Sports Briefs

WINTER OLYMPICS

Jeongseon ready for World Cup events in February

Preparations for the FIS Ski World Cup in February are on schedule, organizers of the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games said.

The FIS Ski World Cup men’s downhill and super-G races are scheduled to be held at the Jeongseon Alpine Center in Gangwon on the new course from Feb. 6-7. It is the first of 28 test events for the 2018 Winter Games.

The organizers said the Gangwon Provincial Government and Austrian manufacturer Doppelmayr are working on a tight schedule to complete installation of the gondola by Jan. 20.

The committee added that snow-making on the course started last Wednesday, and the systems will operate at full capacity through January to meet the snow quality required for World Cup races.

The Jeongseon Alpine Center is the first of its kind in Korea. It is expected to be fully completed by October 2016.

VOLLEYBALL

Federation signs W20B broadcast deal with KBS N

The Korean Volleyball Federation (KOVO), which runs the nation’s top-tier professional volleyball league, inked a 20 billion won ($17 million) broadcasting deal with local cable channel KBS N on Monday.

The KOVO announced that KBS N, an affiliate of the Korean Broadcasting System, will broadcast its V-League matches and other KOVO organized events from the 2016-17 season to 2020-21 season.

KOVO and KBS N previously signed a three-year deal worth 10 billion won in 2013.

BASKETBALL

Promy guard Heo picks up most All-Star Game votes

The Korean Basketball League (KBL) said on Monday that Wonju Dongbu Promy guard Heo Ung has topped the All-Star Game vote.

According to the KBL, Heo, who is the eldest son of former Jeonju KCC Egis coach Hur Jae, has earned 50,518 votes out of 79,766 votes cast by fans from Dec. 7 to 20. The 22-year-old is averaging 12.3 points and 3 assists per game.

This season’s KBL All-Star Game is scheduled for Jan. 10 at Jamsil Gymnasium in southern Seoul. Teams will be divided by age, with those who born after 1988 playing for the Junior Team.

Heo will be joining teammate Wendell McKines, along with Busan KT Sonicboom guard Lee Jae-do, Goyang Orion Orions forward Lee Seung-hyun and Changwon LG Sakers guard Kim Jong-kyu, in the Junior Team.

For the Senior Team, Ulsan Mobis Phoebus guard Yang Dong-geun and forward Ham Ji-hoon, Seoul SK Knights guard Kim Sun-hyung, Promy forward Kim Joo-sung and Anyang KGC center Oh Se-keun have been selected as the top five.

BY JOO KYUNG-DON