Early September may still feel like summer, but Gangneung is already gearing up for curling season. A weekend curling league opens Saturday and runs through late November.
The echo of "Yeong-mi!" — the rallying cry that rang through Gangneung's curling arena during the 2018 Winter Olympics — still seems to resonate in the public memory.
The city is drawing praise for keeping that Olympic legacy alive and growing it, with some saying it is remarkable to be launching a curling competition in late summer. South Korea has faced criticism for failing to make the most of its Olympic infrastructure compared with Salt Lake City, but Gangneung's ice sports venues stand as a clear exception.
The league competition of the "Curling Wave in Gangneung — 2nd Gangneung Curling Tournament," supported by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Gangneung city and organized by Gangneung Sports Club, will be held at Gangneung Curling Center from Saturday through Nov. 22.
Now in its second year, the tournament will bring together 10 teams and about 50 amateur players competing to show off skills they have honed over time. Play begins Saturday at 3 p.m., with games scheduled mainly on weekends over roughly three months.
The tournament is linked to a citizen coaching program under "Curling Wave in Gangneung," a community-based recreational sports support project, allowing residents who learn the sport to go beyond lessons and experience actual competition.
The event is particularly aimed at helping citizens who first encountered curling through coaching sessions stay engaged through regular competition, broadening the base of people who enjoy the sport on an ongoing basis. Organizers also hope the city's high-quality ice facilities will serve as a venue for community recreation, expanding participation in curling and other ice sports.
Choi Sang-bo, head of Gangneung city's sports division, said he hopes the tournament "will be a stage where participants can show everything they have practiced, and an opportunity for citizens to experience the excitement and appeal of curling up close." He added that admission is open to all and encouraged as many residents as possible to come to the arena, cheer on the players and enjoy the sport together.
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