Winter Olympics from Space

Striking satellite images reveal the 13 venues where athletes will compete in this month’s Games in South Korea. The games get underway in the city of PyeongChang, an alpine ski resort town east of the capital Seoul Venues completed and ready to go, including the main stadium which was built without roof to save money.  

New photographs taken from a satellite show deserted venues for the upcoming Winter Olympics in South Korea. The games get underway on February 8 in the city of PyeongChang, an alpine ski resort town of 43,000 people about 180 kilometers (110 miles) east of Seoul. These new images, taken by DigitalGlobe’s satellite, show the venues, including the $58 million stadium, which was without a roof to save time and money. The lack of a roof led the organisers to fear the estimated 35,000 spectators, including world leaders, who will gather for the opening ceremony, would be exposed to extreme cold.  

 

The main stadium was built without a roof and the organisers have brought in a number of measures to keep people warm
The ice hockey venue for the Winter Olympics taking place in PyeongChang, South Korea beginning next month
In this picture, the Gangneung Oval speed skating venue can be seen with the Olympic rings on its roof. Below it is the figure skating and short track speed skating venue, while the curling venue is the blue roofed building at the bottom

 

The PyeongChang games organisers had urged the government to equip the stadium with a roof and heating, but this was rejected due to costs and concerns over whether the structure would support a roof. The temporary arena is to be dismantled after the Games. In a bid to keep people warm, organisers will be be distributing hot packs and blankets and  speeding up security checks, and also plan to use audience participation during pre-ceremony entertainment to help keep spectators warm.

The freestyle skiing and snowboarding venue is pictured here. Big Air snowboarding is one of four sports making their Winter Olympic venue
Competitors in Downhill Skiing, Super G and and Alpine Combined events will battle it out on this course
Pictured here is the bobsleigh, luge and skeleton track.

 

PyeongChang will welcome nearly 3,000 athletes from nearly 100 nations for the first Winter Olympics to be held on South Korean soil.

 

The venue for the biathlon and cross country skiing competitions. Competitors from 15 disciplines will be taking part
Ski jumpers will be making their spectacular leaps from from the tower pictured at the bottom of this photo
The slalom and giant slalom will take place at this site. In total, 13 venues, split between PyeongChang and neighboring city Gangneung, will be used during the Games

 

A record 102 gold medals will be up for grabs in 15 disciplines at the game, with four events will be making their Winter Olympic debuts, including Big Air snowboarding. In total, 13 venues, split between PyeongChang and neighboring city Gangneung, will be used during the Games.

 

This picture offers an overview of many of the venues including the stadium, slightly off centre, with the Olympic village nearby
The Olympic village will be home to 3,000 athletes from nearly 100 nations to will come to Pyeongchang for 17 days

 

Website European Space Imaging

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