Hyun-jin Ryu has been appointed as an Honorary Ambassador for Pyeongchang 2018 ©Pyeongchang 2018

Olympic baseball gold medallist and Los Angeles Dodgers star Hyun-jin Ryu of South Korea has been appointed as an Honorary Ambassador of the 2018 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in Pyeongchang.

The announcement was made at a ceremony held in Seoul today and attended by Pyeongchang 2018 President Cho Yang-ho.

Ryu, currently recovering from surgery on a shoulder injury, becomes the 14th Honorary Ambassador for the Winter Olympics and Paralympics, joining the likes of American skier Lindsey Vonn and Olympic figure skating champion Kim Yuna.

He will be tasked with helping to promote the Games across several different platforms, including the official Games website and other social media channels, as well as participating in Pyeongchang 2018 events due to place in the United States.

Cho, widely heralded as the catalyst behind Pyeongchang 2018’s progress over the past year since replacing former President Jin-sun Kim, welcomed Ryu as an Honorary Ambassador for the Games and claimed his appointment will help spread the message ahead of the event in two-and-a-half years’ time.

“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,” he said.

Olympic gold medallist Hyun-jin Ryu currently plays for the Los Angeles Dodgers
Olympic gold medallist Hyun-jin Ryu currently plays for the Los Angeles Dodgers ©Getty Images

Ryu was part of the South Korean team which won baseball gold at Beijing 2008, the last time the sport was staged at the Olympic Games.

The 28-year-old then claimed Asian Games gold along with his teammates at the event in Guangzhou in 2010 before he made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut for the Dodgers three years later.

After establishing himself as one of the main pitchers for the MLB side, Ryu was forced to have shoulder surgery earlier this year.

Ryu is currently continuing with his extensive rehabilitation programme and hopes to make a return to the MLB next season.

“The Olympic Games is a great opportunity to inspire dreams and hopes for the next generation of athletes,” he said.

“I will do my very best to attract the sports fans’ interest and participation in the Olympic Winter Games Pyeongchang 2018.”



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