MLB pitcher Ryu becomes ambassador for PyeongChang 2018

“As a world-class athlete, Ryu’s participation will be a great asset to magnify public interest and awareness about the upcoming Winter Games in 2018.”

The PyeongChang Organising Committee for the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (POCOG) have appointed Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher and South Korean native Hyun-jin Ryu as an Honorary Ambassador.

Ryu will take part in PyeongChang’s numerous promotional activities on the official website, as well as on the social network services channels. He will also attend PyeongChang’s promotional events that will take place in the USA.

At the official press conference, POCOG President Yang-ho Cho said: “As a world-class athlete, Ryu’s participation will be a great asset to magnify public interest and awareness about the upcoming Winter Games in 2018.”

Ryu also commented: “The Olympic and Paralympic Games are a great opportunity to inspire dreams and hopes for the next generation of athletes. I will do my very best to attract the sports fans’ interest and participation in the Winter Games PyeongChang 2018.”

In 2008, Ryu competed for the South Korean national baseball team at the Beijing 2008 Olympics, where the team won the gold medal. In the team’s third game of round-robin play, Ryu pitched a 1-0 complete game shutout victory over Canada with 13 strikeouts. He also represented the South Korean national baseball team at the 2009 World Baseball Classic, where the team finished in second place; the team also won gold at the 2010 Asian Games.

Ryu made his MLB debut in 2013 with 14 consecutive wins and continued his outstanding performance through 2014 as the starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers. After having shoulder surgery early this year, he is currently focusing on his rehabilitation programme in order to come back and play in the MLB next season.

POCOG has so far appointed a total of 13 Honorary Ambassadors, including Yuna Kim (figure skating gold medallist) and Minho Lee (K-Wave star actor); Lindsey Vonn (Olympic alpine skiing champion) and Shin-soo Choo (MLB outfielder). With the participation of Ryu as the 14th Honorary Ambassador, POCOG aims to promote the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 to baseball fans worldwide.