Yu-na PR Envoy for PyeongChang
By Kang Seung-woo
Staff Reporter
Kim Yu-na was named as the public relations ambassador for the PyeongChang's 2018 Winter Olympic bid on Tuesday.
``The Winter Olympics have never taken place in South Korea, so I hope PyeongChang will host the Games here in 2018,'' Kim, 18, said in a press conference in Seoul.
``It will reveal Korea's scenic beauty to the world and help improve the nation's winter sports.''
PyeongChang, which is 180 kilometers east of Seoul in Gangwon Province with about 45,000 people, failed to earn the Olympic nod in its past two campaigns, losing to Vancouver, Canada and Sochi, Russia.
But it passed the first hurdle last Thursday when it won the approval of the Korean Olympic Committee (KOC).
``Although I will compete at the Vancouver Olympics in 2010, younger skaters would perform on home soil with comfort and confidence. Being held in Korea itself will motivate them,'' said the world champion, who became the first female to break the 200-point mark en route to the title in March.
Kim also worked as the PR envoy on the city's 2014 bid, which saw it came short of Sochi by four votes.
Kim, a two-time Grand Prix Final champion, knows exactly what to do for the city to win the right: focus on skating.
``As I am still skating, I believe that performing well and getting good marks in events will count in familiarizing the world with Korea and PyeongChang,'' she said.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will choose the venue for the 2018 event in July 2011 in Durban, South Africa, and there have been some who suggested that Kim continuing her career until 2011 will be helpful for PyeongChang.
``For now, the Vancouver Olympics is the biggest fish I have to catch, so I have never thought about it,'' she said.
PyeongChang plans to take full advantage of Kim's lofty recognition in its third bid.
``We expect Kim to deliver PyeongChang's message to international media and sports figures, which will work as a huge boost,'' said Gangwon Governor Kim Jin-sun, who served as the executive chairman during PyeongChang's previous two bids.
``If schedule permits, we want to work with her at international sports events and the IOC general assembly to advertise PyeongChang.''