Diplomats from Seoul pose at the 39th YongPyong Intl Ski Festival. Photo by Yeo Hong-il/Korea News Plus

Diplomats in Seoul takes part in Korea’s winter event

The 39th YongPyong Intl Ski Festival took place last week as the form of the 2022 Gangwon Snow Festa Global Day to attract 20 envoys from the Seoul Diplomatic Corps.

Over the past four decades, the annual event has been a venue of friendship and exchange between the Seoul Diplomatic Corps and the foreign community in Korea.

German Amb. Michael Reiffenstuel assumed the chairmanship of the 39th YongPyong Intl Ski Festival Committee.

Of note is that both Gangwon Province and Korea Tourism Organization as sponsors of this year’s Global Day to promote the upcoming 2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games.

According to Gangwon Province, 1,900 athletes from about 80 countries are expected to compete in seven sports, 15 disciplines, and 81 events.

As part of Ski & Snowboard Award Ceremony, its annual banquet was held on the evening of Feb. 12 at the Wellness Hall, Blisshill Stay, YongPyong Resort PyeongChang.

German Amb. Michael Reiffenstuel praised that both Diplomatic Corps and Foreign Community unfolded their competition in a fair manner.

He also expressed appreciation for the attendance of Gangwon Province Gov. Choi Moon-soon, Korea Tourism Organization President Ahn Young-bae, and sponsor companies like Hyundai Motors.

In answer, Gov. Choi commented that PyeongChang had become a venue of peace not only from the standpoint of Korea but also from the perspective of the international community.

He reminded the participants of the Korean team’s marching together at the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympic Games in Korea four years ago.

In particular, Gov. Choi asked envoys to pay attention to the upcoming 2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games so that many athletes will be able to join the event.

Latvia Amb. Aris Vigants, Peru Amb. Daul Jesus Enrique Matute Mejia and Estonia Amb. Sten Schwede respectively assumed the role of awarding athletes.

Excellencies who joined to this year’s YongPyong ski festival were Azerbaijan Amb. Ramzi TEYMUROV with his Mme., Mexico Amb. Bruno FIGUEROA FISCHER with his Mme., Turkish Amb. Durmuş Ersin ERÇÍN, Peru Amb. Daul Jesus Enrique MATUTE MEJIA with his Mme., New Zealand Amb. Philip TURNER with his spouse, Norway Amb. Frode SOLBERG with his Mme., India Amb. Sripriya RANGANATHAN with her husband, Colombia Amb. Juan Carlos CAIZA ROSERO with his Mme., Bulgaria Amb. Petko DRAGANOV, Netherlands Amb. Joanne DOORNEWAARD with her Embassy's deputy, France Amb. Philippe LEFORT with his Mme., Denmark Amb. Einar Hebogård JENSEN with his Mme., Germany Amb. Michael REIFFENSTUEL, EU Amb. Maria CASTILLO FERNÁNDEZ, Latvia Amb. Aris VIGANTS with his Mme., Estonia Amb. Sten SCHWEDE, Belgium Amb. François BONTEMPS with his Mme., Swiss Amb. Dagmar Gudrun Christiane Elisabeth SCHMIDT TARTAGLI, and US Embassy Charge d'Affaires a.i Christopher J. DEL CORSO.
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