PyeongChang’s bid for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games has been given a higher profile following the announcement by the International Skating Union (ISU) that Gangneung will host the 2008 ISU World Short Track Speed Skating Championships March 7 to 9 and Seoul will be the venue for the 2008 ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships February 4 to 10.
If PyeongChang hosts the 2014 Winter Games, the nearby city of Gangneung will be the venue for skating sports, ice hockey and curling. The ice rink to be used next year for the World Short Track Speed Skating Championships will also host curling in 2014.
Kim Jung-kil, President of the Korean Olympic Committee said, “we are grateful to the ISU for demonstrating their confidence in South Korea by entrusting these two prestigious skating events to Gangneung and Seoul. We will seek to stage the figure skating and short track championships to the very high standards that they deserve. If PyeongChang is selected for 2014, the additional experience gained by holding these events will help ensure that the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games are an amazing experience for all”.
Major winter sport events being held in PyeongChang include the 2009 IBU World Biathlon Championships and the 2009 FIS Snowboard World Championships.
