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By Yoon ChulPyeongChang has been challenging to host the Winter Games over the past decade. During the same period, Korea has made considerable progress in winter sports and has emerged as a model for winter sports for many countries other than those in Europe and North America.
When PyeongChang failed in its bid to host the 2010 Winter Games in 2003, it fared well in the neck and neck competition. At that time it had little to show to the world regarding its capability to host the Winter Olympics.
During the evaluation commission’s visit in 2003, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) members had to be satisfied with visiting a vacant lot, which was supposed to be the site for the Olympic village.
The IOC delegation that visited PyeongChang from Feb. 14 to 18 could see the world-class venues and facilities for ski jumping and biathlon at the Alpensia Cluster, which will be the main Olympic village should the city win the IOC vote on July 6 in Durban, South Africa.
Based on a well-prepared infrastructure, Korea has held various winter sports events such as the snowboarding world championships, world cup and a ski jumping continental cup.
It has also hosted world junior figure skating championships, short track world cup and biathlon world championships.
While PyeongChang has accumulated the knowhow to organize winter sports events the athletes have improved.
Before the Vancouver Olympics Korea was only recognized as a short track powerhouse.
In Vancouver, however, Korea snatched three gold and two silver medals in speed skating events.
Figure skating queen Kim Yu-na took the gold medal while setting a new world record. Though the bobsleigh team failed to yield any medals, it did advance to the final round.
In the Asian Winter Games in 2011, alpine skiers Jung Dong-hyun, and Kim Sun-joo brought back gold medals and Korean cross country legend Lee Cha-won finally won her first Asian Games’ gold.
As incomes in Korea have increased people are becoming more interested in winter sports amid rising investment, which has led to better performances.
Against this backdrop, Koreans have taken up a variety of winter sports regardless of the prospects of winning medals.
The short track events had been the most popular among winter sports with success on the international stage becoming the target of repeated footage by local broadcasting companies.
But people’s interest has expanded to other events like bobsleigh, snowboard, freestyle events and alpine skiing.
Though PyeongChang lost in its last two bids, they seem to have the knowledge to organize the global sports gala.
For a successful Winter Games the host city needs to be equipped with high-quality venues, knowhow to control the event and support from fans.
Korea, has already hosted major international events such as the Summer Olympics, FIFA World Cup and a G20 summit.
The Korean government has repeatedly expressed its support for PyeongChang’s bid to host the 2018 Winter Games.
More than 90 percent of PyeongChang residents supports the city’s bid in comparison with the bid city’s rivals, Annecy of France and Munich of Germany with lower support rates.
Munich in particular has been suffering from strong resistance from some farmers and landowners who are refusing to give their land up for the Winter Games.
As Korea has emerged as a new Asian center for winter sports, PyeongChang’s hosting of the 2018 Olympics would help spread the winter sports to other countries.
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