PyeongChang 2018 organizers express support for ice climbing
On the occasion of the recent 2017 UIAA Ice Climbing World Cup event in Cheongsong, Korea, representatives from the UIAA and the Korean Alpine Federation (KAF) met high-ranking officials of the PyeongChang Organizing Committee for the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Seoul, South Korea and later at the Olympic site itself in PyeongChang.
The UIAA and KAF delegation was headed by Thomas Kähr, UIAA Executive Board member, and In-Jeong Lee, the Honorary President of the KAF and President of the UAAA, the Union of Asian Alpine Associations. The central objective of the meeting was to discuss the framework of the presence of ice climbing as a cultural event at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games as a further stepping stone in fulfilling the UIAA’s goal of ice climbing becoming an official part of the sport competition programme at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing, China. Ice climbing has already featured in the Olympic Park at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi and was part of the cultural programme at last year’s Youth Olympic Games in Lillehammer.
Hee Beom-Lee (center), President of the PyeongChang Organizing Committee for the 2018 Olympic Winter Games received Thomas Kähr, UIAA Executive Board member (left) and In-Jeong Lee, the Honorary President of the Korean Alpine Federation and President of the UAAA in his office in Seoul, South Korea.
The UIAA and KAF officials and the PyeongChang organizers enjoyed a very constructive and positive exchange of ideas. Hee Beom-Lee, the President and CEO of the Organizing Committee and Ki Hong Kim, the Vice-President of Games Planning and Deputy Minister, expressed an affinity for the presence of ice climbing in PyeongChang and stated their intention to support the UIAA/KAF initiative. Thomas Kähr, UIAA Executive Board member emphasized that it would present a great opportunity to show the world and the 2018 Olympic Winter Games visitors the attractiveness of the sport of ice climbing. In South Korea itself, ice climbing is a rapidly developing sport. Two Korean ice climbers – HeeYong Park and Han Na Rai Song – recently won gold medals at the World Cup events in Cheongsong and Saas Fee and the sport is regularly ranked among the top ten most popular in the country in research polls.
Main Picture: A UIAA/KAF, Korean Alpine Federation delegation met high-ranking officials of the PyeongChang Organizing Committee for the 2018 Olympic Winter Games. From left to right: Eui-Jae Lee, Director of KAF, Sunyoung Lee, Director of Cultural Development Winter Games, Joonsuk Hwang, Director General Culture & Ceremonies Bureau Winter Games, Ki Hong Kim, Vice President of Games Planning & Deputy Minister, Thomas Kähr, UIAA Executive Board member, Kyungmi Pae, Director of KAF, International Relations
Details/Further information:
UIAA ice climbing
UIAA 2022 vision
PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games
The UIAA Ice Climbing World Cup is partnered by The North Face Korea