The countdown has begun: one year from now, the 2018 Winter Olympics kick off in Pyeongchang, South Korea, and excitement is already building.
Pyeongchang 2018 will start a run of Olympic Games in Asia, with the 2020 Summer Olympics to be held in Tokyo, Japan, ahead of the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing, China.
This photo taken on February 2, 2017 shows a view from the ski jump tower venue of the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang. /CFP Photo
It will also bring a raft of novelties, with 102 medal events - the most ever - held over the two weeks of competition as organisers seek to attract younger athletes and fans.
A total 15 sports will be on the program, from figure skating to ski jumping, ice hockey and biathlon, but with six new events, including an alpine skiing team event, snowboard big air, speed skating mass start and curling mixed doubles.
Infrastructure near ready
A shadow of the Olympic rings at the Olympic Park in Pyeongchang. /CFP Photo
Construction on six new venues for the Games is almost complete, organisers said in January. The Olympic Plaza and two athletes’ villages are meanwhile expected to be finished by September. This contrasts with the 2014 Sochi Olympics, which were plagued with problems even as athletes and media checked into their accommodation and competitions began.
In South Korea, the venues will be divided between two main clusters, with the mountain resort of Pyeongchang hosting all the ski, bobsleigh and luge events. The Olympic Stadium, site of the opening and closing ceremonies, will also be in Pyeongchang, while the ice-based competitions – speed skating, figure skating, curling, and ice hockey - will be held in the coastal city of Gangneung, a 30-minute drive away.
Test competitions
Mac Bohonnon of the United States performs an aerial during an Aerials training session prior to the FIS Freestyle World Cup at Bokwang Snow Park on February 8, 2017 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. /CFP Photo
Several test races have already taken place to make sure the venues are up to scratch for next year. World Cup events in snowboarding, speed skating, cross-country skiing and Nordic combined have been held in the host city over the last few months. Curling, ski jumping, luge, biathlon and alpine skiing competitions are also scheduled in the coming weeks.
So with 365 days to go, things are shaping up well for the big event.
The excitement builds
The Olympic rings are lit up on Feb. 8, 2017, in Pyeongchang, one year before the start of the Winter Olympics in the South Korean city on Feb. 9, 2018. /CFP Photo
On a visit to the host city last week, Japanese Olympic Committee member Toshimasa Furukawa praised the preparations. “We were able to confirm the readiness of PyeongChang 2018… PyeongChang has wonderful snow which is necessary for the Olympic Winter Games and it is sure to be a splendid Games,” he said.
Athletes and teams from the US to Australia via Italy, were also tweeting their excitement on Thursday, with US alpine ski queen Lindsey Vonn rejoicing: “Can't wait!!! #winterolympics #PyeongChang2018” and even the Jamaica Bobsled team posting: “One year until the 2018 Winter Olympics! #1YearToGo #PyeongChang2018 #FireOnIce”
Jamaica might not be the only exotic participants at the next Winter Games, with reports of a Ugandan snowboarder and a Nigerian women’s bobsleigh team possibly joining the race for medals.
The Olympic logo at the Pyeongchang Olympic Park. /CFP Photo
Pyeongchang will be only the third Asian city to host Winter Olympics after the Japanese cities of Sapporo in 1972 and Nagano in 1998. The Korean resort already bid to host the 2010 and 2014 Winter Games but lost out to Vancouver, Canada and Sochi, Russia before securing the 2018 event.
The Pyeongchang Winter Olympics will take place on February 9-25, 2018 followed by the Paralympics on March 9-18, 2018.
Ticket sales start on Thursday.
