PyeongChang Makes Its Case for 2018
By Yoon Chul
Staff Reporter
With the past experiences gained from two failed bids for the Winter Olympic Games, the committee seeking to bring the 2018 Games to PyeongChang is hoping that, this time, the stars will align for them.
With less than a month to go before it sends its proposal to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the PyeongChang committee is hoping experience, lessons learned and perhaps a bit of sympathy will work in its favor.
The bid committee met for the first time Monday, with the knowledge that they came painfully close in their two previous attempts, edged only by a few votes to Vancouver, Canada, for the 2010 games and to Sochi, Russia, for the 2014 event. And while PyeongChang could be considered a front-runner at this point in time, the competition promises to be stiff, and garnering those few extra votes could prove difficult.
During the selection process for the 2014 Games, PyeongChang was beaten by superior diplomacy. The Korean bid had garnered plenty of support leading up to the final selection and had been given the best overall rating of the three final candidates. While Korean President Roh Moo-hyun and Austrian chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer gave speeches during the selection meeting in Guatemala in 2007, it was the appearance of Russian president Vladimir Putin, who led Sochi's final presentation, which ultimately tipped the scales in Russia's favor.
While the PyeongChang bid committee may never be able to match the magnitude of having a world leader like Putin leading its final pitch, the committee is promising to ramp up its efforts in diplomacy this time.
"In the 2014 bidding, it is true that our diplomatic power was weak," said media official Jeon Chul-soo. "But as we have challenged for the Winter Olympics twice, we have developed a pretty good network. Based on this network, we will focus on persuading each IOC member, one by one."
Jeon added that Pyeongchang could be the recipient of some sympathy votes as well.
"As Korea failed twice even though we prepared well, the IOC members may feel sorry for us and it could put pressure on them to choose PyeongChang."
Since the last bid, PyeongChang has continued its push to be the most organized, Olympic-ready candidate. Construction on seven of the 13 facilities that would be used for the games has been completed ― the rest would be built if the bid is successful. Transportation and infrastructure projects to make PyeongChang more accessible are also in progress or completed.
Also, another three world championships were held last winter in the PyeongChang area, including women's curling, biathlon and snowboarding, which means PyeongChang has now hosted 54 international winter sporting events since 1997. Korea has also further developed its teams in men's curling, skeleton bobsleigh and disabled ice hockey while providing additional support for young athletes.
Along with PyeongChang, Munich, Germany; Annecy, France; Sofia, Bulgaria; Harbin, China; Almaty, Kazakhstan; and Denver or Reno-Tahoe, the United States, are expected to make bids for the 2018 Games.
Munich recently named a list of 60 ambassadors for its bid for 2018, a group which has won a total of 171 Olympic medals. While Korea can't come close to assembling a group like that of Munich, the nation does have some star athletes to use in a public relations campaign.
"Munich has formed a big public relation group composed of medalists, and we will do so as well. Figure star Kim Yu-na will be a public relations envoy, and the ski jump team may support us as well."
One of PyeongChang's biggest shortcomings in comparison to the competition is the quality of its alpine ski facilities. Concerns have been raised about the fact that PyeongChang relies heavily on man-made snow and that the ski runs are relatively short. However, Jeon says PyeongChang's ski facilities are more than adequate.
"In 2006 the FIS approved our slope, and said that it is good enough to host international alpine ski competitions," he said.
As for the snow, Jeon said, "We don't worry about the environment and snow based on our statistics, which have been compiled over the last few decades. When the IOC examined our facilities, IOC President Jacques Rogge said the quality of our snow was good."
It has been speculated that the IOC will want to see the Winter Olympics return to Asia for the first time since the 1998 Games in Nagano, Japan. But Winter Olympics bidding committee Secretary-General Yoon Kang-ro told the Korea Times that he believes two of the European bids will be formidable.
"Munich is one of the strongest contenders. They've formed a public relations team composed of 60 medalists. And German car company BMW is also providing huge money.
"In addition, Thomas Bach, who is a strong candidate to be the next IOC President, will have a great effect on many IOC members.
"Annecy, France is also a powerful candidate. Their facilities are not ready yet but it is located near the Alps.
"France has also failed three times to host Summer Olympics. It could mean that France will earn some sympathy votes."
Yoon also noted that Harbin could mount a serious challenge after successfully hosting the Winter Universiade Games earlier this year.
"Harbin's appearance could hurt Korea. At first, China wasn't going to join the bidding, but they changed their mind and want to compete with us," said Yoon, president of the International Sports Diplomacy Institute.
"If they enter the bidding, the votes for Asia could be divided, unfortunately."
Yoon said the true strength of the PyeongChang bid is its preparedness to host the games, something which should impress IOC members.
"But we should not relax. From now until the selection, we have to try to persuade each and every IOC member one by one.
"This time, we have to make it," Yoon added.