PyeongChang briefs on event preparations to media in Rio
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Lee Hee-beom, president of the PyeongChang Organizing Committee for the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Games (POCOG), speaks at a press conference in Rio de Janeiro, Thursday (local time). / Courtesy of POCOG
By Choi Ha-young
Lee Hee-beom, president of the PyeongChang Organizing Committee for the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Games (POCOG), met journalists in Rio de Janeiro, Thursday (local time), announcing PyeongChang’s smooth preparations for the winter event.
“We are organizing the Olympics based on the economy, peace, culture, environment and cutting-edge information technology,” Lee said at a press conference.
Lee said that PyeongChang “has much to learn” from Rio. POCOG dispatched about 100 observers to Rio to see and experience event management there. “We came here to learn what we should and should not do,” Lee said.
During the presentation, Lee outlined ongoing preparations for the Winter Games, including progress on construction, test events and volunteer recruitment.
Last February, international ski and snowboard competitions were held at the facilities to build up experience.
Six new stadiums among 12 needed are being built in Gangwon Province where PyeongChang County is located. The construction is supposed to be finished by January 2017. To facilitate transport for the event, the country is expanding railroad connections to the Gangwon area.
Asked about the relatively low profile of PyeongChang compared to Beijing and Tokyo, Lee said POCOG will organize a large inauguration ceremony on Sept. 27, 500 days ahead of the event, to improve awareness of the city.
POCOG is running a promotion booth at Rio’s iconic Copacabana beach, and will operate a mobile one during and after the games.