A great weekend is no gamble at the cycle velodrome


On a Friday afternoon, a man who looks to be in his late-30s takes off his tie and tucks it away in his suitcase.

He takes out a booklet and studies it carefully with a yellow highlighter pen. At a quick glance, he looks like he is preparing for a meeting, but, in fact, the man is sitting up high in the stands at the Speedom, in Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi Province.

The velodrome, which was completed in 2006, is the country’s most unusual sporting arena. It is designed exclusively for professional cycle races.

Yes, it’s not unusual to see cycling, but the state-of-art stadium is one of few places in this country where people are allowed to gamble.

“I’ve been following this for years now, it’s my hobby,” the man says, still looking through the pocket-sized guide book.

Professional cycling started as a betting sport in Korea in 1994 in order to get wheels turning with regularity at the Jamsil Olympic Velodorme, which was built for the 1988 Seoul Olympics. And it now takes place across the country, attracting more than 8 million visitors annually.

The Gwangmyeong Speedom is the newest stadium here. Built on the total area of 76,000 square meters, the velodrome, which can accommodate up to 30,000 people at a time, is also one of the biggest of its kind in the world.

It is 2 p.m. and I am working up the nerve to have my very first gambling experience. But I soon get excited after finding out that the entrance fee is only 400 won.

Inside, there are already many people sitting in the stands. Most of them are “ajeossi,” or middle-aged men, but there are also couples and families.

The first thing one notices is that the place is unusually quiet compared to other sporting venues. No pep band, no cheerleaders. And surprisingly, no one is drinking beer.

“Drinking is not allowed here,” says Huh Yeong-hoe, 29, a security officer.

“We also make sure no one brings any objects that can be used as weapon. The crowd can go wild from time to time,” he explains.

He is right. The people are starting to get excited as a group of cyclists appear at the starting block. There are seven riders, but only one is wearing a checked jersey.

“The guy is a pacer,” says Kim Hong-kyu, the marketing manager of KCYCLE, the sports governing body.

It is a mass-start race with six riders and a pacer. And the riders run six-laps on the 333.3 meters track at speeds up to 70kph to determine a winner.

At the sound of the gun, the cyclists leave their starting blocks and pace up to speed behind the pacer.

“It’s important to stay behind the pacer. He blocks the wind so if you stay close behind him you can save up energy,” Kim kindly explains.

The checked-jersey starts slowly at the first lap, but gradually increases the pace as the race goes on. With two laps remaining, the pacer leaves the track. And as the pacer finishes his duty a referee hits a gong, then the race becomes more exciting with all the riders getting mixed together, vying for the lead.

The racing is fast and strategic, and the rules are simple. But the betting can be quite complicated if you haven’t done it before.

No need to worry. The information center on the second floor gives instructions on how to make a bet and also all the information about the players.

There are five ways to bet; Win, Place, Exacta, Quinella and trio. Win is simply to pick one rider who is going to win the race, and Place is to guess the one who finishes either first or second. The two methods are suitable for beginners, but the returns are fairly low.

Exacta is selecting the first two finishers in exact order, and Quinella is guessing the first two in any order. And Trios, which usually records the highest betting rates, is to choose first three finishers in any order. You can bet from 100 won to maximum 100,000 won at one time.

After getting a 10-minute instruction, I’m ready to roll. My choice is the simplest way― the Win― and I bet 1,000 won on the No.3.

The race looks more exciting since I’ve bet some money. As the race heads into the final lap, my palms get really sweaty. I jump up from the stands when the No.3 rider first crossed the finish line.

Since the betting rate is 3.5, I get 3,500 won back in cash. Well, it’s not a big deal, but the feeling is indescribable.

However, there some lows as well. Especially, it is certainly disturbing sitting next to a man shouting and swearing the whole time.

Moreover, looking at people with those blank looks on their face, one can understand why people claim gambling can be addictive, just like alcohol and other drugs.

Reports say the number of Koreans who gamble is on the rise, and the rates of gambling addiction is also up, with one measure suggesting that almost six percent or 2.3 million people here met the criteria for gambling addiction.

The marketing manager admits the velodrome is partly responsible for the gambling addiction, but he points out that the place is actually helping the society.

“We use all profits to support locals and promote sports and foster industrial development,” Kim says.

The Speedom, in fact, is not just place for cycle race, but it is the place where you can enjoy various activities.

Nam Yu-ri, 36, who has a five-year-old daughter, claims she visits this place almost every weekend. “My daughter loves the playground here, and we also enjoy riding the bicycle here,” she says.

The Speedom has a full-court basket ball court, and a volleyball court and also a football field. You can also borrow a bike from Bicycle Plaza. There are 150 four-wheelers and 50 three-wheelers. And inside, there is also a heath care center, where the visitors can get a free check-up service. Also, two health training rooms are located in the 3rd and 4th floors, where anyone can use the facilities without charges. 

This place is not ideal if you are looking for a relaxing day out. But if you are looking for something exciting to do and something different, the Speedom is a place to go.

Located in the outskirts of Gwangmyeong, the velodrome is open year-round. The race this year runs from Friday to Sunday every week from Jan. 15 until Dec.15 More information can be found at www. Kcycle.or.kr or call at (02) 2067-5000.

By Oh Kyu-wook (596story@heraldcorp.com)