2017. PyeongChang will host the mountain events; Gangneung will host the ice sports.
“We saw first hand the progress of the construction projects,” Chair Lindberg said at a closing news conference with PyeongChang 2018 President Hee-beom Lee on Friday. “There is no doubt that the venues will be ready for the upcoming test events.”
President Lee also expressed satisfaction with the visit, calling it “a productive three days”.
He added: “With the Rio Games now behind us, it is time for PyeongChang. Based on thorough preparation, we will strive to provide the best of service to all participants and realise our goal of making the PyeongChang 2018 Games Cultural Olympics, Environmental Olympics, Olympics for Peace and Economic Olympics, and pleasantly surprise the world with our performance.”
President Lee also announced that PyeongChang 2018 will launch ticket sales in conjunction with the one-year-to-go milestone celebration in February 2017.