The London Olympics, a global sports festival that will grab the attention of 7 billion people around the world, is about to kick off on July 27th under its motto "Live As One." For Korea, this event holds a special meaning, for the 1948 Olympic Games held in London was the nation's first Olympics as the Republic of Korea. And now, the national teams are heading to London again to boost Korea's standing on the global stage. At this Olympics, Korea's goal is to bring home ten gold medals and be ranked among the top 10. From being an underdog in the world of sports, Korea is ready to rise as a new sports powerhouse. So where exactly does its potential as a sports powerhouse come from? We look for the answer at the Korea National Training Center where Korea's national teams are getting themselves ready for the 2012 London Olympics.
At the Korea National Training Center, the day starts at 6 AM. The strenuous training that the athletes undergo daily leave them breathless and completely exhausted. However, their passion for achieving their goals keeps the athletes going. Each and every one of them was selected at the highly competitive national tryout. Hence, it's not surprising that being able to represent Korea is a source of great pride for them.
Fighting Spirit The afternoon begins with technique training for each team. Each training session aims to help the athletes hone various techniques while boosting their physical conditions. The teams vary their training programs according to their upcoming competitions and repeat intensive training methods that have been developed in Korea. And all of this is possible because the athletes are driven by their fighting spirit and passion for their goals. Let's take a look at the national teams' daily training schedule as they arm themselves with iron will to triumph at the 2012 London Olympics.
Athlete’s Village The Korea National Training Center is the place of dreams for all athletes in Korea. Serving as Korea's cradle of elite sports, it is home to about 20 training areas as well as dormitories, a cafeteria, the Sports Medicine Room, and a weight training room. Simply put, it's the perfect environment for athletes to focus on nothing but training. The training center was established in 1966 to improve the dire situation of sports in Korea. With the gradual addition of several new facilities, it has emerged as Korea's top comprehensive training center. With the government's full support, the center is laying the foundation on which Korea could rise as a new sports powerhouse on the global stage. Take a guided tour of the Korea National Training Center.
Sports Science Sports meets science! Sports science, an essential part of becoming a global leader in sports, plays an important role in improving an athlete's skills and performance. And it was sports science, promoted by the Korea Institute of Sport Science, that stood at the center of Korea's development in sports. We take a closer look at the institute's ceaseless efforts, as well as its Gold Medal Project, for the 2012 London Olympics.
And Family... For the athletes, families are their biggest supporters and partners. It is thanks to the athletes' families that the exhilarating, moving, and teary moments experienced through victory become possible.
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