Before our time in PyeongChang came to an end we wanted to make sure to fit in a visit to House of Switzerland. This hospitality house is located at the bottom of the Yongpyong Resort ski hill. USA is next door and Sweden House is a short walk away. We did not have a chance to go inside where lunch was being served but instead spent some time on the outdoor patio. Many visitors we lounging in chairs watching the events on a big screen. We sipped hot chocolate and looked on from in front of a toasty fire pit. Beer, food and chocolate bars were also being served. Swiss House also boasts a small stage for live music and a miniature hockey rink!
What’s Next for PyeongChang
As the closing ceremony closed out the Olympics in PyeonChang and the Paralympics begin to set up shop, the big question on many minds is what's next. South Korea wanted to make PyeongChang a winter destination for the Asian world, but most are not convinced. With the lack of accessibility, a under populated workforce to serve the masses South Korea is hoping for, and budget constraints on upkeep, it is likely that with other large winter venues in China and Japan, that PyeongChang becomes the next Aspen, CO.
Wrapping Up
What an incredible few weeks this experience has been. In spite of the long hours, sleepless nights and truly Arctic temperatures I would not trade my time or experiences in PyeongChang.
With my career aspirations focused on a life working in sponsorship or marketing partnerships surrounding large sporting events I started this journey with an all business focus. I quickly learned that your time at the Olympics is what it needs from you rather than what you thought you needed from it. It was in embracing that idea that I found so many amazing experiences I never could have imagined, made some fantastic new friends and met some incredible people from around the world.
Coming from a small town in North Carolina where I spent most of my life rarely straying from state lines, it is hard to describe the value in an experience like this one. From the wealth it has added to my life from a cultural awareness perspective to the fantastic business leaders we had the opportunity to meet that could have a monumental impact on my future - the entire experience has just been phenomenal.
Collecting data for the IOC was certainly one of the least glamour positions I’ve been fortunate enough to hold down, but the privilege of the opportunity and all that came with it was certainly not lost on me.
I feel so grateful to the IOC, Dr. Neirotti, Lisa C, the people of Korea and all those I met throughout my Olympic journey for making this an experience that will last a lifetime.
Olympic Figure Skating Exhibition Gala
On the final day of the Olympics one of the most watched, yet least well known, events takes place - known as the Olympic Figure Skating Exhibition Gala. The event is build as a non-competitive showcase that allows the Olympic figure skaters an opportunity to skate through a song of their choice simply as a performance piece, no medals here. Some skaters use this as a moment to showcase their best tricks, while others use it as a moment to draw a few laughs from the crowd.
The event was wall to wall when we arrived with almost every seat filled. I particularly enjoyed Spainish skater Javier Fernandez’s routine, which was set to a soundtrack of the 80s best aerobic songs. His costume transitioned from sweats to a super hero set up; he had the entire crowd laughing throughout his performance.
Other skaters used the platform to deliver chillingly beautiful performances of skill and poise while others used it as an opportunity to pay homage to their country. One skater even took the opportunity to showcase his affinity for Spider-Man by Skating to the Spider-Man theme song remixed by Michael Buble.
You got the feeling watching them perform that for some it was a bittersweet moment to show the world what they can do one last time and for others it was simply a victory lap capping off the end of their Olympic experience.
It was hands down one of my favorite experiences from my time in PyeongChang.
Meeting the Women’s Ice Hockey Team
While waiting for the Men’s Gold Medal event in curling, I noticed a bunch of women in USA jackets walk up and sit in front of me while I was counting the number of athletes in the section. I noticed that it was the Women’s Ice Hockey team that just won Gold for defeating Canada’s Women’s team. I was low key freaking out and tried playing it cool while I asked them for a picture. They were more than happy to take one with me, and I even took a picture of the whole team in front of the curling rings for them. It was so awesome to be sitting so close to such amazing athletes. It was definitely a fantastic moment of being at the right place at the right time. I will treasure this picture forever!
All Good Things Must Come To An End!
We certainly had a good time here! We worked, learned, spectated and played! Now it’s time to pack it up and hope we make it back safely home!
Light It Up!
I happened to be at the right place at the right time and was able to carry the torch for a few precious moments! It was much lighter than I would expect. I noticed the handle was not meant for holding for long periods of time as it did not have grip holds and it would easily become slippery. Super happy!
Big Air Draws Big Crowds
On Saturday I headed up to the Alpensia Ski Jumping Centre to watch the Men’s Finals of Big Air. This was Big Air’s Olympic debut and the event drew a huge crowd. I would say it was the most well-attended event that I had seen. I am curious to know if the fact that it was a Saturday drew more local spectators compared to other events. The excitement of the crowd only made the experience even more thrilling. However, I have to admit that while at the event I was slightly confused about the scoring. As it turns out, for the finals, each rider completes three runs. The worst score is dropped and best two scores are combined for a final score. Six judges score on four elements (difficultly, execution, amplitude and landing) and the highest and lowest score for each run is dropped. For me, it was an honor to witness the first-ever Big Air Olympic champions celebrate with each other at the close of the event. In the coming days it will be interesting to see how well the new event was received by the international community.
Henry Jackson – The King of all Snowboard MCs
Throughout my time at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games, I spent most of my time in Phoenix Snow Park where I was able to witness a lot of snowboarding. The atmosphere was always lively and the crowd was always pumped. I believe much of that credit goes to Henry Jackson, the commentator for these events. Throughout each event his honest and emotional commentary keep the crowd engaged and the riders pumped. He offers realistic feedback and heartfelt encouragement to the athletes as they are snowboarding and rejoices with the crowd when seeing successful runs. While other sports commentators could be serious, Henry Jackson always brought enthusiasm to the snowboard course. He was one of my favorite parts of being at snowboarding and it came as no surprise that when I looked him up, one snowboarding magazine referred to him as the “King of all Snowboard Events MCs.”
Bobsled – Elana Meyers Taylor Takes Home Silver
After enjoying a delicious meal of chicken and beer, a group of us attended the Women’s Bobsled Final event. GW alum, Elana Meyers Taylor, is a bobsled pilot and was competing for a medal in this event so, we went to support our fellow alum. After taking a long hike up to the sliding center, I was amazed to see how fast the bobsleds are moving. As you stand along the side of the track, you see the bobsled pass you by for only a split second and I gained a whole new appreciation for the sport. When we got into the stands, Soohorang and the cheerleaders were keeping the crowd lively and the South Koreans were really excited to be at the event. They were dancing and wanted to take pictures with us the whole night. The energy did not slow down for the whole night, but ultimately the best this to witness was Elana Meyers Taylor and her partner Lauren Gibbs take home the silver medal for the USA.