Asian Winter Games Photo Album

Kazakhstan is MUCH nicer than expected....and Almaty is MUCH cooler than expected. This was a great week with good people, good hockey and bad coffee....

The Olympic Council of Asia awarded the Player of The Game Award. I never found out who voted but they usually got it wrong.

Me - Baluan Sholak Sports Palace. Named after a famous Weightlifter.

South Korea were quite bad at Ice Hockey it turns out.

The week before I arrived I noticed -22 degrees temperatures and it did get chilly but it wasn't half as cold as I expected. Didn't need to buy long johns but was very happy to have these boots bought for me as it was icey on the streets. 

China were my favorite team, but let me down badly.

The buildings in Almaty looked a bit Eastern European and many times you might think you were in Russia or Poland or  even a bit of central Europe, but then all the people looked Oriental. This was a shocker for me and I felt a bit stupid not knowing to expect this. Most of the men looked like this guy.  



The Cable Cars. These were awesome. And free for media. The Asiada Logo of the White Tiger was everywhere, although I saw no actual White Tigers  



The Amazing Shin

China v South Korea

Bandy up in the mountains

Kazakhstan pose for team pics after Gold Medal win

And line up to get their Gold

The Real Life Borat

Don't Milk It Girls

Car Park After Gold Medal Game, the Kazaki Girls mobbed like Rock Stars

They even had a customised team bus

If you put your hand in here and make a wish it is supposed to come true. Let me tell you something. It doesn't work. 



Big screen outside the Baluan Sholak



Canadians Let Loose. The crew for the Ice Hockey was massive and mostly Canadian. I thought I'd be working with a small local crew but these guys were top notch. Luke Coley is on the left and bloody hell I can't remember the guy on the left, except he was from Nova Scotia and probably called Steve. Both excellent chaps and brillaint young TV talents. I really regret not a) learning their names and b) not getting contacts for these guys. They were great.    

Kazaki medalists...and an unknown helper. The volunteers at the AWG and in Baluan Sholak who all had these red ski suits were so so good. Helped make the event what it was. 

Lost my free hat early on so had to go with green cap. Not quite warm enough. This is me at the finish line of the Giant Slalom. We were working for the Host Broadcaster so had loads of free stuff to wear some of which I brought back, some of which I left behind as there was just so much....so happy days for my maid at the hotel. But the ski jacket was a keeper....although I doubt if I will ever wear the snood. 

Farewell South Korea - World Ranked 27th Best Women's Ice Hockey Team

Lost 10-0 to Japan, 11-0 to Kazakhstan, 10-0 to China.

Then lost to North Korea 6-1 but when Kyousun Lee scored to make it 1-1 it was really great.



NK/SK warm up in demilitarised zone



Preconceived idea that they hate each other disappear when teams leave ice together

But SK players stay to talk to media in mixed zone

The Goalscorer

In some ways, the player of the games.

Wild Blow Outs

Ok, this is the situation. The Ice Hockey here in Kaz.

Men's Tourney....just imagine how small a team, how poor a team, Thailand could put together in Ice Hockey. Ok, have you got that image in your head? Thai National Ice Hockey. Well they just beat Bahrain 29-0.

Bahrain must be really shit.

They also lost to the United Arab Emirates 25-0. In fact most games in the second division of the Men's Second Division are blow outs. Kyrgyzstan will win it. Thailand second.

But in Almaty I am calling Women's Ice Hockey this week and it is great. South Korea are the only really weak side but they have an amazing goalie and they try soooo hard. Shin, the goalie, faced 101 shots against Kazakhstan and allowed 11 goals. 90 saves in one game! SK lost 10-0 to Japan and China, 11-0 to Kaz. I spoke through a translator to their captain Boyoung Choi, who is a ref back home and a big able d-man on the national team. She said she was happy with the results as they were better than losing 27-0 to Japan like they did three years ago. She was looking forward to the final game against North Korea because she thought they had a chance to win. I have seen North Korea play and I'll tell you something; they have no chance of winning that game.

Even if Shin makes another 90 saves.

This is already more than anyone has ever written about South Korean Women's Ice Hockey in English, so I'll stop now. Just a mention for Chearyung Ko and Kyousun Lee who are nice little players. And some photos of Sojung Shin; Great Netminder. A Star.

Sojung Shin