From August 25 through 31, the Korea Foundation hosted the 2018 Public Diplomacy Training Camp in Seoul, Pyeongchang, and Gangneung in Korea.

This year, as a follow-up program of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, the camp targeted young people from Asian countries who are interested in winter sports although they are not widely practiced in their native countries. The camp was attended by 28 students and athletes, including Saphal Ram Shrestha, currently Nepal’s only alpine skiing athlete, Tariq Azam, a promising skier from Pakistan, and Anna Lourdes Rigos Cruz, captain of the Philippines’ national short track team.

Attending a briefing by the organizing committee of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics and a lecture on sports diplomacy, the participants learnt about Korea’s experience in the development of winter sports and the successful organization of the Winter Olympics. They also visited the Gangneung Curling Center and the Gangneung Ice Arena to obtain some first-hand experience about various winter sports they have fewer chances to enjoy in their native countries.