Preparations on track
The International Olympic Committee says that preparations for the 2018 Winter Olympics are on track. This is contrast to the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, which has had chronic construction delays:
The 2018 Games are on the right track but it is clear that much work remains. With only four years to go until the Pyeongchang 2018 Olympic Winter Games begin, it was important for the commission to be able to survey the progress being made on the different venues. We are pleased to see that work on key sites like the sliding center and coastal Olympic Village has begun.
‘New Horizons’ vision
During a debriefing of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics, the Pyeongchang 2018 Organizing Committee (POCOG) states that a ‘New Horizons’ theme will be central to their games. Many new winter sports facilities will be built for the games, including areas for figure skating, hockey, speed skating, luge, bobsled, and skeleton events.
Our vision is very clear: new horizons, developing industries, building a hub of winter sports in Gangwon province. Our Games will also be a Games of culture, environment and peace.
Pyeongchang wins bid
Pyeongchang, South Korea, wins bid to host the 2018 Winter Olympics. This will be South Korea’s first time hosting the Olympic games. Pyenogchang achieved 63 votes, beating out Annecy (25 votes) and Munich (7 votes). The voting process took only minutes, making it the quickest in history. Cho Yang-ho, Pyeongchang’s bid leader states:
I had some confidence, but I didn’t expect 63.