The North Face becomes partner of the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang

02 Jul 2014

From left to right Pyeongchang 2018 President and chief Jin sun Kim, IOC President Thomas Bach and Kim Sung Ki-hak (Photo: ©Pyeongchang 2018)

The North Face will have a strong presence at the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games.

A recently signed deal allows for The North Face, also the main sponsor of the UIAA Ice Climbing World Cup and ice climbing programme, to provide Team Korea with sports apparel for the 2018 Winter Olympics being held in Pyeongchang, Korea.

The deal was signed on 2 July 2014 between Sung Ki-hak, chief executive of Youngone Outdoor which introduced The North Face to the Korean market, Pyeongchang 2018 President and chief Jin sun Kim and International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach.

“We are proud to be the official partner of Pyeongchang 2018,” said Sung Ki-hak, chief executive of Youngone Outdoor. “The company is looking forward to providing the best possible services to Korean athletes with our The North Face brand.”

Sung Ki-hak is an enthusiastic supporter of the UIAA ice climbing programme and the UIAA Ice Climbing World Cup as well as the UIAA quest to have competitive ice climbing become part of the Winter Olympics.

In 2012, Sung Ki-hak and Youngone Outdoor, the official license partner of The North Face signed a sponsorship agreement with the UIAA. The multi-year sponsorship programme funds the development of the sport, the World Cup and provides athletes and officials competing in UIAA sanctioned events with jackets, hats and other outdoor gear.

On signing the agreement with the UIAA, Sung Ki-hak said he was ready to help take the UIAA Ice Climbing World Cup to the next level and supports the first stop of the tour, which always begins each in Cheongong Korea.
UIAA president Frits Vrijlandt congratulated Sung Ki-hak on the sponsorship deal and the high profile North Face will have in Korea.

“Mr. Sung Ki-hak is a huge supporter of winter sports and the Olympics and it will be a proud moment for the North Face to be so visible in such a high profile event,” said Vrijlandt.

The UIAA Ice Climbing World takes place each year in Korea, Switzerland, France, Italy, Romania and Russia.

The UIAA Open North American Championship held in Bozeman, Montana in December 2013 was the first step for including it as the U.S. stop for the UIAA Ice Climbing World Cup.

Earlier this year the UIAA dream to have ice climbing as part of the Winter Olympics received a huge boost after the sport was featured at Olympic Park during the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.

The Ice Climbing Festival saw thousands of visitors and Olympic officials who watched demonstrations and tried their hand at the spectacular sport of ice climbing on the Speed wall and Lead structure, built with the generous support of sponsor Sberbank.

For more information about the UIAA Ice Climbing World Cup please visit www.iceclimbingworldcup.orgor email iceclimbing@theuiaa.org