Leaving the freeway, we took the scenic route. It's always nice to get out of the city and into the countryside.
After more than an hour of driving, we arrived in Pyeongchang. There were Olympics 2018 flags, an Olympic market...
...a display counting down the days until the Olympics open...
...Pyeongchang Water at the convenience store...
and nothing else. Pyeongchang doesn't seem to have anything to do with Olympics. You might think, "Wait, what? That's - -"
My, what a large broccoli sign you have! (To clarify, it was 20-30 meters behind the bus stop.) I'd like to think a competing supermarket has a slightly smaller broccoli sign, and every day the owner of this store pauses, looks up at this sign, and cracks a very satisfied smile.
Once we realized there were no Olympics in the town they're named after, we decided to resort to Google. It turns out the opening and closing ceremonies are to be held at Pyeongchang Olympic Stadium in Daegwalleong...60 kilometers away. So off we drove to Daegwalleong. The route to the stadium on the regional highway was rather unclear since there was only the occasional small sign above one of the lanes marking it as an "Olympic bus lane" to clue in drivers that they were headed in the right direction. Perhaps there are clearer signs on the freeway, but even after passing the toll booths and heading into Daegwalleong, there were no signs marking the route to the stadium. While not on the level of essentially denying foreign Olmypic visitors access to the KTX during Seollal (the 1988 Olympics also took place during Chuseok), or the difficulties to be found in securing accommodation (or the faceplant ads like these bring on), it's still a bit perplexing that there are no signs. On the other hand, it won't be surprising if they get put up at the last minute.
After asking directions we eventually found the stadium. Here's a Daum Map image of the town with the stadium at the bottom left:
A large town it is not.
We passed by an avenue of flags and headed toward the stadium.
The road wound up around the stadium and we passed two entrances with security guards, but at the end of the road was a parking lot with tents and people (workers and people rehearsing the ceremonies, including a few foreign-looking faces) walking around. Here workers were about to lift the Olympic rings into place.
As it turned out, we seemed to have timed it well, and by walking around like we knew where we were going, we were able to approach the stadium...
...enter it and climb the stairs...
...and take in the sight.
Admittedly, were were pretty thrilled we'd managed to get in. Some part of the either the opening or closing ceremony was being rehearsed.
The four towers surrounding the stadium support the ring suspended above the main stage. The stands also sport a light show facilitated by this array of LEDs - almost one for every seat.
One wonders how many zip ties will be needed rein in all of those cables.
If you were wondering why the stadium had no roof, or what in the world a small town will do with the stadium in the future, the answer became clear as soon as we walked up the steps: it will be torn down once the Olympics end.
While there is a concrete base, the rest of the stadium seems to be made of bolted-together steel beams and poles. It's not meant to be permanent.
After watching the rehearsals for a bit we walked out. On the way out I realized the tall structure the crane is tending to below is very similar in shape to the torches being used in the torch relay. I imagine it will host the Olympic flame.
The freeway tunnels have Olympic rings which make for a rather "2001 stargate sequence" experience.
If it had been earlier (and if I'd realized how close Gangneung was) we might have tried our luck attempting to see the skating facilities. Instead we headed home.
Nice, man.
ReplyDeleteWell, Aspen it ain't; but I've also heard from a K-friend that local reaction is indeed (refreshingly?) low-key, which should translate into more focus on sports and the skills of the participating athletes, hopefully.
ReplyDeleteBut could this also be a reveal of the tension between Seoul and local government as to who exactly is going to pay for the upkeep of these facilities post-games?
Or, perhaps North Korea is going to steal the show with a P.R. roll-out that'll leave mucho eggo on The Donald's face after all of his recent sabre-rattling! Poetic justice, indeed. And I suspect that's exactly what's being planned. Maybe even as a result of the recent cosy-up between Moon and Xi? N. Korea looking all co-operative on the world stage would make American policy seem awfully out-dated regarding the Peninsula, with their THAAD rockets and s**t, when everyone seems to be getting along just fine, thanks much!! Who knows~ But I do feel strongly that there's going to be more and more questions concerning the American presence in S. Korea over the next decade. And more pressure on the S, Koreans to act in accordance with other big East Asian players. A Japan/Russia/China/United Korea trading and tech pact, perhaps? Better batten down those hatches, Northern European sea-pirates and your descendants!! Your REAL test is on the horizon.
But jeez, the snow. God, let there be snow! I was caught in a dump of snow last February in Sokcho; the amount of which I'd never come close to seeing before; so I for one am hopeful those Northerlies will blow, blow, blow.