1. Introduction
2. Masterplan
3. Venue Map
4. Gangneung Olympic Park
5. PyeongChang Olympic Plaza
1. Introduction
After failed attempts in 2003 and 2007, PyeongChang finally succeeded in securing the organisation of the Olympic Winter Games in 2011. After the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul this is the second time that the Republic of Korea may host the Olympics. PyeongChang 2018 is also the first in a series of 3 Asian Olympic Games in a row. In 2020 Tokyo will be the host city and 2 years later Beijing will be the first city to have hosted both the Summer (2008) and Winter Olympics.
Since the Second World War, the Korean peninsula has been divided into two parts: the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in the north and the Republic of Korea in the south. Between 1950 and 1953, the two sides were engaged in a war. This Korean War ended with an armistice, but a peace treaty was never signed. There have been tensions between North and South to this day.
South Korea has a population of 51.5 million, including 9.9 million in the capital of Seoul. Other large cities with over 2 million inhabitants are Busan, Incheon and Daegu. The country has a surface area of 100,210 km2 and borders on The Yellow Sea and Japanese Sea as well as on North Korea.
After the reconstruction period after the Korean War and the economic crisis of the nineties, South Korea has grown into a democratic and prosperous country at an amazing speed. In 2016 South Korea had the world’s 11th economy. The country depends heavily on international trade. Strong sectors with a lot of exports are shipbuilding, automotive industry, raw materials and consumer electronics. South-Korean brands such as Samsung, Hyundai and LG are known all over the world.
South Korea has much experience with the organisation of large sports events. With the organisation of the Winter Olympics, South Korea even joins a select group of countries that have hosted the Olympic Summer and Winter Games, FIFA World Cup and IAAF World Championships. In addition, the country hosted 4 editions of the Asian Games (Seoul 1986, Gangwon 1999, Busan 2002 and Incheon 2014) and three Universiades (Muju 1997, Daegu 2003 and Gwangju 2015).
Traditionally, football and baseball are the most popular sports in South Korea. Skating (especially short track speed skating) is very popular as well. During the last Olympic Games of Sochi, the South-Korean team won a total of 3 gold, 3 silver and 2 bronze medals in speed skating, short track speed skating and figure skating.
2. Masterplan
PyeongChang is a district situated in the eastern province of Gangwon-do at 130 kilometres from Seoul. The district has approximately 44,000 inhabitants. The venues are divided over two clusters: a Mountain Cluster in PyeongChang and a coastal Cluster in the coastal city of Gangneung (230,000 inhabitants).
Six new venues have been built for the Olympic Winter Games: two in the Mountain cluster and four in the Coastal Cluster. Construction of these venues was easily completed on time and they were first used during test events in the winters of 2015-2016 and 2016-2017.
The Mountain Cluster is the most extensive and has the pentagonal Olympic Stadium as an eye-catcher. This stadium is the first temporary Olympic Stadium in history. Next to the stadium is Medal Plaza. On this square the medals will be awarded daily. Besides, cultural activities will also be organised here. The competitions take place in Alpensia, Yongpyong, Jongseon and Bokwang. The ski jump (from 2008) is situated in Alpensia, as is the newly-built Sliding Centre.
In the Coastal cluster, all ice sports take place in five venues. One of these already exists: the Curling Centre from 1998 in the north of the city. Three new venues were built near the Curling Centre and together, these constitute the Gangneung Olympic Park. Furthermore, a new ice hockey stadium was built near the Kwandong Catholic University in the southeastern part of Gangneung.
Two Olympic Villages were built, one in each cluster. In addition, a Media village was constructed in Gangneung. The International Broadcast Centre and the Main Press Centre were built near Alpensia in the Mountain Cluster.
| Cluster | Zone | Venue | Olympic Ceremonies / Sports | Paralympic Ceremonies / Sports | Type | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PyeongChang Mountain Cluster | PyeongChang Olympic Plaza | PyeongChang Olympic Stadium | Opening and Closing ceremonies | Opening and Closing ceremonies | Temporary | 35,000 |
| PyeongChang Medal Plaza | Medal ceremonies | Medal ceremonies | Temporary | - | ||
| Alpensia Sports Park | Alpensia Ski Jumping Centre | Ski Jumping, Nordic Combined, Snowboard (Big Air) | - | Existing | 13,500 | |
| Alpensia Biathlon Centre | Biathlon | Para Biathlon, Para Cross-Country Skiing | Existing | 7,500 | ||
| Alpensia Cross-Country Skiing Centre | Cross-Country Skiing, Nordic Combined | - | Existing | 7,500 | ||
| Alpensia Sliding Centre | Bobsleigh, Skeleton, Luge | - | New | 7,000 | ||
| - | Phoenix Snow Park (P,C) | Freestyle Skiing, Snowboard | - | Existing | 18,000 | |
| - | Yongpyong Alpine Centre | Alpine Skiing (Slalom & Giant Slalom) | - | Existing | 6,000 | |
| - | Jeongseon Alpine Centre | Alpine Skiing (Downhill, Super G & Combined) | Para Alpine Skiing, Para Snowboard | New | 6,500 | |
| Gangneung Coastal Cluster | Gangneung Olympic Park | Gangneung Hockey Centre | Ice Hockey I | Ice Sledge Hockey | New | 10,000 |
| Gangneung Oval | Speed Skating | - | New | 8,000 | ||
| Gangneung Ice Arena | Short Track Speed Skating, Figure Skating | - | New | 12,000 | ||
| Gangneung Curling Centre | Curling | Wheelchair Curling | Existing | 3,500 | ||
| - | Kwandong Hockey Centre | Ice Hockey II | - | New | 6,000 | |
3. Venue Map
4. Gangneung Olympic Park
Next to the existing Curling Centre and Gangneung Stadium three new permanent stadiums have been built for ice hockey, speed skating, short track speed skating and figure skating. Together, these venues constitute Gangneung Olympic Park.
During the Olympic Games, a number of temporary facilities and pavilions will be placed for the visitors, including a megastore, restaurants and several sponsor pavilions. Images of sports events will be alternated with cultural activities on the live site.
5. PyeongChang Olympic Plaza
The PyeongChang Olympic Plaza has the pentagonal Olympic Stadium as an eye-catcher. This stadium is the first temporary Olympic Stadium in history. Next to the stadium is Medal Plaza. On this square the medals will be awarded daily. Besides, cultural activities will also be organised here.