PyeongChang competition schedule revealed
With less than 150 days to go until the world’s biggest festival of winter sports, the competition schedule for PyeongChang has now been confirmed.
“The countdown to the Olympic Winter Games continues, and now with the launch of the competition schedule, the excitement and anticipation for everyone involved is really building,” said Lee Hee-Beom, President of the PyeongChang Organizing Committee for the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (POCOG).
“Spectators can now see which sports will take place on which day, and the specific timings for each session. This will help them plan their Olympic journey and give them the opportunity to buy tickets for a range of sports in one day to make the most of their visit to PyeongChang.”
The countdown to the Olympic Winter Games continues, and now with the launch of the competition schedule, the excitement and anticipation for everyone involved is really building Lee Hee-Beom President of POCOGG - Lee Hee-Beom President of POCOGG
The competition programme for PyeongChang includes six exciting new events: snowboard big air (men’s and women’s), speed skating mass start (men’s and women’s), curling mixed doubles and the Alpine team event. This means that the total number of gold medal events will be 102 – the most ever contested at an Olympic Winter Games to date.
All of the short track and speed skating sessions will take place in the evening, along with the luge, ski jumping and biathlon, which will take place under floodlights, adding a spectacular new dimension to the events.
Meanwhile, the Alpine skiing competitions will all be held during the daytime, maximising the opportunities for spectators to attend several Olympic activities in one day.
In another new twist, the Alpine skiing programme is being split between two venues: the speed events (downhill, Super-G and combined) will all take place at Jeongseong Alpine Centre, while Yongpyong Alpine Centre will host the technical events (giant slalom, slalom and the new team competition), with speed and technical events taking place on alternate days.
The mixed doubles curling and ski jumping competitions will both get off to an early start, on 8 February – one day ahead of the Opening Ceremony; while figure skating, freestyle skiing and the other curling competitions will all Curling, and Freestyle Skiing will take place the following day, meaning there will be no shortage of opportunities for those wishing to get a first taste of the sporting action before they head to the PyeongChang Olympic Stadium for the Opening Ceremony.
Another of the traditional highlights of the Olympic Winter Games – the men’s ice hockey final - will take place on the last day of competition, sharing the billing with curling and cross-country skiing, to ensure a varied and exciting finale to the sporting programme ahead of the Closing Ceremony.
The honour of receiving the first and last medals of the Games will go to athletes from Cross-Country Skiing late afternoon on Day 2 and late afternoon of Day 16. Commonly referred to as a ‘marathon on snow’ it is apt that the competition runs from opening to closing of the Winter Games.
Competition event ticket holders will be able to make use of a free public transport system enabling them to move easily between venues and the city centre, and they will also have free access to the Olympic Park and Olympic Plaza, where they will be able to enjoy a wide range of cultural activities and musical events, try out new sports, and watching live coverage of the Games themselves.
All of the latest news and information on the events, including the full competition schedule and ticketing information, can be found on the official Games website www.pyeongchang2018.com, while Olympic fans can also stay up to date by visiting the official Facebook page www.facebook.com/PyeongChang2018 and Twitter feed @PyeongChang2018.