Non-Korean visitors enjoy themselves as they take commemorative photos at the PyeongChang Olympic Plaza before the Closing Ceremony of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Paralympics on March 18.
By Korea.net PyeongChang Special Report Team
Photos = Kim Sunjoo
Pyeongchang | March 19, 2018
There was no need for concern that the Paralympics would be less enjoyable than the Olympics.
Pyeongchang was still full of life, with people rushing to the ticket booth to buy seats for the Closing Ceremony, waiting in line to enter the Olympic Plaza, and taking photos with their cell phones to save their special moments in Pyeongchang on March 18.
The families of athletes, friends, visitors, reporters and volunteers, who were all done with their work, entered the Olympic Plaza where the Closing Ceremony of the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games was held. They all seemed to have different feelings and thoughts, as they concluded their journey in Pyeongchang.
Volunteers guide the way to the PyeongChang Olympic Plaza where the Closing Ceremony for the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games is taking place.
The volunteers shared their emotional state as they prepared to say farewell to the PyeongChang Games.
Emily Amador, a volunteer from the U.S., said, “I’m actually sad that the Paralympics have ended. I don’t even want to go back, but I’ve been happy to meet a lot of different people in Pyeongchang.”
Kang Sin Yeong and Kim Hayoon, who ended their work as volunteers on the morning of March 18, said, “We feel like we had a midwinter night’s dream in Pyeongchang. It’s a shame that it’s time to go back.”
Volunteer Choi Mi-hwa had tears in her eyes as she said, “Before the Paralympics started, the training staff from the International Paralympic Committee told us that by the end of the Games, we would be rewarded with something that’s hard to describe in words. Now I think I know what they meant by that. I came here to provide help as a volunteer, but I think I received much more than I’ve given.”
The families and friends of the athletes all attended the Closing Ceremony with great excitement.
Abbie Milavsky, the mother of Canada’s alpine skier Mollie Jepsen, said, “My daughter won one gold medal, one silver medal and two bronze medals. I’m so proud and happy for her. I’ll remember the moment we cheered for her in the Jeongseon Alpine Centre.”
Anne Verbruggen, a close friend of Linda Van Impelen, the silver medalist in the women’s alpine skiing sitting category, said, “I don’t think I’ll ever forget the smiles of the volunteers as they greeted us by saying, ‘Ari-Ari!’ The PyeongChang Paralympics were really satisfying in terms of their facilities and systematic operation.”
A long line of visitors enters the PyeongChang Olympic Plaza for the Closing Ceremony of the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games.
As for the locals, they said with one, strong overwhelming voice that it’s probably a “once in a lifetime Paralympics” for them. Lee Eun Young, who performed traditional Korean nongak farmers’ music in front of the Olympic Plaza, said, “I’m so grateful that so many people came to this small village. This is going to be a once in a lifetime Paralympics for me.”
Park Jonghun came to the Closing Ceremony with his grandson and said, “I’m 68-years-old. This is very special for me because it’s probably going to be the last Paralympics to which I can ever go in Korea.” He looked more excited than his grandson.
The midwinter night’s dream of tears and laughter in Pyeongchang has ended. Visitors to Pyeongchang from all over the world spent their final day at the PyeongChang Paralympics as they looked back on their different memories of their 10-day journey.
