By Kang Shin-who
Staff Reporter
When International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge announced Sochi of Russia for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games on Thursday morning, most Koreans breathed a sigh of disappointment. They were as discouraged with the defeat in the neck-and-neck battle between PyeongChang and Sochi as much as they were eager to host the winter games.
PyeongChang lost in a secret second-round vote by the IOC in Guatemala City earlier in the day. It is the second straight defeat for PyeongChang following the loss in 2003 in Prague, Czech Republic, when it lost to Vancouver, Canada in the right to host the 2010 Winter Games.
``Our country has worked for the Winter Olympic Games for eight years. It is a very sad and disappointing result for Koreans,’’ said Kang Dae-ryong, who resides in PyeongChang, Gangwon Province.
Hundreds of PyongChang residents gathered last night in the rain at Phoenix Park wishing for the city to win the right. When they heard the news through a large video screen, they shed tears and hugged each other in comfort.
PyeongChang residents were supportive of their local government's drive for the 2014 Winter Olympics after losing their first bid for the 2010 games.
When IOC delegates visited the city for a final on-site inspection in February, thousands of PyeongChang residents came out on the street and showed their hospitality. They waved the national flags of each of the IOC delegation members and displayed huge banners to welcome them.
The sad news discouraged Koreans not only in Gangwon area but also in other parts of the country. ``When I found that PyeongChang failed again in hosting the Olympic Games through live television coverage, I felt very sorry for many people who put in a lot of effort to win the bid,’’ said Lee Joo-hee, a 22-year-old college student in Seoul.
Hosting the games here was also expected to contribute to a better relationship between the two Koreas. North Korea was positive in forming a joint Olympic team and also in other sports and cultural exchange programs if PyeongChang won the 2014 games.
Kwon Hyuk-seung, head of PyeongChang-gun, said that hosting the 2014 Olympics was the most important goal for the region and he is very sorry about the second failure.