PyeongChang to host paralympic skiing World Cup

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2014 PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games Bid Committee

2006-01-13 16:48

PyeongChang--(뉴스와이어)--More than 180 athletes from 15 nations will converge on the Korean mountain town of PyeongChang next week to compete in the 2006 IPC Alpine Skiing World Cup from January 22 to 26.

The international ski competition for disabled athletes - the first of its kind to be held in Asia - features three alpine ski disciplines: the Slalom, the Giant Slalom, and the Super G or Super Giant Slalom.

Skiers will race down the slopes of Rainbow I Course in PyeongChang, the city in Gangwon Province that is also bidding to host the 2014 Olympic Winter Games.

The athlete roster includes champions such as Monte Meier of the United States and Sabine Gasteiger of Austria. Han Sang Min, a silver medallist of the Salt Lake 2002 Paralympic Winter Games is also due to participate with five other South Koreans.

“This competition will go far to expand participation in, and strengthen the competitiveness of winter paralympic sports,” said Kim Min Jo, chairman of the Korea Disabled Ski Federation, adding that the World Cup would also highlight PyeongChang’s capability to host the 2014 Winter Olympic Games.

The city of PyeongChang and Gangwon Province will be co-sponsoring the IPC World Cup, while the International Paralympic Committee and the Korea Sports Association for the Disabled will be co-hosts.

“We are fully prepared for this competition to proceed better than any other, and we heartily welcome all athletes from all over the world,” said Kim Jin Sun, governor of Gangwon Province and executive president of the 2014 PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games Bid Committee. Gov. Kim also noted that PyeongChang has been pursuing a number of projects to promote winter sports both in Korea and overseas.

Organizers expressed confidence that the upcoming World Cup would go forward smoothly, pointing to the PyeongChang region’s proven track record of hosting large-scale sports festivals.

Among them, the city hosted the 2005 Four Continents Figure Skating Championships and the 2005 World Short Track Speed Skating Team Championships, and in February it will host the 2006 Snowboard Junior World Championships. Also on the calendar are the 2007 Interski Congress, the 2009 Snowboard World Championships and the 2009 Biathlon World Championships.

웹사이트: http://www.pyeongchang2014.org