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Korean Government Announces ‘Drive the Dream’ Program to Develop Winter Sports

The Korean Ministry of Culture and Tourism, which oversees PyeongChang’s bid for the 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, has announced today the launch of ‘Drive the Dream’, a program designed to ensure the balanced development and improved competitiveness of Korean athletes in all winter sports on a global level.

The initial phase of ‘Drive the Dream’ will run from 2008 to 2014, to try to extend the established Korean success in short track speed skating to other winter sports, securing South Korea’s place among leading winter sport nations. At the 2006 Winter Games Korea was 7th in the medals table.

The announcement of the new initiative demonstrates the commitment of the Korean Government to the long-term development of winter sports and the Olympic Winter Games.

The ‘Drive the Dream’ program consists of three core themes:

1.           Global Excellence: To improve and maintain world class sporting competence;

2.           Balanced Enrichment: To promote balanced development among winter sports;

3.           Cultural Expansion: To expand winter sport throughout the nation.

The program involves a considerable financial investment by the government. $28m USD will be available over a 7 year period to nurture the next generation of Korean athletes and $32.5m USD will be dedicated to establishing advanced winter sport training centers for both ice and snow events, including support services in each region of the country. It is hoped that the program will increase the size of the Korean team for the Winter Games up to about 300 by 2014, as well as boosting the number of Korean athletes competing at other major winter sport events.

Kim Jong-min, Minister of Culture and Tourism said: “The ‘Drive the Dream’ program is intended to increase further the interest in winter sports in Korea, providing opportunities for more young people than ever before to reach their full potential. We hope that those who have sufficient talent to compete at the top level will in turn inspire the next generation.”

Kim Jin-sun, Governor of Gangwon Province and Executive President of PyeongChang 2014 Bid Committee said:

“ ‘Drive the Dream’ is an important initiative to help Korean athletes reach the highest standards in all winter sports. If the 2014 Winter Games are held in PyeongChang we can be confident that Korean athletes will be pushing for medals in a wide range of disciplines. We are grateful to the Korean Government for their strong support for the bid.”