Alpensia Ski Jump, one of the stages of the Korean Winter Olympics
Did you want snow? Well, take, not two cups, but a complete champion breakfast bowl , because in February the ** Winter Olympics will be held in Korea ** and you will have all the snow you want in the form of alpine skiing, jumping or biathlon (in addition to skating, curling, ice hockey…) .
Get ready, because in addition to hearing about their masks, their food and their music, now you will also do it from the Korean mountains. To hit the target, here's what you need to know about Pyeongchang 2018.
Woljeong Temple in Pyeongchang-Gun Gangwon-do Korea
1. When and where are they celebrated?
From February 9 to 25 at Pyeongchang.
two. Did I hear Pyeongchang?
Yes, you heard right. But be careful with the spelling: do not confuse it with Pyongyang , the capital of North Korea. Pyeongchang is a county in South Korea that is located in the mountains of taebaek , just 126 kilometers southeast of Seoul.
3. But… Korea again?
Yes, it is the second time that Korea celebrates an Olympic Games (Seoul hosted the 1988 ones and the country hosted the World Cup together with Japan in 2002), but in 2018 it opens with some winter Games.
Daegwallyeong Sheep Farm in Gangwondo
Four. Is Pyeongchang the only venue?
No, basically there are two blocks. In PyeongChang, near the ski resort of Alpensia , all tests will be held alpine sports , that is, the biathlon, cross-country skiing, ski jumping and sliding, as well as the opening and closing ceremonies. at the stations of Yong Pyong will take place the slalom and giant slalom tests and the Jeongseon will host the downhill and super-descent tests and the combined.
On the other hand, in the coastal area, in Gangneung Coastal Cluster , everything related to the ice : hockey, figure skating, curling and speed skating….
5. Do we have a pet?
Yes, and not one, but two: the tiger soohorang (whose meaning in Korean is 'tiger that protects', and which is white for obvious reasons) and the bear Bandabi (animal associated with valor and courage in this culture, as well as in the province of gang-won ), which will be the symbol of the Paralympic Games.
6. How do you get to PyeongChang?
Easy. From the airport Seoul Incheon (where you can travel with air France Y Korean Airlines ) leaves a high-speed train at PyeongChang which takes less than an hour. By car, thanks to the new freeway built between the international airport and the city of Pyeongchang, it takes about two hours to get there.
The Temple Stay program will allow you to stay in a Korean temple
7. What curious initiative has been carried out by the citizens on the occasion of the Games?
the national campaign k smile promotes and encourages the smile so that its citizens give a warm welcome To visitors. The motto is: 'Korea smiles and the world smiles back' (Korea smiles and the world smiles back).
8. How can we put ourselves in the shoes of athletes?
In The Pyeongchang House , the visitor center, can be experienced with interactive activities and simulators of various white sports. go up to the Alpensia Ski Jump Tower is the closest thing to feeling the adrenaline of the jump, and visiting the Korean Ski History Museum helps to know everything about the destination and the Korean athletes
PyeongChang House, the simulators to live like a Winter Games athlete
9. What do we do when there is no more sport?
Take a deep breath on the mountain Sorak . In it is the “swinging stone” and the temple Bekdam , from the Shila dynasty, one of the oldest Buddhist temples in the country.
Live more than a religious experience. Temple Stay is a program that allows you to stay with the monks in the ancient temple woljeongsa , in the mountain odesan , sharing their routine (tea ceremonies, rituals, meditations, diets…) . You can also walk along the “fir tree path”.
meet two of the traditional houses best preserved in the country, to also delve into its history: Seongyojang House Y Ojukheon House .
Enjoy the (delicious) Korean cuisine. In the Korea Traditional Food Culture Experience Center Jeonggangwon offer Korean cooking classes to learn how to make dishes like bibimbap or kimchi. On the other hand, in the Pyeongchang Hanu Center you can eat like a real local (and mixed with them) . First, you buy Korean cuts of meat in a small butcher shop on the ground floor, and then, upstairs, you cook in the barbecues, accompanied by different dressings and accompaniments.
_More information: and https://www.pyeongchang2018.com _
The Temple Stay program will allow you to stay in a Korean temple