SEOUL, South Korea (May 6, 2015)—Olympic excitement was palpable this week, as Olympic gold medalist Lindsey Vonn (Vail, CO) gave a thumbs-up to the new PyeongChang downhill in South Korea and was named as the first International Games Ambassador for the 2018 Winter Games to help promote the sport of skiing. She was with a U.S. Olympic Committee delegation, along with U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association officials who signed an agreement with the Korean Ski Association to foster greater awareness and education about skiing and snowboarding in Korea.
After missing the Sochi Olympics due to injuries in 2014, Vonn is looking for more hardware in 2018. The speed skier was excited about the new downhill venue in Jeongseon and was impressed by the steep track. “The course looks very challenging with lots of jumps, which I really like,” Vonn said. “I am looking forward to seeing it with snow on and actually be able to run the course, but so far it looks really good.”
Four jumps have been cut into the hill, and a gondola and snowmaking system scheduled to be installed this summer. Two World Cup speed events on the track are scheduled for the upcoming 2015-16 season in order to prepare athletes for the Olympic Games. “PyeongChang 2018 is doing a great job in the preparations, so I look forward to the test events coming up in the next two years and the Olympics,” said Vonn.
In addition to a first peek at the downhill course, Vonn was also part of a delegation in Korea where she was named as the International Games Ambassador. “I’m very proud and honored to be an ambassador for the PyeongChang 2018 Olympics. It’s been a great trip to Korea so far,” said Vonn during the appointment ceremony. “My goal, almost my entire career, has been to promote ski racing—not just in America, but across the world. I think it’s an amazing sport.”
Lindsey Vonn addresses the media after her visit to the downhill course.
PyeongChang 2018 President Yang-Ho Cho was also enthusiastic about Vonn’s new position. “She is a very famous, well-known, world-class ski racer, but what I really admire about her is her passion and fearless spirit,” said Cho. “We believe that she will truly be an excellent Ambassador promoting the PyeongChang 2018 Games to the world.”
Representatives from the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association were also present to sign an agreement with the Korean Ski Association to promote the sport using the Olympic platform. Put together by the United States Olympic Committee, the memorandum provides support to connect the two organizations.
“Our initiative is to engage with the organizers in Korea to help further skiing and snowboarding both in their country and worldwide,” said USSA Executive Vice President, Athletics Luke Bodensteiner.
The stewardship program will consist of youth development direction, shared training opportunities and coaches education across multiple sports.
QUOTES
Lindsey Vonn
I’m very proud and honored to be an ambassador for the PyeongChang 2018 Olympics. It’s been a great trip to Korea so far. We were able to look at the (alpine skiing) venue yesterday and everything is coming on very well. PyeongChang 2018 is doing a great job in the preparations, so I look forward to the test events coming up in the next two years and the Olympics.
My objective, almost my entire career, has been to promote ski racing—not just in America, but across the world. I think it’s an amazing sport.
The course looks very challenging. It looks like the downhill will be very stiff with lots of jumps, which I really like. I am looking forward to seeing it with snow on and actually be able to run the course, but so far it looks really good.
My goal for the next Olympics are to try to win gold medals. In the last Olympics, I competed in Vancouver and won the downhill. I hope to improve upon those results or, if not, to match them.”
Luke Bodensteiner, USSA Executive Vice President, Athletics
Our initiative is to engage with the organizers in Korea to help promote skiing and snowboarding in their country. The memorandum is to use the platform of the Olympics to promote the sports worldwide.
Yang-Ho Cho, PyeongChang Organizing Committee for the 2018 Olympics & Paralympic Games (POCOG) President
I am very happy to name Lindsey Vonn as the first International Games Ambassador for PyeongChang 2018. She is a very famous, well-known, world-class ski racer, but what I really admire about her is her passion and fearless spirit. We believe that she will truly be an excellent Ambassador promoting the PyeongChang 2018 Games to the world.
