Speed Skating Test Reveals PyeongChang Ambitions

(ATR) After staging a successful Single Distance Speed Skating World Championships, PyeongChang 2018 says next year’s equivalent will be "the best ever."

The Gangneung speed skating oval held the world championships from Feb. 9-12, the first event staged in the venue. The event went off after preparations lasted until days beforehand, with organizers concerned about impact on ice quality,

International Skating Union president Jan Dijkema told Around the Rings federation leaders expressed concerns over the "tight schedule" PyeongChang 2018 was operating on before the event. The single distance championships are traditionally held in the Olympic host city one year prior to the Games, but are preceded by a test event. Dijkema said that was not the case in PyeongChang.

"I must say right after the ice was ready this event started," Dijkema said. "The Korean Skating Union and PyeongChang 2018 have done a great job here. We are confident that we are really well prepared for the Games."

Improvement remains for PyeongChang organizers, who by all accounts must continue to gain experience running top level events before the Olympics begin. Venue organizers say that final works will continue in the skating oval, which will reach completion next month.

So Hee Kim, skating Event General Manager for PyeongChang 2018, told ATR that organizers tested the field of play, as well as technology for this test event. Kim said that feedback she received stated the event was "running very well" and she was pleased with the number of spectators in the venue.

The Gangneung Oval will seat 8,000 spectators during the Games. During the event, well known K-Pop bands performed between events, and promotional work was done by PyeongChang 2018 to sell tickets. With new fans coming, Kim says it provides organizers an opportunity to educate Korean fans on sports they don’t typically watch.

"When skaters are readying for the start [spectators] have to be quiet," Kim said, adding "spectator culture needs to be ready for the Olympics."

Dijkema says that the federation has no worries of empty seats in the oval during the Olympics. He is confident that Koreans will come, and they will be supported by fans from all over the world. He told ATR there are "no worries at all" that foreign fans wouldn’t trek to South Korea for the Olympics.

Athletes, who are skating in the oval for the first time, told ATR that the facility was on par, or better than any they had skated on in the past. Brian Hansen, a silver medalist for the United States at the 2010 Games, likened it to Vancouver’s venue. He said the venue had a "big feeling" to it and was ready to host world class events.

Mitch Whitmore, from the U.S., said the venue was "awesome" and that he was impressed with the organizers.

"When we first got here it wasn’t quite finished on the outside, but by the time competition started it was fine," Whitmore said to ATR. "It’s running really well. The whole venue is skater friendly, and there is easy access for everything. This is one of the nicer venues we’ve skated at."

Kim says that organizers will not be complacent after a successful event, and will go back to review any mistakes or complaints made. That review, she said, will most likely give the staff the needed confidence ahead of next year.

"I hope that we finish this event successfully, and if we have some issues we will fix them to make the best Olympic Games ever," Kim said. "That is our goal."

Written by Aaron Bauerin Gangneung

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