Visitors line up to buy tickets for the para ice hockey mixed preliminary round group B match between Korea and the Czech Republic, at the Gangneung Hockey Center on March 11
By Korea.net PyeongChang Special Report Team
Photos = Kim Sunjoo
Gangneung | March 12, 2018
The popularity of the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games is keeping up with that of the recently finished Winter Olympics.
The Gangneung Olympic Park was crowded with weekend picnickers on a spring-like day on March 11.
Tickets were sold out even for the curling, which saw a surge in popularity during the Olympics.
A long line snaked around the ticket booth at the Gangneung Hockey Center several hours before the start of the para ice hockey match between Korea and the Czech Republic. Visitors, family members and friends had to wait in line for a relatively long time to buy the remaining 200 tickets, but their faces glowed with excitement that they could watch the game in-person.
There were about 300 people in front of the ticket booth, but only a few people were turned back.
Park Min-suk, who was able to get tickets after waiting for a while, laughed and said, "While watching the PyeongChang Olympic Games on TV, I wanted to experience being at the Games themselves. So I impulsively decided to come and watch some Paralympic games with my family, and I made it!"
"I came here to buy para ice hockey tickets, and I was surprised by the long lines," said Han Hyerin. "I'm so glad that I can finally get tickets after waiting for two hours," she said. "I'll cheer enthusiastically for our para ice hockey team so that they can keep up their efforts."
People who couldn't buy tickets and who were turned back had to soothe their disappointment by looking around the attractions at the Gangneung Olympic Park.
Kim Imin, who came from Seoul just to see the games on the weekend, said, "It's a pity that the tickets were all sold out. I'll have to spend more time at the Super Store, which seems really popular."
Jang Min-joon (right) and other members of the cheerleading squad from the Korean Paralympic Committee visit the Gangneung Hockey Center to support Team Korea in its match against the Czech Republic.
Jang Min Joon, a cheerleader for the Korean Paralympic Committee, pointed out the popularity of the Paralympics and emphasized that, "Only people who have actually watched the Paralympics know its unique charms."
Kuk Jung Ran, the wife of a para ice hockey national athlete, said, "The height of the para ice hockey players is lower than normal ice hockey players, so you can experience the speediness and the sound of the equipment as it adds thrills to the game," and asked for our continual interest and support for Paralympic ice hockey.
Meeche White (right), an international program ambassador from the National Ability Center, visits the Gangneung Hockey Center to watch the para ice hockey games, and says, "The Paralympics narrow any cultural differences between the disabled and non-disabled through the universal language of sports, and show that people of all abilities can actively participate in society and achieve their dreams."
xuaiy@korea.kr