South Korean Cities Selected to Host Two Major Skating Championships in 2008

The International Skating Union (ISU) has announced that Gangneung will host the 2008 ISU World Short Track Speed Skating Championships and Seoul will be the venue for the 2008 ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships. The confirmed allocation of these two important championships, which had previously been awarded on a provisional basis, demonstrates again the confidence that a key international federation has in the Olympic Movement in South Korea to put on major winter sport events.

If PyeongChang is selected to host the 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, the nearby city of Gangneung will be the location for skating sports, ice hockey and curling. The ice rink to be used next year for the World Short Track Speed Skating Championships would host curling in 2014.

Kim Jung-kil, President of the Korean Olympic Committee (KOC) said: ”We are grateful to the ISU for demonstrating their confidence in South Korea by entrusting these two prestigious skating events to Gangneung and Seoul. We will seek to stage the figure skating and short track championships to the very high standards that they deserve. If PyeongChang is selected for 2014, the additional experience gained by holding these events will help ensure that the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games are an amazing experience for all.”

The 2008 Four Continents Figure Skating Championships will take place from 4 to 10 February in Seoul and the 2008 ISU World Short Track Speed Skating Championships will be held at Gangneung Indoor Ice Rink from 7 to 9 March next year.

Major winter sport events to be held in PyeongChang in forthcoming seasons include the 2009 IBU World Biathlon Championships and the 2009 FIS Snowboard World Championships.