06 Sep 2016 Winter Olympics organisers reveal progress of venue construction BY Kim Megson |
Organisers of the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea, have updated Sports Management on the construction progress of the seven new competition venues and other facilities being built for the Games. South Korean architecture, construction and engineering firm Taeyoung have designed the facilities for the Olympics, which will be gathered around two main mountain clusters – the Alpensia resort for the outdoor sports and the coastal city of Gangneung for the indoor events. Five existing facilities will also be used to host events such as ski jumping and cross-country skiing. A new high speed railway will be completed in June 2017 to link the sites with each other, the two Olympic villages being created for the Games, and Incehon Airport in Seoul. Meanwhile, new spectator accommodation – including Richard Meier’s Seamarq Hotel and Planning Korea’s plankton-inspired Gangneung Resort Hotel – have been built to support the Games and regenerate the region. Construction update for PyeongChang Mountain Cluster Landscape architects SWA have masterplanned the cluster so that the new courses seemingly extend from their respective stadia into the surrounding terrain and adjacent unbuilt valleys. To maintain the natural beauty of the hilly forested site, the design team “pursued a compact, walkable development pattern, minimal grading, reforestation, and waterway restoration.” They have also added practice ski jumps and a three-lift recreational ski area to the site. In summer, the stadia can be used for off-season training, while much of the terrain will become an 18-hole golf course. Name: Jeongseon Alpine Centre Sports: Alpine Skiing – Downhill, Super-G Course length: 2,852m (Men), 2,388m (Women) Capacity: 6,500 Construction progress: 69.5 per cent Expected completion: October 2016 Consultant: former ski jumper Bernhard Russi Name: Alpensia Sliding Centre Sports: Bobsleigh, Skeleton, Luge Course length: 2,018m Capacity: 7,500 Construction progress: 88.3 per cent Expected completion: October 2016 Construction firm: Daelim Name: Olympic Plaza (for opening and closing ceremonies) Capacity: 50,000 (temporary venue to be dismantled after the Games) Construction progress: 14 per cent Expected completion: September 2017 Name: PyeongChang Olympic Village Facilities: Hotels, restaurants, shops, entertainment venues and condominiums Capacity: 3,500 athletes Construction progress: 30 per cent Expected completion: September 2017 Masterplan architect: Brent Thompson Architects Name: International Broadcasting Centre Construction progress: 19.9 per cent Expected completion: April 2017 Construction update for Gangneung Coastal Cluster Name: Gangneung Ice Arena Sports: Figure Skating, Short Track Speed Skating, Ice Dance Capacity: 12,500 Construction progress: 91.4 per cent Expected completion: November 2016 Name: Gangneung Oval Sports: Speed Skating Capacity: 8,000 Construction progress: 73.4 per cent Expected completion: January 2017 Name: Gangneung Hockey Centre Sports: Ice Hockey Capacity: 10,000 Construction progress: 91.4 per cent Expected completion: November 2016 Name: Kwandong Hockey Centre Sports: Ice Hockey Capacity: 6,000 Construction progress: 93 per cent Expected completion: October 2016 Name: Gangneung Olympic Village Construction progress: 28 per cent Expected completion: September 2017 Name: Gangneung Media Village Construction progress: 32 per cent Expected completion: September 2017 Existing facilities • Alpensia Ski Jumping Centre • Alpensia Biathlon Centre • Alpensia Cross-Country Skiing Centre • Yongpyong Alpine Centre • Bokwang Snow Park Close Window |