Mass celebration for Athletes. Malagò: Christmas characterised by the profound values of sport

• CONI

The 2017 Holy Mass for Athletes was celebrated today at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross. The Eucharistic celebration was led by Vicar General of Rome, Monsignor Angelo De Donatis. In attendance were the President of CONI, Giovanni Malagò, the General Secretary, Roberto Fabbricini, the Vice-General Secretary, Carlo Mornati, the Chief Executive Officer of Coni Servizi, Alberto Miglietta, numerous members of the National Commission and the National Council, and a significant delegation of athletes from the Olympic club and the Paralympic movement.

Monsignor De Donatis’ sermon focused on the meaning of sport in religious terms. “Let’s God’s word light up our heart. The Lord’s intervention overcomes unsurmountable difficulties, He wants men to be free. Preparation is a matter of conversion, which translates into the desire to be free of sin. When we are cleansed inside we can establish real relationships, situations change if people’s heart changes. This is a time for hope. It offers the amazing things made by God to free us, to offer us salvation. Tests prepare us to a greater joy. We renew our hope, let’s not interfere with God’s plan, he wants us free from selfishness, violence and unedifying passions. Sport is at the service of all these gifts that God has bestowed upon you to live with love and in harmony. What you do, you do to give glory to God, to return to Him the gifts he has given you.”

President Malagò thanked the ecclesiastic authorities, among whom were Monsignor Melchor Sanchez, Don Gionatan De Marco, the parish priest, Andrea Meschi, the Cathedral of the Holy Cross and the athletes. “This church was the home of the athletes taking part in the Rome Olympics in 1960. It was a ceremony as simple and as profound as our values. A Very Merry Christmas, I offer you these wishes also from Arianna Fontana, who is the symbol of all the good things we always want to express.”

Prayers were read by Mara Santangelo, Carlo Molfetta, Alice Parisi (Softball), Alessia Maurelli (Gymnastics), Ariola Dedaj and Emanuele Di Marino (Paralympic Sport). Also among the present were the Italian standard bearer at the PyeongChang Olympics in 2018, Arianna Fontana (Short Track), Elisa Di Francisca (Fencing), Giovanni Pellielo (Shooting), Odette Giuffrida (Judo), Giuseppe VIcino and Matteo Lodo (Rowing), Alessia Mesiano, Irma Testa, Monica Floridia, Assunta Canfora, Irma Testa (Boxing), Anna Basta, Martina Centofanti, Agnese Duranti, Martina Santandrea and Beatrice Tornatore, Ruggero Tita, Caterina Banti (Sailing), Veronica Comar, Fabrizia Marrone, Alice Nicolini, Ilaria Cacciamani, Lara Cecchetti, Ambra Collina, Mariel Bertossi, Giulia Longhi, Elisa Cecchetti, Greta Cecchetti, Marta Gasparotto, Beatrice Ricchi, Laura Vigna, Priscilla Brandi (Softball), Tatiana Guderzo and Simona Frapporti (Cycling), Alessio Foconi (Fencing), Carlo Tacchini (Canoeing), Antonella Palmisano (Athletics), Daniele Resca (Shooting), Marco Galiazzo, David Pasqualucci (Archery), Francesca Lollobrigida, Valentina Marchei, Nicole Della Monica, Matteo Guarise, Matteo Rizzo (Ice Sports).

Mass was accompanied by the philharmonic orchestra Città di Roma, the choir “Le mille e una nota", conducted by the Maestro Silvia Scicolone and directed by Lorenzo Porzio, with the participation of the Rome Convitto Nazionale "Vittorio Emanuele II" orchestra and choir.

Italian flag handed to Arianna Fontana and Florian Planker. Mattarella: Italy is by your side

• WINTER OLYMPIC GAMES

Her expression speaks of singular emotions far beyond the solemnity of the Quirinal Palace, which makes for an exceptional setting. Because it shines with the magic of a unique day, alive with memories of a lifetime cherished by the soul, the Tricolore held proudly, and her mind already on 9 February. Circled in red for a long time, the date will mark a story that began from afar and will reward a career of sacrifice, talent and passion. Beginning in 2006 in Turin, triumphantly joining the Olympic greats - as the youngest Italian medal-winner ever - and continuing in Vancouver and Sochi: always on the podium, always a champion. Arianna Fontana, short track champion and flag bearer for Italy at the Winter Olympic Games 2018, will march into the heart of PyeongChang Olympic Stadium - in front of 35 thousand cheering people - waving the Italian flag. Received today from President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella, handing over the flag is a deep-rooted tradition that, each and every time, evokes feelings that are difficult to summarise. This snapshot captures the prevalent characteristic of a ceremony that is simple and uncomplicated, yet capable of striking the most heartfelt cords. Alongside Arianna is hockey player Florian Planker, the second flag bearer, and a unique world - Olympic and Paralympic - that symbolises how sport unites, includes and brings people together.

Genuine speeches, words that touch the heart. Smiles, of course, of mutual affection, support, encouragement. This is how the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, greeted a delegation of Italian athletes departing for the Games in the Salone delle Feste (photo: Mezzelani-Ferraro-GMT), headed by CONI President, Giovanni Malagò, and President of the Italian Paralympic Committee, Luca Pancalli. Also participating in the ceremony were Minister of Sport, Luca Lotti, CONI’s Secretary General, Roberto Fabbricini, Vice Secretary General, Carlo Mornati, Senior Vice President, Franco Chimenti, Vice President Alessandra Sensini, the Presidents of the Italian Winter Sports Federation (FISI) and the Italian Ice Sports Federation (FISG), Flavio Roda and Andrea Gios, and members of the Committee and the National Council.

Malagò’s words underlined the significance of the Italian mission and the efforts undertaken in preparation. “It is a symbolic moment that encapsulates 4 years of dedication, of sacrifice, for any individual in any corner of the world who has achieved this difficult Olympic qualification. Since 1924, Italy has never had such a high number of qualifying athletes, aside from 2006 when we hosted the Games in Turin. This means that we will compete in 14 of the 15 sports and in precisely 95 of the 102 events. Thanks go to the work of the FISI, led by Flavio Roda, and the FISG, chaired by Andrea Gios. At 50 days from the Games, Mr President, we are ready to make an impression. For the country and also for you, Sir, our number one fan. We ask a small favour of you, to give up on but a few hours of sleep to follow us. Sport demonstrates that we are united and have great credibility abroad. Arianna Fontana is the youngest athlete to have won an Olympic medal at the Winter Games. Rightly, she is the flagbearer, because she has made it to the podium at 3 different Games. She is an Appointee of the Italian Financial Police, confirming the decisive role of the armed forces. We are proud of its support and this creates the conditions to make a great Olympian".

Luca Pancalli’s message was equally significant. “Mr President, you have always shown encouragement and support to our family. This is a country’s greatest moment, where sport represents the extent of inclusion possible: this sense of recognition and gratitude lives in every athlete present here. The pride with which Florian Planker will receive the flag from you is a pride we all share in. Each of them will prove to be an example of courage and perseverance for all. I do not wish to hide the emotion that ceremonies such as these create for me. The recognition, gratitude, pride and passion that give a ceremony a particular beauty. The end of the year, almost like an extraordinary season’s balance sheet, has seen an explosion in the Paralympic movement, which obtained recognition as a public body at the beginning of the year.”

Minister Lotti: “An emotional moment in which we seek the phrases that might help to describe this feeling. I think to our flag waving in Turin and the anthem sung by a 9-year-old girl. And then to the phrase by Newton: ‘If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants’, referring to those who preceded him, to those who opened up a world for him with their discoveries, advancing his own. Zeno Colò was a woodcutter who trained by carrying wood to strengthen his legs. His was the first gold medal at the Games in alpine skiing. To the athletes, I say: look to the giants of the past to build your success. You are already part of history and you are facing the final part.”

President Mattarella also embraced Italian sport. “Go and live out a greatly fascinating and important adventure. Qualifying for the Olympics is no easy feat. It is a challenging yet thrilling journey, because the Games are the exaltation of universality and kinship. Medal-winners are pushed to overcome their own limits as well as their opponents. Good luck. The flag that I had the fortune of handing over not only represents the fact that you will represent your country, but rather it is as though it accompanies you. Many will follow you with affection, feeling involved. The Games always call for much participation, encouraging attention to sport. Young people in particular. My age has allowed me to see many champions, from the fifties to the present day. You have my encouragement. Always feel the affection of our country by your side. You will return with medals, but the most important thing is participation.”

Lastly, the thanks by Arianna Fontana were touching. “This day marks a special moment of particular pride for myself and for all the people who have been close to me. On the day that I enter the stadium, there will be three people. The child who discovered a passion for skating, the youngster who reached Olympus and the woman you see today, who is ready to take on every challenge to help our country.”

Florian Planker: “I saw the Tricolore fly for the first time when I won the medal at Salt Lake City, and now I am proud to hold it in my hand. I am prepared for this duty that makes me proud.”

The following athletes present at the event were announced: Dietmar Noeckler, Federico Pellegrino (FISI), Anna Cappellini, Luca Lanotte, Charlene Guignard, Marco Fabbri, Valentina Marchei, Ondrej Hotarek, Matteo Guarise, Nicole Della Monica, Matteo Rizzo, Giada Russo, Martina Valcepina, Arianna Fontana, Lucia Peretti, Cecilia Maffei, Yuri Confortola, Mirko Nenzi, Nicola Tumolero, Andrea Giovannini, Davide Ghiotto, Michele Malfatti, Riccardo Bugari, Yvonne Daldossi, Francesca Bettrone, Francesca Lollobrigida, Daniele Ferrazza, Joel Retornaz, Simone Gonin, Amos Mosaner, and Andrea Pilzer (FISG). For the Italian Paralympic Committee: Florian Planker (flagbearer), Roberto Cavicchi, Manuel Pozzerle, Jacopo Luchini (FISIP - Italian Paralympic Winter Sports Federation), Bruno Balossetti, Roberto Radice, Gianluca Cavaliere, Nils Larch, Christoph Depaoli, and Andrea Chiarotti (FISG).

Giorgio Armani dresses the Italian Team for the Winter Olympic Games in PyeongChang2018

• OFFICIAL OUTFITTER

EA7 Emporio Armani will be the official outfitter of the 2018 Italian Olympic and Paralympic teams for the Winter Games in Pyeongchang. This is a continuation of the collaboration between Giorgio Armani, CONI and the Paralympic Committee, which began at the London 2012 Games and continued at the Winter Games in Sochi in 2014 and the 2016 Games in Rio.

The athletes will wear sportswear by EA7 in their free time and on official occasions for the duration of the event. The kit delivered to each athlete is a modular wardrobe that includes a technical-fabric ski tracksuit and mantle, a long down coat, a polo fleece shirt, a blue and white T-shirt with tricolour pattern, a jumper, warm cotton trousers and a seamless cotton layering set. Accessories complete the look: gloves, a hat, a scarf, trial waterproof shoes with anti-slip grip in high-top and low-top versions, a luggage trolley, a gym bag, a boot backpack and a messenger bag.

The sportswear comes in elegant, signature midnight blue with Italian-flag-colour details and features the EA7 logo. The ski tracksuit for the podium stands out with its sleek, active look; the technical fabric is made with cutting-edge, high performance materials that meet the highest quality standards.

The sense of pride and belonging, which is key to this design project, is expressed in a discreet but incisive manner: inside the jackets and sweatshirts, the first verse of the Italian national anthem is printed in gold script, while the polo shirts feature the same words, printed on the blue webbing visible when the collar is turned up.

CONI, CIP and Toyota team up for the launch of "Start Your Impossible"vvvv

• BORN AMBASSADOR TEAM

The President of CONI, Giovanni Malagò, this morning took part, in the showroom of Toyota Italia, in the Italian launch of the corporate initiative “Start Your Impossible”, Toyota’s first global campaign, widespread throughout the world and inspired to the partnership with the Committees of the next Olympic and Paralympic Games, which marks the start of a new course for the brand which wants to establish itself, more and more, as the Mobility brand: an overall mobility operator.

In fact Toyota is committed to offering the integrated use of vehicles, advanced technology, innovation and robotics, the best possible mobility for everyone. Toyota believes in the realisation of a completely sustainable society where everyone is able to overcome their own limitations, using mobility systems that are not limited to motor vehicles and that allow free movement, without obstacles, be they social or physical. “Start Your Impossible” is precisely the theme of this campaign: a new path, a new way to face up to challenges and overcome one’s own limitations, a courageous but essential change. Today Toyota is a brand committed to ensuring freedom of movement for everyone, with the purpose of ensuring the best living conditions for everyone, including those affected by more or less significant disabilities.

Through the values of sport, it promotes a society free from discrimination, where everyone can face up to their own challenges and, as the first Olympic and Paralympic Games “Mobility Partner”, it aims to offer new generation mobility services, transport solutions and advanced technologies to the service of people, also within the home.

In line with the spirit of Start Your Impossible, an Ambassador Team was selected in Italy: the Toyota Team, formed by Italian athletes in the various Olympic and Paralympic disciplines such as: Bebe Vio (Fencing), Ivan Zaytsev (Volley), Arianna Fontana (Short Track Skating, Italian standard bearer at the next Olympic Games in PyeongChang in 2018), Paolo Lorenzi (Tennis), Andrea Pusateri (Paracycling), Filippo Tortu (Sprinter), Anna Cappellini/Luca Lanotte (Figure Skating), Para Hockey Club Torino Tori Seduti (Paralympic Ice Hockey), Gabriele Detti (Swimming).

These athletes best embody the Toyota values, the application of the Kaizen spirit linked to continuous challenge, overcoming of one’s own limits, respect of people and team work.

“Toyota’s history has always been about passion, courage and innovation to make the impossible possible – declared Andrea Carlucci – Toyota Motor Italia’s Chief Executive Officer - We started with distant challenges: in 1997, when the Prius hybrid was first introduced, nobody thought we would achieve the results we have achieved today. We never pulled back and, bravely, we set always greater objectives for ourselves. We continued with hydrogen and in 2014 we created Mirai, our series saloon powered by this resource. Today, with Start Your Impossible, Toyota reaches a fundamental target: again we state our being a true Mobility brand that spreads the concept of mobility incorporating motor vehicles, technology, innovation, artificial intelligence and robotics to be put at the service of people, also with disabilities, to improve their quality of life.

The work carried forward at national level with CONI and CIP, and the choice of a Toyota team, represents the confirmation of the existence of shared intentions, based on elements such as the continuous improvement that for us represents a fundamental value to guarantee what our president, Akio Toyoda, referred to as “Ever Better Mobility for all”.

"The car has taught me much - Mr Malagò declared -. If I am now the President of CONI, in fact, it is because my family company received a return from cars. Over the years I have worked with almost all car brands, even if at the time we were not able to find an agreement with Toyota. After a few years I can state that we were both right because Toyota wanted someone who could dedicate their time to their project full time and we, on the other hand, were too busy with other brands. But I have always considered Toyota as something different, it has the ability to anticipate choices that are often risky but the results are undeniable. We are absolutely talking about the brand with the highest production and the greatest number of sales. We are proud to be here. Toyota Motori Italian have given us their trust until 2024: it is an extremely important declaration and they will be proved right. I must thank the CIO because it was truly because of the International Olympic Committee that we are here. In fact, we are an expression of that international partnership but if we had not had our own appeal this all Italian connection would not have taken place. Here, today, are my two worlds: cars and sport, a magic combination, an historic occasion, also a personal one, which will bring luck to the CIP, to CONI and above all to Toyota Motor Italia".

“I want to thank Toyota Italia and Andrea Carlucci for the extraordinary opportunity offered to the Italian Paralympic Committee and, more generally, to Italian sport. - Luca Pancalli, CIP’s President, stated - I believe that like nothing before, the campaign claim, “Start your impossible”, perfectly matches the personality of everyone of our Paralympic athletes, always looking for new challenges and limits often believed to be insurmountable. They challenge the impossible every day. It is made of elements such as determination, sacrifice, an almost obsessive search for new targets, all pervaded by the research for new and better performing technologies, to be the transferred to the service of everyone. To know that there are partners which have adopted the same principles as the characteristics of their lives, is for them and for all of us a further motivation for growth, not only from a sport point of view, but also in terms of developing the concept of inclusion that is part of the DNA of all of us”.

Italy’s Men make history: the team beat Denmark in Pilsen and qualify for PyeongChang

• CURLING

Italy’s Curling Team make history and fly to PyeongChang. The National Men’s team, trained by Soren Gran and featuring Joel Retornaz (skip, Sporting Club Pinerolo), Amos Mosaner (third, Aeronautica Militare), Simone Gonin (second, Sporting Club Pinerolo), Daniele Ferrazza (lead, Curling Cembra) and Andrea Pilzer (alternate, Curling Cembra), defeated Denmark 6-5 in the play-offs at the Olympic qualifying tournament in Pilsen (Czech Republic), booking their place at the Games due to be held in February in South Korea.

It is the first time since the sport was added to the Olympic programme (Nagano, 1998), not including the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin when participation by organiser Italy was guaranteed.

Victory came in the final minutes of a thrilling challenge: from 1-0 to 1-1 after two ends, 3-1 to 3-3 after four, then two blank ends, and in the seventh, another Danish lead. Italy did not respond immediately, with the eighth shot a miss, but went on to score two points in the ninth end, resulting in 5-4 to Italy. They equalised in the tenth end, leading to the extra end: Mosaner, with the last legendary stone, turned the dream into reality.

Euro 2020 opening match at the Olympic stadium in Rome. Malagò: UEFA’s choice is a significant sign

• CONI

Thirty years after the final of the World Championship of 1990, Rome will again host a symbolic match in international football: the opening match of the 2020 European Football Championship. It is a historic occasion, on the 60th anniversary of the continental tournament which will involve 12 European cities. The official announcement was issued today in Nyon after the meeting of the executive committee. Four matches will be played in total, including one of the quarter finals, while London, in addition to the semi-final and the final, will host the four matches that should have been played in Brussels, because of the impossibility of respecting the terms and conditions imposed for the delivery of the new stadium in time for the tournament.

The candidature for the opening match was already included in the file presented by the Italian Football Federation in April 2014. The President of CONI, Giovanni Malagò, commented proudly on the decision by UEFA: “The Olympic stadium in Rome will have the honour of hosting Euro 2020’s opening match. EUFA’s choice is a significant sign for the stadium and Italian sport generally.”

The pairing of matches to tournament locations, only for the groups Phase, took place during the meeting. Each of the qualifying teams will play at least two matches at home. This is the outline:

Group A) Rome and Baku

Group B) St. Petersburg and Copenhagen

Group C) Amsterdam and Bucharest

Group D) London and Glasgow

Group E) Bilbao and Dublin

Group F) Munich and Budapest

Manuela di Centa Helps to Launch New Series "Legends Live On" from the Olympic Channel

• IN ROME

Beyond the spotlight of the Olympic Games where legends are made, their legacy lives on. In the new Olympic Channel original series, Legends Live On, Olympic heroes show how they are translating their success into careers and inspiring future generations.

Legends Live On premieres today, Friday, 1 December on the Olympic Channel global digital platform, and is available at olympicchannel.com and on its mobile apps. The 10-episode series was produced exclusively for the Olympic Channel by New Moon out of London.

In conjunction with the worldwide digital launch of Legends Live On, a premiere screening took place today in Rome featuring Manuela di Centa, the Italian cross-country skiing legend and honorary IOC Member. The event was hosted by the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) at their headquarters to an audience of journalists, local dignitaries and sports influencers as well as her family and coaches.

“I’m convinced that everyone should follow their hearts on their own path, and that drawing on this inner strength can help push you to reach success,” said di Centa, a seven-time Olympic medallist who uses her impressive medal collection to help inspire youth through education. “As a role model, especially to young women in today’s society, it is important to encourage youth to follow their passions to achieve their personal goals. I hope that sharing my story will help to inspire others to keep pushing towards their dreams.”

Following her record-setting career, which saw her compete in five consecutive Winter Olympic Games and the only athlete to achieve five medals at the 1994 Lillehammer Games, di Centa went back to University where she earned a Master’s degree in International Relations and Politics. In addition to her post-athletic career she set her sights on other physical challenges and in 2003 became the first Italian woman to climb Mt. Everest.

In addition to di Centa, Olympic legends featured in the series includes swimmer Ian Thorpe (AUS), who now brings messages of hope to remote communities; beach volleyball player Jackie Silva’s (BRA) efforts to help trouble youth through sports; how Katarina Witt (GER) has translated her ice skating success to helping others; and snowboarder Shaun White (USA), whose superstardom has led to a career in fashion and music and who is looking to compete at the upcoming Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018.

Olympic Channel Schedule: Legends Live On

*Schedule Subject to Change

Manuela Di Centa leggenda vivente per l'Olympic Channel

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Janez Kocijančič elected President of the European Olympic Committees, Raffaele Pagnozzi Secretary General

• NIELS NYGAARD VICE PRESIDENT

Janez Kocijančič has been elected permanent President of the European Olympic Committees (EOC) by acclamation to replace Patrick Hickey today. Kocijančič, the 76-year-old Slovenian who has served as acting President since August 2016, was uncontested for the position at the body's General Assembly here.Niels Nygaard of Denmark was elected vice-president after securing 27 of 50 possible votes in a two-horse race. Italy's Raffaele Pagnozzi and Kikis Lazarides of Cyprus were also both elected unopposed for the respective secretary general and treasurer roles.

IOC launches Olympic Brand Campaign “Become the Light”

• IOC PARTNERS WITH UNHCR TO BRING SOLAR POWERED LIGHTING SOLUTIONS TO REFUGEE CAMPS

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has launched a new integrated brand campaign, “Become The Light”, that aims to promote the Olympic values of excellence, friendship and respect.

The campaign uses “light” as the symbolic representation of the Olympic values. Through a series of public service announcements, the campaign demonstrates how the inspirational achievements of athletes and the Olympic spirit can motivate people around the world to “Become The Light” and act as beacons of positivity.

Supporting the IOC’s vision of building a better world through sport, the campaign invites participants to make a “donation” of their physical activity, recorded through the Olympic Channel. In keeping with the campaign theme of “light”, the IOC will convert recorded activity into tangible support for refugees, by providing sustainable, solar powered lighting solutions for the Mahama Refugee Camp in Rwanda in cooperation with UNHCR.

“Sport is about building bridges, bringing people together in the spirit of friendship and respect.” said Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee. “In a world of uncertainties, the message that our shared humanity is greater than the forces that divide us is more relevant than ever before. Athletes carry the light and inspire us, giving us all hope that a better world is possible. We are pleased to be able to continue our close cooperation with UNHCR and our support for refugees as part of this campaign.”

UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said: “Sport can be a lifeline for young refugees uprooted by conflict and violence, forced to abandon their homes, communities and even their families. Sport restores childhood. It helps to heal and restore a sense of normalcy, offering a safe space where children can grow, learn and develop. By providing sustainable, solar powered lighting in refugee camps, we can boost sport and education opportunities for young refugees.”

The “Become the Light” campaign begins as the world counts down to the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 and the Olympic Torch Relay progresses around the host country, the Republic of Korea, with its message of hope and inspiration. The campaign launch follows the adoption of the Olympic Truce Resolution by all UN Member States on 13 November at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The Olympic Truce Resolution provides a commitment to support the safe passage of athletes and all participants to the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 and promote diplomatic solutions to conflicts around the world, in line with the ancient Greek tradition of the Olympic Truce, “Ekecheiria”.

“As an Olympian, I truly believe athletes have a crucial role to play to inspire the next generation, especially those who share a passion for sport, as sport can unite the world, breaking down barriers and having a positive impact on society,” said Angela Ruggiero, Chair of the IOC Athletes' Commission.

PyeongChang2018 prepared to deliver memorable Olympic Winter Games Experience

• LESS THAN 80 DAYS TO GO UNTIL THE XXIII OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES

"Venues are complete, the Olympic Villages are being kitted out, the Olympic Torch Relay is generating excitement for the Games across the Republic of Korea, and I can attest to the convenience of the new KTX high-speed railway. These are just a few of the many ways that preparations are continuing to be delivered ahead of what I am confident will be a memorable event for athletes and fans alike," IOC Coordination Commission Chair Gunilla Lindberg said following the two-day review.

In addition to the convenient venue clusters set against a backdrop of both mountains and sea – where they will be able to watch the world's best winter athletes compete on snow or ice – Olympic ticket holders will also be able to access the Olympic Park and Plaza, with their mix of cultural activities and exhibits.

The PyeongChang 2018 Organising Committee (POCOG) is also working to ensure spectators have access to updated accommodation and transport information to help facilitate their journeys to the Games, which for ticket holders will include courtesy shuttle buses and exemption from highway toll gate fees en route to PyeongChang.

"The local culture is what makes each Olympic Games so unique," Lindberg continued. "I have no doubt the entire world will appreciate PyeongChang as a destination for winter sport after seeing the beauty of the region and experiencing Korean hospitality. I encourage everyone to come to support their athletes, experience Korean culture, talk to people at the venues and make friends for life."

In the last month, POCOG has focused heavily on building up enthusiasm for the Games with the launch of its official PyeongChang 2018 app, as well as a number of other events and initiatives to engage Korea and the world with these Games. The Olympic Torch Relay also continues to connect the country to the passion of the Games, having passed through more than 20 cities since touching down in Korea.

With facilities now complete, POCOG has turned its attention to testing operational readiness and fine-tuning details to ensure athletes compete on the best fields of play possible.

"We are now only 79 days away from the start of the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018, and we are ready to welcome the world," said POCOG President Lee Hee-beom. "We have had another very positive and productive Project Review with the IOC this week, and the next few weeks will be a busy and exciting time as we put the finishing touches to our preparations.

"The snow is starting to fall here and we are doing all we can to increase the passion and excitement across the nation to encourage everyone to come and be part of this winter sports extravaganza. It will be the most wonderful showcase of sports and culture that Korea has ever seen, and we invite everyone to buy their tickets and join us in PyeongChang."

The Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 open on 9 February 2018.