Getting ready for the men to arrive ...


Gangneung Hockey Centre at the Coastal Cluster
One of the great things about the Olympics for ice hockey is that it combines a men’s and a women’s tournament.  Usually the tournaments are separate and so working as a female official you only get to see female international hockey and vice-versa for men.  At an Olympics it is always fun to feel part of a bigger crew of officials and have the opportunity to watch female and male hockey at the same event.  The men’s tournament starts on Wednesday 14 February and so over the next couple of days the male officials will be arriving and going through the same briefing meetings and preparations as we had with the female officials.  A few male officials have already arrived and been to watch some of the female games – it is nice to have their support and suddenly we all feel part of a bigger IIHF officiating family!

Men’s Arena
Inside the Gangneung Hockey Arena
As the men’s tournament is about to start I thought it would be a good idea to go over to the site of the Gangneung Hockey Centre and check it out before it gets too busy.  This is where all the men’s games will be played and is on the Olympic Coastal Cluster.  The female arena is called the Gangneung Hockey Centre and is a bus ride away from the coastal cluster.  The men’s arena is slightly bigger than the female arena although very similar in set-up and structure.  The medal games for the women’s tournament will be in this arena and so it is good to get familiar with it before then.  Taking a look around the arena it is clear that there are more teams playing and potentially more media.  The tunnel entrance to the ice is lined with lights and standing at the end of it feels pretty cool … this is where Olympic champions will get on and off the ice and I feel humble to be walking the same corridors as them.
Looking from the corridor to the doors that lead to the ice

Looking from the ice down the tunnel to the corridor


The Olympic Park
Omega promotional stand in the park

Outside of the men’s arena is the Olympic Park where a number of other arenas are located.  There is the speed skating oval and also the curling venue.  As I walk around this has more of the feel of Sochi and also of London 2012 for those of you who went there.  There are a number of venues on a park site and in-between the venues are promotional stands, restaurants and the superstore for all the Olympic merchandise.  There are also some of the infamous “Country Houses” where fans of the specific countries will no doubt be celebrating Olympic victories with a few drinks.  The atmosphere in the park is full of excitement and I am looking forward to when the female games move over to the Olympic park site, so the officials can soak up more of the Olympic atmosphere and hopefully also see some other sports.

Biggest coke machine in the world!
Superstore Chaos
As many of you will know I have a shopping addiction and the Olympics is always a place where no-one needs an excuse to shop!  From previous experience I know that the Olympic Stores tend to sell out of clothing sizes and merchandise early in the games and so I took the opportunity to go to the superstore and make sure all the requests from back home could be ticked off to avoid any unnecessary disappointment.  The store was massive but as expected it was absolute chaos inside as people scramble to find what will be their piece of the Olympics to take home!  They only accept Visa card and luckily for me Scott sent me with a charged-up card and a generous budget to spend … I whipped through the store collecting all the mascots, pin badges, hats and gloves that people have requested!  I told myself there is now no need to go back to the store … however I think we all know that I’ll be back there a good few times before I head home!  Luckily, I have room in my suit-case for some souvenirs!  I know Kim is planning to buy an extra suitcase for his journey home!  If shopping was an Olympic event, then I would be an Olympic Champion several times over!
Outside the Olympic Store

The chaos inside the Olympic Store

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