Final Test Event Begins in South Korea -- Monday Memo

(ATR) The 2017 Para Ice Hockey World Championships begin this week in South Korea, signaling an end to the test events ahead of next February’s Winter Olympics.

The championships begin Tuesday, April 11 at the 10,000-seat Gangneung Hockey Centre where hockey will be contested during the PyeongChang 2018 Games.

The test event serves as the first world championship for Paralympic hockey under its new name of Para Ice Hockey, ditching its former ‘IPC Ice Sledge Hockey’ moniker in 2016.

Seven teams will compete for the title of world champion as Team USA seeks to defend its world championship. The championship provides the opportunity for the top five teams to qualify for the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympics while the bottom two teams will move on to a Qualification Tournament later this year.

The IPC says the qualification opportunity gives the event added importance.

"Gangneung 2017 will have added significance as teams bid to return to the same venue just under one year later for PyeongChang 2018," World Para Ice Hockey manager Barbora Kohoutova said. "We can expect the competition to be fierce and for all players to arrive determined to challenge for the podium."

Organizers of the PyeongChang 2018 Games say they are delighted to welcome the championships to South Korea for the second time in the event’s history.

"It is also a great opportunity to test the operations of the Para ice hockey venue and provide valuable experience to the staff," said POCOG director of sport Inkyu Park. "We are confident that the athletes will relish the opportunity to play in Gangneung in advance of the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games."

The tournament concludes April 20.

Hong Kong Welcomes World-Class Cyclists

The International Cycling Union heads to Hong Kong this week for the start of the 2017 UCI Track Cycling World Championships.

The competition begins on April 12 at the Hong Kong Velodrome and will be the first time the track cycling championship has been held in Asia since the 1990 edition in Japan.

The 114th edition of the event will feature 370 athletes from 42 countries competing across 20 disciplines. This year’s championship will also be the first to feature complete gender parity in its disciplines.

In broad terms, athletes will compete in either sprint or endurance races, with each discipline having an individual and team event.

The competition concludes on April 16.

Philip Craven Leads GSD 'Doping in Sport' Symposium

The Foundation for Global Sports Development (GSD) symposium on 'Doping in Sport' begins this week led by International Paralympic Committee president Philip Craven.

Craven will deliver the keynote address to begin the event on April 13, touching on topics including the latest Russian athlete ban at the Rio 2016 Paralympics and other doping issues.

"We are incredibly honored to have Sir Philip join us for this symposium," GSD executive board member Steven Ungerleider said in a statement.

"His display of leadership during the 2016 Rio Paralympics was nothing short of courageous and I know many people are interested to learn what factors played into his decision."

Also speaking at the symposium are U.S. Anti-Doping Agency sports attorney William Brock III, Major League Baseball chief legal officer Dan Halem, Court of Arbitration for Sport vice president Michael Lenard and more.

The event will be held at the Pepperdine University School of Law in Malibu, California on Apr. 13.

Around the Rings will be on the scene at the symposium. The program is also free for any interested attendees who may register here.

Written by Kevin Nutley

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