Story 1 What is Dream Program
The Dream Programme is initiated to introduce winter sorts to young people who otherwise would not have the opportunity to experience winter weather and winter sports. The Dream Programme was launched by PyeongChang in 2004 as part its bid for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Since then, 1,574 youths (105 with disablities) coming from 75 countries have participated in this programme, which is usually organized for 10 days betwen January and February.
The Dream Programme provides youths aged 11 to 15 with the opportunity to train in skiing and ice sports. In particular, youths who have limited access to winter weather or winter sports, or those who have potential to excel in winter sports, are invited to PyeongChang. The programme has also helped foster closer ties among nations and enriched the participants through cultural exchange. Key stakeholders such as IOC, winter International Federations such as FIS and ISU, the foreign media and NOCs have lauded the Dream Programme as an excellent initiative that has contributed to the Olympic Movement. It has helped to expand winter sports, promote friendship among youths and contributed to peace around the world. Since 2011, the second phase of the Dream Programme, called 'New Dream Programme', has been in operation.
Under the New Dream Programme, there will be an increase in opportunities for the youths, including those with disabilities, to experience winter sports in PyeongChang. In 2012, the Dream Programme was also expanded to serve as an academy for winter sports.
An application is distributed and received by Korean Embassy through the process of consultation with the Nation Olympic Committee (NOC) of the country concerned.
Each NOC recommends articipants among promising players of 11-15 years old in it's country. After reviewing of the application, participants are finally confirmed by Gangwon Province.
Goal
Training professionals of a winter sports conducting: Winter Sports Academy
- Exchanging theory & pratical training and guidance method about sports on snow [Skiing and Snowboarding and sports on ice (Figure skating and Short track speed skating)]
- Participated coaches will help for promising players of their own countries through guidance methods and practical training method.
- Player will understand better about winter sports and improve their skills.
Contributing to friendship and international sports exchange among nations of the world
- Tour of Gangwon Provinve Culture, Seoul Tour
- Experience Korea, Recreation (Dream lounge, Social party, Water play)
- Tour of PyeongChang Winter Olympic sports facilities and experience winter sports
Participation Process
An application is distributed and received by Korean Embassy through the process of consultation with the Nation Olympic Committee (NOC) of the country concerned.
Each NOC recommends articipants among promising players of 11-15 years old in it's country. After reviewing of the application, participants are finally confirmed by Gangwon Province.
Story 2 Dreams come true
Julian Yee Zhi Jie (茹自杰) Figure Skate | Malaysia
*photo credit to Julian Yee Instagram Account @julianyeeee
Julian Yee Zhi-Jie (Chinese: 茹自杰; born 26 May 1997) is a Malaysian figure skater. He is a five-time Malaysian senior national champion (2013-2017) and has completed in the final segment at seven ISU Championships, including two World Championships. Yee began learning to skate at age four at the Sunway Pyramid Ice Rink in Malaysia. He and his brothers were introduced to skating by their monther, Irene. In 2011, he became the youngest skater to win the Junior Men's category, at age 13 years 10months, thereby breaking the previous record held by his brother, Ryan Yee Zhi-Jwen.
In 2014, Yee became the first Malaysia to reach the free skate at a Four Continents Championships. One of the youngest skaters at the event, held on Taipei City from 20-25 January 2014, he qualified for free skate and finished 23rd overall. At the 2014 Malaysian Open National Championship, Yee held the lead after the short program and defended his title to become only the second Malaysian skater to win the Senior Men's title in consecutive years.
Yee finished 15th overall at the 2017 Four Continents Championships in Pyeongchang, South Korea, and then went directly to Sopporo, Japan to complete at his first Asian Winter Games; he placed 8th with a new personal best of 222.69 points.
In August 2017, Yee won gold at the 2017 Southeast Asian Games. During the Nebelhorn Trophy, which was the qualifying event, the 2017 SEA Games gold medallist garnered a score of 71.93 points in his short programme. His free skate routine, where he was places third, ace him the points needed (148.74) to place in the top seven to qualify for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics.
*photo credit to Julian Yee Instagram Account @julianyeeee
Yee stated, "I was selected by my National Ice Skating Association (Ice Skating Association Of Malaysia) to participate in the 2009 Korean Dream Program in PyeongChang. I was very inspired with the fact that PyeongChang may be an Olympic Venue in the future and that I had the opportunity to learn more about figure skating at the Korean Dream Program.
With this Dream Program, it had also made me realise that the Winter Olympics is a very important and prestigious event. Making me want to be there some day.
8 years later, it is truly and honoure and an achievement to be able to qualify and participate at the 2018 Winter Olympics PyeongChang, the very same venue as the Korea Dream Program."
Tsao Chih-I (曹志禕) Figure Skate | Taiwan
*photo credit to Tsao Chih-I Instagram Account @skating250
Tsao Chih-I (Chinese: 曹志禕; born October 6, 1997) is a Taiwanese figure skater. He is the 2016 National Champion. He had qualified to the final segement at fve World Junior Championships and four Four Continents Championships. His story was quoted by President Moon's speech in Metropolitan in New York.
Story 3 Peaceful Olympic through valuable challenge
*photo credit to 대한민국 청와대 Facebook Account @TheBlueHouseKR
On 21 Sep 2017, President Moon Jae In, an honorary ambassador of 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games attended a promotional event for the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics at the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art and seek the international community's backing for a successful hosting of South Korea's first Winter Olympics.
"PyeongChang has give the chance of Winter sports to teenagers from warm countries for a long time. Thanks to the effort, 1,500 over teenagers from 75 countries have visited PyeongChang and made great friendships." For the part of his speech, President Moon talked about Dream Program.
"I would like to share the story of Tsao Chih-I from Taiwan. He experienced Winter in Pyeongchang for the first time in his life when he was 10 then he fell in love with figure skate. Now he is the new rising figure skater, ranked 13th in the world. Tsao Chih-I called his visit Pyeongchang as the turning point of his life. I believe this valuable program should stay as legacy of Pyeongchang and lead to the tradition of Winter Olympic, how do you think?"
On the special note to his speech, he added on his goal to make peaceful Olympic event with North Korea's participation. "We should like to take a big step to the difficult but valuable challenge. Tension between North Korea and South Korea is arising at the moment thus we need tomake more gestures of good will. Olympic will be the gratest chance to spread the message of peace and reconciliation to the world. We will try our best together with IOC to the last. Kindly give us your interest and support."
That's all for my post today! Hope you enjoy reading and thank you for dropping by!
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