PyeongChang, South Korea – The newly appointed president of the Korea Disabled Ski Federation pledged to further broaden winter sports programs and sites for the disabled in Korea, and provide disabled athletes with a wider range of opportunities to practice and prepare for the PyeongChang 2014 Winter Paralympic Games.

Cho Ki Song, the chairman of the Kangwon Land Casino in Gangwon Province, took office on August 17 as the Disabled Ski Federation’s president.

A popular four-season recreational complex, Kangwon Land has played an active part in nurturing Koreans’ participation in winter sports. In addition to sponsoring an ice hockey team, it supports both alpine and cross-country ski teams. The complex is perched high in the Gangwon mountain town of Jongseon, where the downhill ski contests for the PyeongChang 2014 Winter Olympics are planned.

The Korean government, PyeongChang 2014, and sports organizations remain firmly committed to supporting and expanding sports programs for the disabled, including on the competitive level. This past January, the city of PyeongChang played host to the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Alpine Skiing World Cup, a sanctioned event that saw participation of around 100 disabled athletes from 11 countries.

High school ice hockey championship under way

PyeongChang, South Korea – In other winter sports news, Korea’s high-school level ice hockey championship, the Minister’s Cup, is under way through August 21 in the Gangwon provincial capital of Chuncheon.

Six high-school teams are squaring off in this fast-paced tournament, which is co-organized by the Korea Ice Hockey Association and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

On the opening day, members of “Banbi” – the children’ winter sports club of Gangwon Province – greeted the teenage hockey stars and rallied in support of the PyeongChang 2014 Winter Olympic bid effort.