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IOC notes PyeongChang's 'good progress' toward 2018 Winter Games
By 윤민식Published : June 19, 2013 - 20:23
South Korean resort town PyeongChang is well on its way to hosting a successful Winter Olympics in 2018, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said Wednesday.
The IOC's Coordination Commission wrapped up its two-day visit to PyeongChang, about 180 kilometers east of Seoul, on Wednesday.
The commission, led by Gunilla Lindberg, a member of the IOC Executive Board, reviewed PyeongChang's preparations for the 2018 Winter Games in areas such as venues, marketing and communications.
This was the commission's second visit to PyeongChang, following its inaugural trip in March last year.
At the end of the visit this week, Lindberg praised "an excellent team effort" by PyeongChang's organizing committee, different levels of government and the Korean Olympic Committee (KOC).
"We've once again seen good progress from PyeongChang 2018,"
Lindberg said. "Delivering the Olympic Games can be achieved successfully only by working as a single unit, and our Korean colleagues have shown that unity once again on this visit. We have been impressed by their ability to collaborate closely -- from the provision of skilled administrators at (the organizing committee) to the finalization of the venue master plan -- to ensure that these Games will be a success."
The commission pointed to the launch of PyeongChang's emblem in May as a success case this year. It also said locations for all sports venues have been determined, and PyeongChang has been working to ensure all facilities will be ready in time for the test events ahead of the actual Olympics.
Kim Jin-sun, head of the organizing committee, said his team "has laid a firm foundation for Games preparation efforts" in cooperation with the national government and the KOC, among other relevant bodies.
"With only three and a half years to go until the test events, we will spare no time to make further progress in putting together a successful Games in PyeongChang," Kim added.
It will be the first Winter Olympics to be hosted by South Korea.
PyeongChang organizers and the IOC commission agreed that some areas need extra efforts to ensure success, including getting the marketing program fully underway and ensuring that a competitive South Korean team will compete in all events in 2018.
At the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games, South Korea placed fifth by grabbing six gold medals among its Winter Olympics-record 14 medals, and its half-dozen gold medals came from three different events.
It was the first time that South Korea had won a Winter Olympic gold from a sport other than short track speed skating, and Lindberg said it was important for the host nation to build on that success.
South Korea has never grabbed a medal from snow events. In Vancouver, South Korea didn't even qualify for ice hockey, a signature Winter Olympic sport.
Kim Jung-haeng, head of the KOC, responded that his body has recently sat down with the government and sports federations to discuss measures to improve the country's performance in all sports.
"By cooperating with governing bodies of different sports, we will try to improve training environments for our athletes," Kim said. "Our goal in PyeongChang is to win more than 20 medals and finish fourth in the medal standings."
PyeongChang was picked as the host of the 2018 Winter Games in July 2011. It edged out Munich of Germany and Annecy of France in the vote at the IOC meeting in Durban, South Africa.
The South Korean alpine town had previously lost to Vancouver in the bidding for the 2010 Winter Games and then to Sochi of Russia for the 2014 Winter Games. (Yonhap News)
The IOC's Coordination Commission wrapped up its two-day visit to PyeongChang, about 180 kilometers east of Seoul, on Wednesday.
The commission, led by Gunilla Lindberg, a member of the IOC Executive Board, reviewed PyeongChang's preparations for the 2018 Winter Games in areas such as venues, marketing and communications.
This was the commission's second visit to PyeongChang, following its inaugural trip in March last year.
At the end of the visit this week, Lindberg praised "an excellent team effort" by PyeongChang's organizing committee, different levels of government and the Korean Olympic Committee (KOC).
"We've once again seen good progress from PyeongChang 2018,"
Lindberg said. "Delivering the Olympic Games can be achieved successfully only by working as a single unit, and our Korean colleagues have shown that unity once again on this visit. We have been impressed by their ability to collaborate closely -- from the provision of skilled administrators at (the organizing committee) to the finalization of the venue master plan -- to ensure that these Games will be a success."
The commission pointed to the launch of PyeongChang's emblem in May as a success case this year. It also said locations for all sports venues have been determined, and PyeongChang has been working to ensure all facilities will be ready in time for the test events ahead of the actual Olympics.
Kim Jin-sun, head of the organizing committee, said his team "has laid a firm foundation for Games preparation efforts" in cooperation with the national government and the KOC, among other relevant bodies.
"With only three and a half years to go until the test events, we will spare no time to make further progress in putting together a successful Games in PyeongChang," Kim added.
It will be the first Winter Olympics to be hosted by South Korea.
PyeongChang organizers and the IOC commission agreed that some areas need extra efforts to ensure success, including getting the marketing program fully underway and ensuring that a competitive South Korean team will compete in all events in 2018.
At the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games, South Korea placed fifth by grabbing six gold medals among its Winter Olympics-record 14 medals, and its half-dozen gold medals came from three different events.
It was the first time that South Korea had won a Winter Olympic gold from a sport other than short track speed skating, and Lindberg said it was important for the host nation to build on that success.
South Korea has never grabbed a medal from snow events. In Vancouver, South Korea didn't even qualify for ice hockey, a signature Winter Olympic sport.
Kim Jung-haeng, head of the KOC, responded that his body has recently sat down with the government and sports federations to discuss measures to improve the country's performance in all sports.
"By cooperating with governing bodies of different sports, we will try to improve training environments for our athletes," Kim said. "Our goal in PyeongChang is to win more than 20 medals and finish fourth in the medal standings."
PyeongChang was picked as the host of the 2018 Winter Games in July 2011. It edged out Munich of Germany and Annecy of France in the vote at the IOC meeting in Durban, South Africa.
The South Korean alpine town had previously lost to Vancouver in the bidding for the 2010 Winter Games and then to Sochi of Russia for the 2014 Winter Games. (Yonhap News)
