Winter Sports Diffusion

PyeongChang makes good on its earlier commitment of nurturing young talented athletes

About 140 youths hailing from five continents are undergoing skiing and skating lessons at the Yongpyong Resort in PyeongChang and Gangneung Ice Rink. They are the participants of the 2007 edition of the Dream Program designed to diffuse winter sports to the world.
A total of 143 people ― 33 coaches and 110 athletes ― are taking lessons in such skiing sports as alpine and snowboard in the Yongpyong Resort or in such skating sports as figure skating, shorttrack and speed staking in the Gangneung Ice Rink. The nationality of the participants of the 2007 Dream Program that will last from Feb. 5 till Feb. 15 varies from Cote d'lvoire with no snow to Lebanon. The participants come from 11 Asian countries ― Taiwan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mongolia, Syria, Singapore, Iran, India, the Philippines, Thailand, and Korea; nine European countries ― Greece, Latvia, Romania, Macedonia, Moldova, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Czech, and Turkey; four Central and Southern American countries ― Guatemala, Mexico, Argentina and Peru; and nine African countries ― Guinea,
South Africa, Malawi, Senegal, Algeria, Togo, Cameroon, Cote d'lvoire and Morocco.
A 9-member lowest Beginners'C skiing class is seen toiling and moiling in practicing skiing as Park U-ran, a 24-year-old instructor, demonstrated skills in French in the Yongpyong Resort on Feb. 7. The eight members of the class hail from African countries. Park said, "Most of the students are unhappy about the slow advancement of skills."But they shouted for joy in a response to Park's suggestion for taking the lift for making a try.
PyeongChang proposed the Dream Program during its campaign for bidding for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games with the goal of training and nurturing young talented sportsmen in winter sports. PyeongChang, vying for another bid for the 2014 Olympics, remain committed to implementing the program until 2010.
The Dream Program was first initiated by Gangwon Province, a center of winter sports in Asia , in an effort to contribute to the international promotion of winter sports.
The program ultimately aims to develop winter sports as it invites young athletes from around the world and offers them, with systematic training sessions, to experience skiing and skating.
The program has been appraised by the international media as well as international sports communities and the IOC. It promotes winter sports and friendship among the world's youth, raises Korea's international profile and its national brand value in the international sports community. It revitalizes the regional economy through development of sports tourism and also contributes to the advancement of winter sports at a local level.
Since 2004, about 320 people from 78 countries have participated in the program. Bria Ilie of Moldova, on the 2005 Dream Program, made it to the 2006 Torino Olympic Winter Games representing his nation, while Manggyal Stanzin of India program and Lin Jia-Jung of Taiwan from the 2005 program were both selected for their respective national teams,
taking part in the 2005 World Cup I, II, which were held in Guangzhou, China and Seoul, Korea, respectively.
Along with these training sessions, program participants are also offered the 'Peace Tour' 'Green Tour'and 'Culture Tour' which all help to raise Korea's international profile and promote Gangwon's clean and clear image and cultural excellence around the world.
The participants of the 2007 Dream Program are given an opportunity to experience things Korean, including ceramics-making and taekkwondo (Korean martial art) after finishing each day's class or on weekends. They are scheduled to visit such places as Gyeongbok Palace.
Mario Menasa, 23, of Lebanon, on the 2007 Dream Program, spoke well of snow, facilities and hospitality of Korean people, saying, "We have skiing slopes, but the snow has already melted in February."Smigia Nigoba, 14, of Macedonia, said, "I" so happy to see our national flag at the airport, meet new friends and explore beautiful tradition and history of Korea."Hose Herardo Molina,

I12, of Guatemala, said, "I've seen snow for the first time in my life and I'm so happy to play on this white and beautiful snow."A participant from Cote d'lvoire said the temperature of his hometown hovered around 30 degrees in Centigrade, and he cannot become a skiing leader in his country with no snow and he would tell his friends about the goggles skiers wear when he returned home.
About 100 residents of a village of Haenggae-ri in PyeongChang gave a red carpet to the foreign visitors who arrived to participate in the 2007 Dream Program. The foreign visitors appreciated for the hospitality the villagers offered.
The participants are scheduled to compete with the skills they have accumulated in PyeongChang during an event, dubbed 'Champ, Run Together'on Feb. 15 on the last day of the 2007 Dream Program in the presence of the IOC Evaluation Committee delegation who makes an inspection on PyeongChang, the 2014 Olympic candidate city. nw

All the 143 participants of the 2007 Dream Program take time out to mingle each other. Some participants grin as they practice skiing at the Yongpyong Resort.