(ATR) FIS technical consultant Guenter Hujara tells Around the Rings the PyeongChang 2018 alpine ski venue is ready to host critical test events in February.
"Things are looking great on the slope," Hujara tells ATR. "I think, I can confirm the World Cup events today."
Hujara says safety preparations are making good progress, transportation and accommodation are in order and necessary infrastructure is in place for the FIS World Cup events next month. Downhill and super-G skiers will test the Jeongseon alpine venue Feb. 6-7.
"Enough good prepared snow on the race course. We already could ride the gondola for our first slope inspection. It's running," he added.
The gondola will be tested for another few days, according to FIS secretary general Sarah Lewis who informed ATR: "conditions are very good on the course in Jeongseon."
PyeongChang 2018 officials told ATR that there was enough snow on the course to pass the FIS snow inspection control.
After concerns about the gondola and snowfall, POCOG leaders will be relieved to receive approval from the ski federation. It comes two weeks ahead of the first batch of PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic test events that are a crucial milestone in Games preparations.
Hujara has been working alongside renowned course designer and 1972 Olympic downhill champion Bernhard Russi. Russi has sculpted a single new course for both men's and women's Alpine speed races.
The top men's downhillers have yet to see the track and training runs are scheduled on three days to prepare for the World Cup races. The opening downhill race is scheduled for Feb. 6, followed by a super-G the next day.
Russi said he has "full confidence" that the races will occur and that the gondola will be "ok", in an interview with the Associated Press.
Lewis said the snowmaking and preparation at Bokwang for the FIS Freestyle and Snowboard World Cup events later in the month "are also looking very positive".
"There is certainly positive excitement and anticipation for the FIS World Cup competitions in Jeongseon and Bokwang, the first official test events for PyeongChang 2018," she said.
Gunilla Lindberg, the IOC’s watchdog chief for PyeongChang 2018, also delivered an upbeat assessment of the Korean Olympic city’s progress.
"In PyeongChang great progress has been made," she told ATR. "The organisers and builders faced a very tight schedule to complete the venue and they should be commended for their hard work in getting the venue ready to World Cup standard.
On Friday, PyeongChang 2018 is organizing a ‘Welcome Day’ at the Jeongseon venue for media, organizers and staff. POCOG president Yang-Ho Cho and Korea Ski Association president Shin Dong-bin are among those who will attend the reception.
Reported by Mark Bisson and Brian Pinelli
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