Coastal Cluster
Photos courtesy PyeongChang 2018 Organizing Committee
Gangneung Curling Centre
Originally built in 1998, the Gangneung Curling Centre underwent additional construction from December 2015 to December 2016 in preparation to host the men’s, women’s, and mixed doubles curling events.
As the only venue to exist in the coastal cluster prior to PyeongChang winning the host city election for the 2018 Olympic Winter Games, it has played host to numerous important international sports competitions. It was home to ice hockey at the 1999 Asian Winter Games. In 2005 it hosted the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships. Three years later, the ISU Short Track Speed Skating World Championships were held there, followed in 2009 by the Women’s World Curling Championship.
Located in the Gangneung Olympic Park, the venue has capacity for 3500 spectators to view the four ice sheets. The world junior championships were scheduled as the test event for February 2017.
Gangneung Ice Arena
Under construction from June 2014 to December 2016, the Gangneung Ice Arena will host the figure skating and short track speed skating competitions.
Located in the Gangneung Olympic Park, the venue has capacity for 12,000 spectators. It features two international sized rinks, one for competition and one for training, both measuring 60m x 30m.
The first test event was held in December 2016 when the world’s best short track speed skaters competed in a ISU World Cup stop. The Canadian team won nine medals, highlighted by Charles Hamelin’s 1000m gold and three double podiums. The second test event, the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships, were scheduled for February 2017.
Gangneung Oval
Under construction from October 2014 to March 2017, the Gangneung Oval will host the long track speed skating competition.
Located in the Gangneung Olympic Park, the venue has capacity for 8000 spectators. It features the 400m double track oval required for long track speed skating.
The test event scheduled for February 2017 was the ISU World Single Distances Speed Skating Championships.
Gangneung Hockey Centre
Under construction from July 2014 to December 2016, the Gangneung Hockey Centre will be the primary venue for the ice hockey competitions. It will host the majority of the men’s tournament, including the semifinals and medal games. It will also host the semifinals and medal games of the women’s tournament.
Located in the Gangneung Olympic Park, the venue has capacity for 10,000 spectators. It features an international sized rink, measuring 60m x 30m, which is wider than the NHL standard.
Two test events are scheduled for April 2017: the IIHF Men’s U18 World Championship Division II Group A and the IIHF Women’s World Championship Division II Group A.
Kwandong Hockey Centre
Under construction from June 2014 to December 2016, the Kwandong Hockey Centre will be the secondary venue for the ice hockey competitions. It will host all of the preliminary round and quarterfinal games for the women’s tournament, as well as a few men’s preliminary and playoff games.
Located just outside of the Gangneung Olympic Park, the venue has capacity for 6000 spectators. It features an international sized rink, measuring 60m x 30m, which is wider than the NHL standard.
Two test events are scheduled for April 2017: the IIHF Men’s U18 World Championship Division II Group A and the IIHF Women’s World Championship Division II Group A.