PyeongChang Gets Olympic OK
By Kim Jae-won
Staff Reporter
The Korean Olympic Committee (KOC) approved PyeongChang's third bid for the Winter Olympics at an executive committee meeting in Seoul on Thursday.
The 43 executive commissioners and sports representatives voted and 30 supported the city's quest to host the 2018 Games.
In accordance with the rules of the International Olympics Committee (IOC), the KOC completed a two-day inspection of PyeongChang on April 6 and 7. Its evaluation committee reported that the city is well prepared for the Olympics.
``It is surprising to see that it has improved better than before,'' Shin Park-jae, the head of the KOC evaluation committee said after the inspection.
``I am satisfied with the result. We owe a debt to the people. We will do our best,'' Gangwon Province Governor Kim Jin-sun said in a press conference after the meeting.
``I think we can host the Olympics. We promoted PyeongChang worldwide during the previous bids.
``Now we will win the hearts of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) commissioners. We have experience. We will contact them man-to-man.''
PyeongChang launched bids for the 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympics, but lost to Vancouver, Canada, and Sochi, Russia, by three and four votes, respectively.
``I think the Winter Olympics has been held in North America and Europe many times. It is time for other continents, such as Asia, to host the Games,'' the 62-year-old added.
Gangwon Province has hosted the world championships of snowboarding, the biathlon and women's curling. The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Alpine Skiing World Championships are next.
PyeongChang's success has left Busan to ponder another day for its hopes to host the Summer Olympics.
``Congratulations to PyeongChang. It was not easy to leap over the wall of PyeongChang,'' Busan International Sports Host and Planning Division director Sung Dug-ju told The Korea Times, Thursday. ``However, we will challenge again if PyeongChang fails to host the Winter Games."
Busan Mayor Hur Nam-sik has argued that the Summer Olympics is of more benefit to the nation than the winter version. He insisted that Busan could have more effect than PyeongChang and said that it had received special treatment after being granted three chances to win the event.
``I am disappointed with the decision,'' a Busan official said. ``We worked overtime this month. I feel empty."
The KOC congratulated both cities.
``I appreciate both cities for their fair play,'' KOC President Park Yong-sung said in a press conference after the decision. ``I will support PyeongChang's effort to host the Winter Olympics. I think Busan will wait for the final decision.''
Munich of Germany and Annecy of France have already been granted permission to bid for the 2018 Winter Olympics by their respective Olympic committees. Sofia of Bulgaria, Harbin of China, Reno-Tahoe or Denver of the United States and Almaty of Kazakhstan are reported to be ready to join the race. The application deadline for bids is Oct. 15.
The IOC will announce the winning city at its general assembly in Durban, South Africa, in July 2011.