PyeongChang Problems to be Corrected at Sliding Test Event

(ATR) PyeongChang 2018 organizers assure that the embarrassing incident that abruptly halted the certification process of the Alpensia Sliding Center in March will not occur again.

Fifty international bobsledders, lugers and skeleton sliders are coming to PyeongChang, Oct. 24-30, to make training runs in conjunction with POCOG and International Sport Federations from FIL and IBSF executing the pre-homologation process.

Last March, technical problems with the venue’s refrigeration plant, exacerbated by warm temperatures, prevented top lugers from sliding and subsequently forced the cancellation of pre-homologation.

POCOG Secretary General Hyung-ko Yeo told Around the Rings that following a 45-step stress test at the venue, everything will go smoothly the second time around.

"There is no doubt, with the agreed timetable, the Alpensia Sliding Center will be ready for the pre-homologation this October and test events in February and March of 2017, by which POCOG will train all workforce and guarantee a fantastic Olympic Winter Games," Yeo said.

Yeo said the venue’s refrigeration plant was not able to operate at maximum capacity in March, but corrective measures have been taken and German manufactured pumps have been replaced. However, upgrades are still necessary.

"So far, two of five refrigeration pumps have been replaced, and the remaining three pumps will be replaced before the next test events," Yeo said.

"Three (additional) pumps are installed and capable to operate, but they are making above normal noise," he said, noting that "The plan to change three pumps after the pre-homologation also has been approved by both IBSF and FIL," Yeo said.

Following the homologation process, international training weeks and critical test events are slated in mid-February for luge and in March for bobsleigh and skeleton.

Officials from the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton federation (IBSF) have been cooperating closely with POCOG and the Alpensia venue staff and also expressed confidence despite the recent problems. Korean teams are already training at the new venue.

"All involved parties will do its best for a successful homologation," IBSF secretary general Heike Groesswang told ATR.

"During our meeting last week we have seen that POCOG is 100% supporting the procedures and requests by the International Federations and fully understands the needs, so it will take that all forces get together and make it happen." she said referring to last week’s seventh IOC coordination commission meeting in PyeongChang.

The POCOG secretary general noted that Korean venue staff are learning from and being assisted by foreign experts.

"Currently, the icing work on the entire track in the sliding center is completed and ice making has been done by 10 French and Korean ice makers," Yeo said. "We are fully ready for all the tracks to be tested for running this October."

Seventeen IF delegates will also attend the upcoming sliding session at the PyeongChang track, overseeing safety elements as athletes from 12 countries train for the first time at the 2018 Olympic venue.

"They will be inspecting all safety aspects of the Alpensia Sliding Center in conjunction with athletes' test runs," Yeo said.

Groesswang underlined the significance of the March test event for the bobsledders and skeleton athletes.

"The test event is there to test all parameters – from transport, accreditation, to accommodations and the sport parameters as well," she said. "It’s a very exciting moment, but very important for the organizing committee as well as the international federation."

Written by Brian Pinelli

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