PyeongChang Olympics new headquarters open

POCOG President Lee Hee-beom speaks at an opening ceremony in PyeongChang, Gangwon Province, Monday. / Yonhap

By Baek Byung-yeul

PYEONGCHANG, Gangwon Province ― The PyeongChang Organizing Committee for the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (POCOG) officially opened its new headquarters in PyeongChang, Gangwon Province, 210 kilometers east of Seoul, Monday.

“It is a great honor to be here with all of you, sharing the common goal of delivering the successful Games in 2018 that will make Olympic history,” POCOG President Lee Hee-beom said in an opening ceremony attended by regional and central government officials.

“The Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2018 are now only 592 days away. We still have a long way to go, but time indeed flies,” Lee said. “Winning the bid to host the Games was a daunting task, but successfully hosting them is an even more challenging one. Yet we have passion and the willpower that will help us overcome any barriers in our journey. The central government, Gangwon Province, POCOG as well as the residents of PyeongChang and Jeongseon counties and Gangneung city must work hand in hand to organize and stage the Games that will leave a truly great legacy in history.”

The three-story 10,408 square-meter building is constructed of steel frame and can accommodate over 700 people. The construction process began last November and was completed recently. Before moving to the new headquarters, POCOG operated split offices in Seoul and at Alpensia Resort in PyeongChang.

“With this ceremony, POCOG members are now residents of Gangwon Province,” Lee said. “Together we will meet and communicate often to address any issues that may arise. I would like to ask the local residents, NGOs and public organizations to cooperate with POCOG and participate in our efforts to host the great Olympic and Paralympic Games in PyeongChang.”

When asked about POCOG’s future plans, Lee said there will be two events next month ― an event debuting the PyeongChang Olympics’ new mascots and an opening ceremony for its volunteer program. Last month, POCOG introduced a white tiger named Soohorang as the mascot for the 2018 Winter Games and an Asiatic black bear named Bandabi as the mascot for the Paralympic Winter Games.

“As soon as the Olympic flame in Rio comes down in August, the world will have its eye on PyeongChang,” Lee said. “We are making all the necessary preparations for the Games that will contribute to the economy, culture, the environment and peace.”