SK geared up for PyeongChang success
Korean speed skaters practice at the Gangneung Oval, the speed skating venue for the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics, in Gangwon Province, Feb. 3. SK Group has financially supported the national speed skating team since 2014. / Yonhap
By Nam Hyun-woo
SK Group is exerting efforts for the successful hosting of the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics, the first Winter Games to be held in Korea in February next year.
According to the group, Wednesday, it has been conducting various activities for the success of the Games and the following Paralympic Games as a Tier 1 partner.
It provides cash and oil products for the organizing committee in return for the title of an official partner, a right to use the official logo as well as the opportunity to set up a promotional booth at the Games’ venues.
SK Group is a leader in supporting the progress of the Korean sports community, by supporting the so-called unpopular sports here, such as handball, fencing and swimming. One of their efforts is its contribution in improving the infrastructure for handball, shouldering the 43 billion won ($37.57 million) cost for remodeling the SK Olympic Handball Gymnasium in the Olympic Park in Songpa-gu, Seoul.
Also, the group has been sponsoring a series of international multisport events held in the country, including the 2014 Incheon Asian Games and the 2015 Gwangju Universiade.
“When it comes to the PyeongChang Games, Group Chairman Chey Tae-won’s affection for sports has played a pivotal role in the group’s decision to support the event,” an official said.
For Team Korea in the PyeongChang Games, SK Telecom is serving a key role by supporting national speed skaters.
In 2014, The company signed a sponsorship deal with the Korea Skating Union (KSU). Under the sponsorship, the telecom company has been supporting the national team’s tryouts, training and holding a number of speed skating contests in the country.
According to the official, SK Telecom pays 650 million won to the speed skating team every year. The total amount will stand at 2.6 billion won by 2018.
Buoyed by the support, the KSU has been carrying out a number of projects to enhance skaters’ performances.
In 2014, the KSU appointed renowned coach Hendrik Geert Bouwman from the Netherlands, a powerhouse in the sport. The Dutch coach has been nominated as one of “Top 5 Coaches” by the Netherland Olympic Committee and Netherland Sports Federation for his credit in nurturing star skaters such as Bob de Jong.
Also, the KSU extended the national team’s overseas training in Canada to 40 days, which the KSU feels is an opportunity for national skaters to experience an advanced environment.
“The deal came as a huge contribution for the KSU to carry out multiple projects to enhance national skaters’ performances and to acquire knowledge for holding international-level speed skating contests,” said a KSU official.