SEOUL, South Korea, Nov. 24 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Seoul will host the FIS Snowboard World Cup Big Air Competition in December for the 2009-2010 season. The final decision on host city selection was made in late September at the FIS general meeting held in Zurich, Switzerland. This is the first time for an Asian city to host the Big Air World Cup. The competition will take place on December 13.
The international competition will be held in Gwanghwamun Square, a newly dedicated open space in the heart of the capital city. A jump pad, measuring 34 meters in height and 100 meters in length, will be set up temporarily at the northern end of the square to accommodate the competition. Athletes will compete on jump, turn, landing and distance travelled from the slope.
Gwanghwamun Square, which was officially opened to the public in August this year, is located along the main boulevard in the heart of Seoul. The square is 34 meters wide and 557 meters long. This new landmark in Seoul is the home for the statues of King Sejong the Great and Admiral Yi Sunshin and other cultural and historical sites. The Big Air competition will be the first international sports event to take place in Gwanghwamun Square.
To celebrate the hosting of the FIS Big Air competition, diverse range of entertaining events will be held at the venue as well in the name of Seoul Snow Jam, turning Gwanghwamun Square into a place of winter festivities. They include snowboard super matches presented by Hyundai Capital, the main sponsor of the Seoul Snow Jam event. An opening ceremony of Seoul Snow Jam will be held at 6 p.m. on December 11, followed by ski jump and snowboard gala show.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government hopes to raise interest in winter sports among citizens and plans to boost its image as a place of unlimited experience for international tourists through this event.
"I hope to organize Seoul Snow Jam not just as a festival for Seoul but for the entire country at a time when Pyeongchang of Korea is planning to participate in the bid for the 2018 Winter Olympic Games for the third time," said Kang Cheol-won, Director-General of Public Relations Planning of the Seoul Metropolitan Government.
Contact
Seoul Metropolitan Government
Estella Choi
Tel: +82-2-3210-9649
Email: press@prain.com
