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President Park opposes splitting PyeongChang games
By Jun Ji-hye
President Park Geun-hye
By Jun Ji-hye
It is meaningless to discuss splitting the events of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Games across a range of locations because work on the venues is already under way, President Park Geun-hye said on Monday.
It was the first time that Park has openly opposed a recommendation by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that Korea should share the games with Japan.
“We got to host the games with difficulty on our third bid and construction of each stadium is already under way,” Park said. “Given this, it is meaningless to discuss splitting (the events) and relevant ministries should respond to the IOC with clear and persuasive logic.
“As there isn’t much time to prepare for the games, pending issues must be settled quickly and outstanding preparation tasks must be handled swiftly and steadily.”
Park made the remarks during a meeting with her senior secretaries at Cheong Wa Dae.
Last week, the IOC unanimously approved its President Thomas Bach’s 40 recommendations, dubbed “Olympic Agenda 2020,” which included an option for the host city to stage some events in other countries to save costs.
Park’s comments followed confirmation from the chief organizer, who said there is “no possibility” that events will be shared outside Korea.
Cho Yang-ho, president of the PyeongChang Organizing Committee for the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (POCOG), said on Friday that all events for the Olympics and Paralympics will be held in Korea “as planned.” Cho is also Hanjin Group chairman and Korea Air (KAL) CEO.
“Given that the test event for the Olympics will begin in February, 2016, there is very limited time for preparation,” Cho said in a statement.
“We will come up with a perfect plan for venues’ after-use and cost-saving. Through consultations with the IOC, the POCOG will continue preparation work.”
The POCOG expects the IOC to suggest alternate sites for downhill events soon, but said it was ready to counter any such proposals.
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