New horizons, compact game plan and strong public support convince IOC voters Residents of Gangwon Province cheer with excitement as the IOC announces PyeongChang as the host city of the 2018 Winter Games at the Alpensia Resort in PyeongChang, Gangwon Province, Wednesday. (Yonhap News)He was silent, and did not know what to say. Finally, Kim Man-ki, the communication director of PyeongChang 2018 b

Korea becomes only the second Asian country to host the Winter GamesThe long battle for the Winter Olympics is over. PyeongChang won the right to host the 2018 Games after winning the majority votes on Wednesday at a International Olympic Committee session in Durban, South Africa.President Lee Myung-bak and members of PyeongChang 2018 bid committee cheer after the IOC officially announced PyeongCh

Seeks to complete mission at U.S. Women’s OpenCOLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado (AP) ― There was a time when Yani Tseng shied away from socializing on the golf course.Usually outgoing, the top-ranked Taiwanese golfer was so insecure about her broken English that she would stay away from others in her group at LPGA events, rather than even attempt a conversation.These days, Tseng’s English has become almo

(Yonhap News)DURBAN, South Africa, (Yonhap) -- On the eve of a crucial vote to select the host city for the 2018 Winter Olympics, President Lee Myung-bak said Tuesday that South Korea should put forth every possible effort until the last moment to bring the Games to the alpine city of PyeongChang."We have to do our best when there is an opportunity," Lee told aides in a meeting in this South Afric

Aussie coach aims to take Korean wheelchair hoops to LondonHe knows exactly where his heart is, and has a clear vision of what he’d like for the future. Australian basketball coach Mark Walker says his current goal is to take the Korean wheelchair basketball team to the London 2012 Paralympics. Yet his ambition appears impossible, considering the current level of the Korean national team: Korea ha

Korea’s Cha Dong-min won a gold medal in a world qualifying competition Sunday to win a place in the 2012 London Olympics.On the final day of the World Taekwondo Federation qualification tournament in Baku, Azerbaijan, the Korean defeated Russia’s Gadzhi Umarov 6-1 for the gold medal in the men’s over-80 kg final. Cha was the fourth Korean taekwondo athlete to secure a berth in the London Olympics

Korean city aims to bring Winter Olympics to Asia for third timeDURBAN, South Africa (Yonhap News) ― With the vote here on the 2018 Winter Olympics host just two days away, Pyeong-Chang, the South Korean candidate, in its last-minute pitch has been stressing its main point ― that Asia is due for a Winter Games.The International Olympic Committee is set to select the Olympic host on Wednesday, with

It may sound a little strange now, but just a few years ago, Lee Young-pyo was almost as big a star in South Korea as Park Ji-sung. That was never likely to last and it didn’t. Lee is a solid, no-nonsense, no-headlines type defender while Park operates mostly in the opposition’s half of the field, the one that offers opportunity for glory.More than most players however, just how impressive Lee’s c

Korean city anticipating better luck third time aroundLONDON (AP) ― Send the Winter Olympics to a new frontier in Asia, or go back to the roots of winter sports in the heart of Europe?That sums up the choice facing the International Olympic Committee when it selects the host city for the 2018 Games.By all accounts, the South Korean bid from PyeongChang remains the one to beat in the three-city rac

Korea’s Kim Mi-kyung (right) competes against Farida Azizova of Azerbaijan in the women’s under-67 kg final of the WTF World Qualification Tournament for the 2012 London Olympics in Baku, Azerbaijan on Thursday.  (WTF)South Korea secured two spots in taekwondo for the 2012 London Olympics on the opening day of the World Taekwondo Federation qualification tournament in Baku, Azerbaijan, Thursday.In