Weekend rally in PyeongChang unites Winter Olympic bid supporters from across the nation
While hailing from all corners of Korea, and varying in age, lifestyle and occupation, the supporters all had a common bond: A devotion to the Olympic bid city.
They are members of DongSaMo, Korea’s winter sports support organization with branches in each of Korea’s provinces as well as Seoul, and now overseas. The group organized the two-day rally in PyeongChang, a city in the Greater Baekdu mountain range about two hours east of the capital city of Seoul.
As the race for 2014 gathers steam, DongSaMo’s ranks have mushroomed to 105,928 registered members, and its activities have diversified, thanks largely to the tremendous power of Korean netizens, short for “Internet citizens,” who drum up awareness and support for PyeongChang through diverse means such as e-mails, online essays, a Web site, live events, local rallies, and promotional booths at community and business fairs and sporting events.
Nowadays, members are shouting “Yes! PyeongChang” from every nook of the country - and even abroad: In June 2005, an affiliate group has been launched in Australia. Fifty people from the Korean Association of Australia founded a local DongSaMo branch that now claims 200 members.
“We lost by a narrow margin of three votes in the bid for the 2010 Winter Olympics, but we are now a strong candidate city for 2014,” said Choi Hak Jin, leader of the Australian committee.
As a result of DongSaMo’s popularity, seven regional districts corresponding to provinces - Seoul, Gangwon, Gyeonggi, Chungcheong, Jeolla, Gyeongsang and Jeju - were formed, each with a leader and management team. Each district chooses its favorite methods of bidding; for example, Gyeonggi’s organized events in ski areas of their home province, Chungcheong’s attended the National Youth Sports Competition, while Seoul’s showed up at a women’s marathon.
Their passion is so deep - many have likened them to the Red Devils soccer fans that so captivated the world during the 2002 World Cup - that one crew even flew to Beijing for a short-track skating competition last year. Members are already saving up to cheer on their beloved PyeongChang at the IOC meeting in Guatemala City in 2007, when the 2014 host city will be decided.
Back in the mountains of Gangwon, the “One Heart” rally kicked off in high-altitude spirits Saturday afternoon at PyeongChang’s Yongpyong Resort. Following a round of heartfelt cheers and singing by more than 1,000 participants, and a formal flag ceremony to appeal for the success of PyeongChang 2014, those on hand greeted eight special DongSaMo members, who looked weary but happy.
Their arrival marked the 785-km point of a 1,053-kilometer pilgrimage through the Korean heartland in support of the Winter Olympic bid, starting from the port city of Busan. Leaving Busan on March 1, the group - which included a Buddhist priest who’s also a snowboarding instructor - walked up to 60 kilometers a day, meeting up with fellow DongSaMo members in cities and towns all along the route.
“We started the pilgrimage with the hope of bidding for the 2014 Winter Olympics without fail, by succeeding the spirit of the March 1st Movement, where our national pride was rediscovered,” said Kim Seung Hwan, leader of the pilgrimage.
Later in the day, the “pilgrims” joined hands with DongSaMo division heads, Korean winter sports athletes, and other personalities to affix 21 pieces to create a wall painting. The final and 22nd piece (the 2014 Winter Olympics will be the 22nd Games) came when few dozen supporters descended a slope, also bearing a Korean flag, PyeongChang 2014 flag, DongSaMo flag and banner.
The day’s main events hit a roaring crescendo as hundreds of DongSaMo gathered as one to sing “Dream of PyeongChang,” the bid city’s official theme song, with every ounce of heart and soul. On Sunday, the group would be out in force on the slopes and in the hotels of PyeongChang, spreading interest and information on the bid to skiers and tourists.
PyeongChang 2014 bid committee officials are thrilled by the energy and enthusiasm of DongSaMo, saying that without such grassroots support from across the nation, bidding for the 2014 Winter Olympics would be a far more trying experience.
A bid committee spokesman said, “This event will become a turning point in spreading enthusiasm for bidding nationwide, with supporters from all over the country gathering together.”
웹사이트: http://www.pyeongchang2014.org
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2006년 9월 26일 15:16
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2006년 9월 22일 15:40