(ATR)There is nearly one year to go until the PyeongChang Olympics and still no decision has been reached on whether NHL players will be made available for the upcoming Games.
The USOC says it is prepared no matter what the league finally decides.
"We have a plan ‘A’ and a plan ‘B,’ and we’ll be ready, whatever the outcome is, to make sure our (men’s) hockey team is ready to go," USOC's Chief of Sport Performance Alan Ashley stated in a press conference to promote the year to go.
The NHL has previously allowed players to participate in the Winter Games, but league representatives say there is a chance that may not happen next year.
Ashley indicated the USOC and USA Hockey havealready made preparations should the NHL not allow its players to participate but are"just kind of waiting like everyone else on how it sorts itself out".
"We’re really confident that USA Hockey is focused on this and they have a good idea where they want to go," said Ashley.
On Feb. 1-3, Ashley had the opportunity to attend the National Olympic Committee chef de mission seminar at PyeongChang’s Alpensia convention center. During the visit he was able to tour the villages and venues and receive an in depth debrief from the organizing committees on their preparations.
"Overall I would say the venues themselves and the villages are really coming together well," Ashley said when discussing his visit.
The USOC has learned a great deal from the Rio Games and intends to put more focus on supporting athletes and coaches, especially their welfare, in preparation for the Games in Korea, according to Ashley.
"We're really trying to focus on recovery and kind of just make sure that we do even a better job working with the NGB's and with the athletes and coaches to keep athletes healthy as much as we possibly can," he states.
"People are traveling all over the world and their health is such an important part of their success as an athlete."
The USOC also intends to develop new ideas around upcoming technologies in order to better assist athletes and coaches with feedback and information.
Team USA is anticipating 245 athletes on the Olympic team and 65-75 athletes on the Paralympic team for the PyeongChang Games.
"We are in full swing getting ready for Team USA to have a great showing there [in PyeongChang]," Ashley says.
The USOC along with Olympic Winter Games broadcaster NBC Universal will continue to host various celebrations and promotional activities this week in honor of the year to go. The events include an athlete publicity tour, school visits in New York City and community outreach events in Seoul and PyeongChang.
Homepage photo: Getty Images
Written by Courtney Colquitt
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