-In connection with G1 Test Events
The Seoul Diplomatic Corps comprised of over 20 ambassadors & their madames in
addition to over 50 senior diplomats, visited G(Games)1 test events venues of the 2018 Pyeong Chang Winter Olympic Games, Gangwon
Province, Republic of Korea by the invitation of Gangwon Province last Saturday.
Group photo session before the departure in front of GrandBall room, Grand Hyatt Seoul. |
Honorable Gangwon Province governor Choi Moon-soon posing with PyeongChang Winter Olympic Mascots who invited the Seoul Diplomatic Corps. to PyeongChang. (Courtesy: Gangwon Province) |
After arriving at PyeongChang a little later than originally planned because of trafffic
jam to Gangreung with two limouzine buses prepared by Gangwon Province, a total
of 70 diplomats were welcomed at Junggangwon(Korean traditional food restaurant) by Gangwon Province officials who are involved
in overseas marketing regarding PyeongChang Olympic Games 2018.
Ambs. & Madames who joined PyeongChang test event trip organized by
NDNnews (www.ndnnews.co.kr), were Bulgaria Amb. Petar Andonov with deputy
Panko Panov family, Hungary Amb. Csaba Gabor & family, Egypt Amb. Hany Moawad
Selim Labib & Mme., Iran Amb. Hassan Taherian & Mme., Zambia Amb. Mumba
Smyth Kapumpa & Mme., Spain Amb. Gonzalo Ortiz Diez-Tortosa & family, Panama Amb. Ruben Arosemena & Mme., Bangladesh Amb. Md
Zulfigur Rahman, Brazil Amb. Luis Fernando de Andrade Serra & Mme., Jordan Amb.
Adel Mohammad Adaile & his family, Finland Amb. Eero Suominen, Romania Amb.
Mihai Ciompec & Mme., Guatemala Amb. Herbert Estuardo meneses Coronado and
last but not least Tajikistan Amb. Yusuf Sharifzoda & his staffs.
After greeting Diplomatic Corps at the gate of the Hotel, Alpensia Resort, president Lee Hee-beom of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games briefs regarding the preparation circumstance surrounding ambassadors & senior diplomats at the 3rd floor roofgarden. |
Expressing Gangwon Province's deep appreciation for visiting PyeongChang Olympic
Games test events venues from the Seoul Diplomatic Corps, Tourism Marketing
Department director Yoon Seong-bo from Gangwon Province asked Diplomatic Corps' support for oversea marketing to
their countries' citizens on behalf of honorable governor Choi Moon-soon of Gangwon Province who was not able to join welcome luncheon because of
his other schedule at test events.
K-Drama Festa in PyeongChang held in Yongpong Dome last Sat. with the aim of boosting Pyeong Olympic Games boom and attracting oversea tourists. (Courtesy: The 2018 Pyeongchang Olympic Committee) |
By his return thanks remarks as capacity of visiting Diplomatic Corps. dean, Bulgaria
Amb. Petar Andonov said: "The world’s best athletes will compete on Asia’s centre stage to launch New Horizons in winter sports and create a sustainable legacy
for Gangwon Province and the Republic of Korea. We ambassadors & diplomats are
very glad to be able to see such wonderful Asia's centre stage in PyeongChang,
Gangwon Province. (See the full text of Bulgaria Amb. Petar Andonov's luncheon
speech at the end of this article!)
Honorable governor Choi Moon-soon from Gangwon Province (center), fourth from left pushing button to declare the opening of the K-Drama Festa in PyeongChang with VIPs last Sat. at Yongpong Dome. |
After the well-prepared luncheon at Jungganwon, visiting Diplomatic Corps. were welcomed by
President Lee Heebeom of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Committee with
the briefing session prepared by the 2018 Pyeong Chang Olympic Committee at the
3rd floor roofgarden in which ambassadors & senior diplomats were able to see a
spectacular Pyeong Chang's winter snow scene including FIS Freestyle Ski Worldcup venues.
Freestyle Ski World Cup Diplomatic Coprs were able to watch at the venue Bogwang Snow Park. (Courtesy: The 2018 Pyeong Chang Winter Olympic Commitee) |
Touching upon a fact that the 2018 Pyeong Chang Winter Olympic Games will be the
biggestever winter Olympic games in history in terms of 102 medals and 98
participating countries numbers, President Lee pledged that the 2018 Pyeong Chang
Olympic Organizing Committee of the 2018 Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games will
do its best so that the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games will be remembered
to the winter Olympic games fans around the world as the best-ever winter Olympic games in history. The detailed briefing about the test event
venues provided participants with the overview regarding test events which will
be lasted until April this year.
Actress Lee Young-ae (second from right) who stages Hanbok Fashion Show at Yongpong Dome. (Courtesy: Gangwon Province) |
As part of test events, visiting Diplomatic Corps. dropped by FIS Free Style Ski World
Cup venue at Bogwang Snow Park in which world top-class' atheletes competed as a
pre-rehearsal test event before the full-fleged 2018 PyeongChang Winter Games next year which will be held on Feb.
9-25, 2018.
Freestyle skiing is an artistic competition performing aerial acrobatics while freely
gliding down a slope, and it is also compared to a circus on the snow because of its
diversified nature. Unlike Alpine Skiing where athletes compete for speed, Freestyle
Skiing characteristically allowed athletes to compete in aerial skills such as back flips and twists.
Hungary Mme. Edit Gabor & dauhter (front) with members of visiting Diplomatic Corps. arriving at JungGangWon (Korean traditional restaurant). |
After seeing the Freestyle skiing competition at Bogwang Snow Park, Diplomatic
Corps. attended K-Drama Festa in PyeongChang with the attendance of about 5,000
spectators which was held at Yongpong Dome Stadium with the aim of boosting
Pyeongchang Olympic boom & attracting oversea tourists.
K-POP concert performance. (Courtesy: Korea Tourism Organization) |
Honorable governor Choi Moon-soon from Gangwon Province who was on hand with VIPs such as president Chung
Chang-soo from Korea Tourism Organization & PyeongChang county mayor Shim Jae-gook etc., said with four languages fluently, shouting that I want to see you all next
year PyeongChang Olympic Games.
Korea Tourism Organization president Chung Chang-soo pledged to make PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games as one of the best-ever Winter Olympic Games in history and actress Lee Young-ae who was on stage for the Hanbok fashion show, also committed herself to helping
for the success of the 2018 Pyeong Chang Winter Olympic Games as far as she can help.
Visiting Diplomatic Corps. seeing spectacular snow scene of Test Events venue at the 3rd floor roofgarden, the Hotel, Alpensia. |
The following are return remarks by H.E Petar Andonov, Amb. of Bulgaria
at the visit of Diplomatic Corps. on the occasion of their FamTour to PyeongChang at
Junggangwon restaurant (11:30 a.m, Feb. 18th, Sat., 2017). -Ed.
First of all, I would like to express our deep appreciation to Gangwon Province for
inviting us Diplomatic Corps. so that the Seoul Diplomatic Corps. can see the 2018
PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games Facilities, that is, Bogwang Phenix Park, FIS Ski
World Cup venue as well as FIS Snowboard World Cup venue etc. at firsthand.
We ambassadors & diplomats understand that The 2018 PyeongChang Olympic Winter
Games will be held in Korea for the first time in 30 years after the Seoul Olympic Games
in 1988. In that regard, we also are looking forward to seeing & watching PyeongChang
Winter Olympic Games excitingly like Korean peoples.
Hwangtae garden for dinner. |
The world’s best athletes will compete on Asia’s centre stage to launch New Horizons in winter sports and create a sustainable legacy
for Gangwon Province and the Republic of Korea. We ambassadors & diplomats are
very glad to be able to see such wonderful Asia's centre stage in PyeongChang,
Gangwon Province. Once again, thank you for inviting Diplomatic Corps. to
PyeongChang. Thank you!