PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics

PYEONGCHANG, SOUTH KOREA, 21 DECEMBER 2010: Residents of Gangwon Province rolled up their sleeves this weekend to show their continued support for the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Bid.

With less than 200 days to go until the IOC Host City decision in Durban next year, the people of PyeongChang decorated the streets of the Alpensia mountain resort with waves of colourful placards expressing their messages of support. Local residents are united in their unwavering enthusiasm and commitment to help bring the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games to their hometown – and to Korea for the first time in its history. The Alpensia Resort is a key component of PyeongChang 2018’s Winter Games Plan and would be the location of the Olympic Village and several competition venues.

To celebrate the 200-days-to-go mark last weekend, local people from PyeongChang climbed to the top of Hallasan, the southernmost mountain of Korea, as part of a series of climbing events around Korea to reaffirm support for PyeongChang 2018. This expedition follows a climb up Taebaeksan, a sacred peak in the Taebaek Mountain Range in PyeongChang, in September 2010. These bid supporters will also climb Baekdusan, the northernmost mountain peak of the Korean peninsula, next year to celebrate 100 days to go until the 2018 Host City decision and show further support for the bid.

The Provincial government plans to add to this atmosphere of excitement through its two annual winter festivals in February 2011 – the Daegwallyeong Snow Festival and PyeongChang Trout Festival – visited each year by thousands of tourists from around the country and from nearby Asian countries. This year these festivals are preparing special programmes, such as a snow sculpture contest, to increase public participation and support for the PyeongChang 2018 bid.

Yang Ho Cho, PyeongChang 2018 Bid Committee Chairman and CEO, said: “Over 91% of the South Korean population endorses the PyeongChang bid and this unwavering support inspires us to keep our promises to the IOC and deliver on our commitments. The IOC Evaluation Commission visit in January will provide the perfect opportunity to show the Olympic Family how committed the region is to hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in 2018, and the PyeongChang Bid Committee is delighted to welcome this continued national support.

“With 100% of the land secured for the proposed 2018 Winter Games venues and the World Curling Federation last week approving our proposed facility for the Curling competition, we believe PyeongChang can host a truly outstanding Winter Games for athletes, winter sports fans and the Olympic Family.”

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PYEONGCHANG, SOUTH KOREA, 17 DECEMBER 2010: PyeongChang’s bid to host the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games received a major boost today as the Gangneung Indoor Ice Rink, the proposed Curling venue for the 2018 Winter Games, was approved by the World Curling Federation (WCF).

WCF President, Kate Caithness, approved the venue during an inspection visit to South Korea this week, providing a timely boost to the bid ahead of the Candidature File submission on 11 January 2011.

As part of the inspection visit, the WCF President also toured the proposed snow and sliding venues at the Alpensia Resort and met with Dong-Geun Lee (Skip) and Soo-Hyuk Kim (Third), members of the Korean national Curling team.

The Gangneung Indoor Ice Rink, which hosted the 2009 WCF Gangneung Women’s Curling World Championship, has been highlighted as part of PyeongChang 2018’s legacy programme as the venue will become a permanent Curling practice site following the 2018 Winter Games.

Yang Ho Cho, Chairman and CEO of PyeongChang 2018, said: “I am delighted to hear that the Gangneung Indoor Ice Rink has been approved by the WCF. PyeongChang 2018 can now guarantee it has the necessary facilities to host a successful Curling competition should the IOC choose PyeongChang to host the 2018 Winter Games. The Gangneung Indoor Ice Rink is just one of our world-class winter sports venues that have already been developed as part of PyeongChang’s Winter Games Plan, and these outstanding venues will provide a lasting legacy for winter sport in Asia.”

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PYEONGCHANG, SOUTH KOREA, 10 DECEMBER 2010: The South Korean government today reiterated its full support for PyeongChang’s bid to host the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games at a special Government Support Committee meeting hosted by the country’s Prime Minister, Hwang-sik Kim.

Also attending the meeting were PyeongChang 2018 CEO and Chairman, Yang Ho Cho, and Governor of Gangwon Province, Gwang-Jae Lee who were joined by 12 ministers from the Korean Government including the Minister for ‘Culture, Sports and Tourism’, Yu In-Chon.

The Committee discussed the progress of the bid plans and the developing infrastructure that will be outlined in the Candidature file, due to be submitted to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on the 11 January 2011.

Should the PyeongChang bid be successful, the Alpensia Resort will be designated as a Special Olympic Zone and will play a key role in attracting new winter sport participants to the region and developing winter sports around Asia. A new Olympic train station will also be built in the centre of the Alpensia Resort, further improving access to the area and its winter sports facilities.

Hwang-sik Kim, Prime Minster of South Korea, said: “The South Korean government continues to pledge its full support to PyeongChang’s bid to host the 2018 Winter Games and we will continue our close relationship with the PyeongChang 2018 Bid Committee and the KOC as the campaign moves into the final months.”

Chairman and CEO of PyeongChang 2018, Yang Ho Cho, said: “On behalf of the PyeongChang 2018 Bid Committee, I am extremely grateful and pleased to hear of the continued governmental support for our bid. With the final few months of the campaign fast approaching, the Bid Committee is working hard to bring the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games to Korea for the first time in its history.”

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PYEONGCHANG, SOUTH KOREA, 24 NOVEMBER 2010: The PyeongChang 2018 Bid Committee today has announced The Lotte Group as the latest major sponsor to support the PyeongChang bid to host the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

Vice President of The Lotte Group, Jyung-Byung Chae, visited the PyeongChang 2018 Bid Committee headquarters in Seoul today to deliver a donation of KRW 800 million (approximately USD 690,000) as part of the new sponsorship agreement. The Lotte Group’s portfolio includes over 60 business organisations and is one of the largest confectionary manufacturers in Asia.

Jyung-Byung Chae, Vice President of The Lotte Group, said: “On behalf of The Lotte Group, I am excited to work with the PyeongChang 2018 Bid Committee and look forward to contributing to PyeongChang’s campaign to host the first Olympic Winter Games in Korea in 2018.”

Yang Ho Cho, Chairman and CEO of the PyeongChang 2018 Bid Committee, said: “The Lotte Group is one of the largest organisations in Asia and, on behalf of the PyeongChang 2018 Bid Committee, I would like to thank The Lotte Group for their generous support. The PyeongChang 2018 Bid Committee is excited to present its vision to the Olympic Family at the 39th European Olympic Committee (EOC) General Assembly in Belgrade on Friday and demonstrate the potential for growth within the Asian Winter sports market.”

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PYEONGCHANG, SOUTH KOREA, 30 NOVEMBER 2010: Following a successful presentation by the PyeongChang 2018 Bid Committee at the 39th European Olympic Committee (EOC) General Assembly, the Gangwon Provincial Chorus in South Korea held a special gala performance on Monday 29 November to show support for PyeongChang’s bid to host the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

The inaugural show by the Gangwon Provincial Chorus, held in Gangneung City Hall, involved new performances from 18 local choirs from around the region. 800 people gathered at the venue and heard a number of special musical pieces composed to highlight the region’s support for PyeongChang’s bid for the 2018 Winter Games.

Guests attending yesterday’s event included Kwang-Jae Lee, Gangwon Province Governor; Seok Rae Lee, Mayor of PyeongChang; and Myeong-Hee Choi, Mayor of Gangneung, who reaffirmed their political support for PyeongChang 2018 and its bid to bring the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games to South Korea for the first time in its history.

The Gangwon region plans to host additional showcase performances in spring 2011 with 100,000 people singing at the same time across 19 areas of the province. All the choir performances will be shown simultaneously via a television link-up, with the singers showing their support for the PyeongChang 2018 bid as it looks to build momentum to the 2018 Host City decision by the IOC in July 2011. One of the locations for next year’s unique performance will be the Alpensia Resort where 20,000 people will gather to sing in the choir. The Alpensia Resort is a key component of PyeongChang 2018’s Winter Games Plan and would be the location of the Olympic Village and several competition venues.

Chang-sup Uhm, Gangwon Provincial Chorus Chair, said: “The people of Gangwon Province have dreamt about a Winter Games in PyeongChang for many years, and we are very pleased to able to show our support for the bid with this performance. Our Chorus worked together to sing in unison, symbolising the spirit of harmony and friendship that are important values of the Olympic Movement. We look forward to showing our continued support and passion for the Winter Games next year with further performances.”

Yang Ho Cho, PyeongChang 2018 Bid Committee Chairman and CEO, said: “Following a series of successful presentations to the Olympic Family over the past month, the PyeongChang 2018 Bid Committee is delighted to hear the continued support for our bid to host the 2018 Winter Games. This passionate support for PyeongChang 2018 motivates the team to work harder as the Bid Committee looks forward to the submission of the Candidature File early next year.”

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PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Bid Committee presents its vision at the 39^th European Olympic Committee (EOC) General Assembly in Belgrade

BELGRADE, SERBIA, 26 NOVEMBER 2010: The PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Bid Committee brought its unique vision of ‘New Horizons’ to Europe today as the bid leadership presented to the European National Olympic Committees (NOCs) at the 39th EOC General Assembly, held in Belgrade, Serbia.

Following recent presentations to the Olympic Family at the ANOC General Assembly and the OCA General Assembly, PyeongChang 2018 showcased how its vision for the Winter Games would offer real and measurable benefits to the Olympic Movement should it be awarded the honour of hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in 2018.

The PyeongChang 2018 Bid Committee, led by bid Chairman and CEO Yang Ho Cho, outlined to the distinguished audience how a Winter Games in PyeongChang can expand the positive legacy that Europe has created for winter sports and can now help the Olympic Movement and the spirit of Olympism reach new, young generations in Asia.

Yang Ho Cho, Chairman and CEO of the PyeongChang 2018 Bid Committee, said: “We are delighted to take our unique message to Europe and highlight the benefits of new growth and new potential that a Winter Games in PyeongChang will bring.

“We can take Olympism to a new part of the world and help winter sports thrive by building on the great experience in Europe, and combine it with Korea’s new economic, cultural and sporting dynamism.

“Our simple vision for 2018, expressed as ‘New Horizons’, shows that we want to help promote and grow winter sport to a new audience and a new generation, leaving a lasting legacy that will benefit the Olympic Movement like never before.”

The PyeongChang 2018 Bid Committee also announced additional programmes they would introduce ahead of 2018 to help all NOCs prepare for the Winter Games. Should PyeongChang win the right to host the 2018 Winter Games, they would commit to ensuring all Olympic teams have access to training facilities prior to the Winter Games. Additionally, PyeongChang 2018 will provide dedicated accommodation for all additional team officials, those members of the Olympic team that provide essential support to the competing athletes. Free Wi-Fi internet access will also be made available at all Olympic sites, including all residential and common areas of the Olympic Villages.

The senior members of the bid delegation participating in the EOC presentation were Mr. Yang Ho Cho (Chairmen and CEO of the PyeongChang 2018 Bid Committee), Mr. Yong Sung Park (President of the Korean Olympic Committee), Mr. Kwang-bae Kang (PyeongChang 2018 Director of Sport), and Ms. Theresa Rah (PyeongChang 2018 Communications Director).

Governor of Gangwon Province Mr. Kwang-Jae Lee and Mr. Jin-Sun Kim, PyeongChang 2018 bid Ambassador (and former Governor of Gangwon Province) are also part of the PyeongChang 2018 delegation helping to promote the bid to the EOC General Assembly participants.

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