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Asia League Ice Hockey (ALH) President Kozo Takano said PyeongChang’s win in a bid for the 2018 Winter Olympic Games could expand the popularity of ice hockey in Asia.
“If PyeongChang wins the Olympic bid, visibility and awareness of ice hockey will certainly be heightened not only in Korea, but throughout Asia. An increasing number of people will be motivated to watch Asia League Ice Hockey games for the first time,” Takano told The Korea Times through the e-mail interview.
Ice hockey is one of the most popular sports at the Winter Games and it takes the longest amount of time to finalize the winner.
Ice hockey, however, is not very popular in Asia.
Swiss IOC executive board member Rene Fasel, who is also head of the international ice hockey federation, told the Associated Press on May 19 that he is eager to promote his sport in Asia.
“The Nagano Olympics boosted ice hockey’s popularity,” Takano said implying that PyeongChang’s win would have a similar impact.
“It can be expected that some other Korean companies will become interested in having an ice hockey team to take part in the top league. The increase in the number of participating teams in the top league will enhance overall playing ability.”
ALH is the top ice hockey league in Asia especially for Korean, Japanese and Chinese teams. Last season two sides from Korea, four from Japan and one Chinese outfit competed with Korea’s Anyang Halla defending its title.
In Korea, the number of people who play ice hockey has increased but several factors including the lack of ice hockey venues makes expansion difficult.
Though the circumstances aren’t perfect, the Halla players are sure that the sport can succeed in Korea and Japan with a little boost.
“Hardcore fans of Halla have multiplied and someday we are confident that ice hockey can succeed like baseball in Korea,” Halla official Min Ji-young said.
“The ice hockey league needs motivation. If people started to discover ice hockey they would like it. The PyeongChang Winter Olympics in 2018 could be a trigger to popularize ice hockey not only in Asia but also Korea.”
Halla head coach Shim Eui-sik agreed that PyeongChang’s bid win would promote ice hockey in Asia and Korea.
“The gap between Korea and world class teams is huge. But Korea can rapidly shorten the gap through the Winter Games,” Shim said.
The 31st ranked Korea struggles to play at the Winter Games where only the top 12 teams can compete.
“Only seven years are left. That is generally not that long enough to rank within the top 12 teams. But Korean’s eagerness may help realize the dream or at least narrow the gap,” added Shim.
Until the Turin Olympics in 2006 the host nation could enter. But in the Vancouver 2010 Olympics in Canada, the host nation was ranked first and the rule was changed so that the host nation couldn’t automatically qualify.
There is a possibility that the rules change through a legal procedure so the host nation could compete regardless of ranking.
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