WCF President, Kate Caithness, approved the venue during an inspection visit to South Korea this week, providing a timely boost to the bid ahead of the Candidature File submission on 11 January 2011.

As part of the inspection visit, the WCF President also toured the proposed snow and sliding venues at the Alpensia Resort and met with Dong-Geun Lee, the skip, and Soo-Hyuk Kim, and third, members of the Korean national Curling team.

The Gangneung Indoor Ice Rink, which hosted the 2009 WCF Gangneung Women's Curling World Championship, has been highlighted as part of Pyeongchang 2018's legacy programme as the venue will become a permanent Curling practice site following the 2018 Winter Games.

Yang Ho Cho, chairman and chief executive of Pyeongchang 2018, said: "I am delighted to hear that the Gangneung Indoor Ice Rink has been approved by the WCF.

"Pyeongchang 2018 can now guarantee it has the necessary facilities to host a successful curling competition should the IOC (International Olympic Committee) choose Pyeongchang to host the 2018 Winter Games.

"The Gangneung Indoor Ice Rink is just one of our world-class winter sports venues that have already been developed as part of Pyeongchang's Winter Games Plan, and these outstanding venues will provide a lasting legacy for winter sport in Asia."


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