In spite of the decision to postpone the 'Kimpo's sincerity', briefing session on attracting the international skating rink "I can't hear the reason..."Unless it's cancelled, we'll continue to prepare."
"May the dream of attracting Kimpo International Skating Center become a reality."
While the Korean Sports Association has put on hold the schedule to host the international skating rink, Gimpo City held a briefing session to attract the international skating rink and expressed its strong willingness to host it.
Gimpo City held a briefing session to attract the international skating rink at the Korea Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul at 11 a.m. on the 29th, and promoted its competitiveness after disclosing the site of its establishment.
Gimpo Mayor Kim Byung-soo came forward and expressed his eagerness to attract the international skating rink. Currently, Gimpo City, with a population of 510,000 people, is growing remarkably to 700,000 people in the future. Along with the selection of Gimpo Hangang New Town and Hangang 2 Compact City, a 1.6 million pyeong environmental regeneration complex will also be built. Gimpo is a city with opportunities for growth." "Transportation will also change through extension of lines 2 and 9 as well as subway lines 5. It becomes a city with good accessibility in any part of the metropolitan area,' he said. "From the standpoint of the skating world, relocating to Gimpo is more advantageous than any other region. International accessibility such as airports and ports is good, and the population of new cities in the northwest of the metropolitan area increases, expanding the base and geographical conditions are good as it is adjacent to Seoul. It is an opportunity to expand the base of the ice sheet and raise its international status. Gimpo will play a role for the ice skating and for the country." "We also signed an MOU with the Korea Hotel Industry Association to secure accommodation facilities. We also prepared an infrastructure to attract and grow international competitions in cooperation with and connection with the ice rink adjacent to Goyang and YangcheonThe slogan "Where imagination becomes reality, Gimpo" is on the line. I will make the imagination of attracting an international skating rink to Gimpo a reality. Mayor Kim then expressed his strong will, saying, `It was announced yesterday that the KOC's plan has been postponed, and we will continue to prepare unless it is canceled.' "It is important now, but it is time to increase the capacity of the Korean ice skating and take a leap forward. Moving the ice rink to the northwestern part of the metropolitan area, where the population is large and the base can be expanded, and the infrastructure is equipped, is an opportunity to leapfrog our ice rink. I think the relocation of Gimpo should be actively considered for the leap of the ice sheet. I will do my best with all my heart until Gimpo City hosts an international skating rink"I vowed.
Lee Sang-ik, head of the sports department in Gimpo City, explained and disclosed the site of the international skating venue. "Around the target site, commercial districts have already been established, and it is an area that will lead the Gimpo Han River New Town and Gimpo Economy, and is 500m away from Seoul Line 5 and Gimpo Gold Line Pungmu Station, and is the best location for business economy. The land compensation has been completed 100 percent, and there is no problem with the construction schedule. "We will make an ice rink with 4264 seats," he said. "In terms of important domestic and international accessibility, Gimpo, which is close to the international airport and has a transportation network, has optimal location conditions and superior conditions compared to other candidates." "By attracting the international skating rink, we expect a ripple effect of the local economy of KRW 1.25 trillion and employment inducement of 4,117 people over 30 years."We are also planning to establish an unemployment team and foster local youth student players at the end of this year," he said.
Seven local governments, including Gimpo City, Chuncheon, Wonju, Cheolwon in Gangwon Province, Yangju, Dongducheon in Gyeonggi Province, and Seo-gu in Incheon, are scrambling to host a new international skating rink that provides 200 billion won in state funds, and the Korea Sports Council held an extraordinary board meeting on the 28th and temporarily postponed the public offering of the site. This is because the possibility of preserving the Taeneung International Skating Center, which was originally scheduled to be demolished in 2027, has been revived. The Korean Sports Council stated that it intends to temporarily postpone the public offering of the site until the completion of services such as the comprehensive maintenance plan of the Taeneung Training Center and the heritage impact assessment for the creation of the Taeneung Training Center's sports and cultural complex. It plans to promote the preservation of the Taeneung International Skating Center through a heritage impact assessment, including the construction of an ice rink underground of the Taeneung National Training Center, which has been determined to remain a modern cultural asset, but if it cannot be used as an ice rink, it will re-promote the site of an alternative facility for the Taeneung International Skating Center. Despite the Korean Sports Council's decision to postpone it, the efforts and enthusiasm of local governments, including Gimpo, are sincere.
In the ensuing Q&A, questions about the provisional postponement of the Korean Sports Council were poured out. Regarding the postponement of the schedule with the Korean Sports Council, Mayor Kim said, `I don't know the exact reason. I know how much it appears in the article. "Since the schedule has not been canceled, the attraction promotion schedule is valid. There was also a story about whether we should do a briefing today, but one day we should do it anyway. It was conducted with the thought that there should be an opportunity to tell the people that Gimpo is preparing. We are preparing with the idea that it will continue to be valid unless it is canceled." Mayor Kim said, `It is not just the necessity of relocating the Taeneung International Skating Center, but to raise the international status of the Korean ice skating rink, attract international competitions, and enhance the skills of our athletes, we should consider actively relocating to the northwest, where the airport is close and there is a large population. I hope that the sports and ice skating circles will actively consider moving to develop the ice sheet, not the cultural heritage issue of the Taeneung Training Center, but from the perspective of leapfrogging the ice sheet.
Asked which of the nearby competition sites is most likely to be held at a time when seven local governments are competing, Mayor Kim said, `Gimpo has a similar character to Seo-gu, Incheon, but it is easier for us to move domestic players. In the case of Yangju, existing infrastructure and player infrastructure can appeal, but Gimpo is better in terms of new infrastructure and expansion of the base. I think Gimpo has more advantages in future value" expressed confidence.
Mayor Kim also made it clear that he will actively expand the base of players by revitalizing school sports and establishing an unemployment team when hosting an international skating rink. It is the responsibility of the city with the ice rink to foster elementary, middle and high school players and create an unemployment team for the city hall, he said. "In connection with the Kimpo City Office of Education, we will link student players and create an unemployment team for the city hall to foster athletes and contribute to the Korean ice skating."."
