The Olympic Games are not only the biggest sporting event, but also a huge cultural celebration for millions of fans around the world. Competitions held both in the summer and in the winter season are very popular. The last games were held in 2014 in Russia, in the city of Sochi, and amazed the public with their grandiose scope. The next Winter Olympics - 2018 - will be held in Pyeongchang.
The story of Pyeongchang's fight for the right to be the Olympic capital
The city of Pyeongchang is located in South Korea, on its territory it will host the XXIII Winter Olympic Games. For the right to become the capital of world sports, this city fought for a long time. Applying twice, he lost first to the Canadian Vancouver, and then to the Russian Sochi. However, Korean representatives have always been characterized by confidence and constancy, perhaps it was for this that once again luck decided to smile at them.
Determination of the city of Pyeongchang as a venue for the Olympiad took place on July 6, 2011. Thus, South Korea received enough time to carry out all the necessary preparations for the main sporting event. The small city of Pyeongchang was able to bypass the fairly well-known large European cities of Munich and Annessy in the first round of voting. It is worth noting that many analysts considered South Korea as the favorite in this sports race in advance.
Korean athletes made a big impression on the jury of the Olympic Committee. The well-known champion Yoo Na Kim delivered a speech to them. It was she who had the honor to tell the whole world about how the Winter Olympics can change the history of sports in her country. By her example, she convinced everyone that South Korea's competition for the right to host the Olympic Games gave a new impetus to sports, stadiums and tracks began to be built, and conditions were created for the education and training of athletes. The Olympic champion confirmed her words a couple of days before the performance - at the rink, showing the greatest skating class.
Nature and climate of the future Olympic capital
The 2018 Winter Olympics runs from February 9 to 25 and promises to be a worthy, amazing event. For sports competitions, the organizers are preparing new stadiums, grounds and tracks on the territory of two ski resorts - Chungbong and Alpensia, as well as in the coastal zone near the Gangneung settlement.
Loc althe places are distinguished by stunning picturesque views; unique nature has been preserved here in its original form, which is closely intertwined with the traditions and customs of local peoples. Almost 90% of the territory is covered with rather high cliffs, which are ideal for snowboarding or skiing. Many amateurs have long been able to appreciate the local sports facilities. The climate here is mostly humid. The main precipitation falls in summer, but in some cases it can also rain in winter.
How much does the Olympics cost?
South Korean authorities promise to create all necessary conditions for athletes and tourists. So, all the proposed objects will be located close to each other, so that it will be possible to move between them almost on foot. To finance projects, the government allocated about $1.5 billion, in addition, another $8 billion is planned to be invested by 2018.
New symbols
The 2018 Winter Olympics has already acquired its symbolism. So, stands and posters will decorate:
- Five classic Olympic rings.
- International inscription in English PyeongChang 2018.
- Special logo - two Korean letters, made in the Olympic palette. They have deep symbolism. So, the first character means harmonious interaction between heaven, earth and man, but the second letter is identified with the holiday of ice and snow.
Olympic sports
The next Winter Olympics 2018 will delight us with sports competitions in such disciplines as:
- ice figure skating;
- bobsleigh;
- biathlon and alpine skiing;
- snowboard;
- hockey;
- curling;
- ski jumping and more.
A little more about Pyeongchang
The 2018 Winter Olympics will surely attract many tourists, including our compatriots. However, getting to the new sports capital is not at all easy. So, initially you will need to purchase a plane ticket to Seoul, and then make a transfer by car, such a journey will take travelers about 4 hours. The city of Pyeongchang is quite small, only about 40 thousand people live in it, a conservative way of life has been preserved here, courtesy and respect are welcome. Among other things, tourists from all over the world will be pleasantly surprised by local prices, which are highly loyal.
In their free time from sports, guests of the city will be able to devote to exploring local attractions and getting to know South Korean culture. It is recommended to get acquainted with the local cuisine very carefully - its main distinguishing feature is a piercing sharpness, unusual for many Europeans. If necessary, within the city, you can find restaurants and cafes with European cuisine, as well as fast food.
Meaning of the Olympics
Winter Olympics 2018 – long-awaitedan event for the entire South Korean nation and a major event for the Asian region as a whole. The vast majority of the country's residents support and approve of holding a large-scale sports festival on the territory of their native state. In addition to the development of sports, these competitions contribute to the development of social conditions, as well as national identity.
