My answer is always, "Yes, and no."
Yes, because, well, it's the Olympics, and it's something that most people don't get experience once in their lives, much less three times (as I have, or will). No, because, well, it's the Olympics, and it means having to fly halfway around the world and spend 2 1/2 weeks in a strange place, among unfamiliar faces, in often unfriendly conditions, all under the heading of "Business Trip" (which it is, mostly).
The Olympics are this big, sprawling thing, where every place takes longer to get to than you think it will, everything costs more than you think it should and everyone is more stressed than they have any right to be (except, maybe, the athletes).
But despite all the security concerns and the overriding political overtones and the economic implications, there is still a certain magic to the Olympic Games that is undeniable. When you're sitting in the Olympic Stadium during the opening ceremony, witnessing one of the most dazzling visual spectacles ever created as world-class athletes from every corner of the globe -- who have worked their entire lives to get to this point -- march under their country's flag right in front of you, you can't help but feel like a member of a privileged class who gets to observe this extraordinary scene up close. And, no matter if this is your first time attending the Games, your third or your 19th (as it is for my esteemed colleague Philip Hersh, whose writing you can read on www.icenetwork.com), that's something that never, ever gets old.
If you are wondering why this blog is called "Gangneung Style" and not "PyeongChang Style," wonder no more. Gangneung, a seaside city of about 200,000, is where the figure skating events are being held, in an area called the Coaster Cluster (which is also home to the hockey, curling and long track speed skating venues). PyeongChang, the official site of the Games and the epicenter of the Mountain Cluster, is located about 30 minutes inland from Gangneung (or so I'm told...travel times at the Olympics are always subject to change). I'll be in Gangneung for the majority of my time in Korea.
I will have MUCH more to write about in the coming days and weeks (I leave for Korea on Monday), but in the meantime (SHAMELESS PLUG ALERT), please visit icenetwork for all the latest figure skating news. It's a really great site, and I cannot say enough good things about it.
우리는 다시 만날 때까지
