The chair of the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Coordination Commission, Gunilla Lindberg, announces the results of a recent evaluation of next year’s Winter Olympics sites during the ninth meeting of the IOC Coordination Commission, held at the Alpensia Convention Center in Pyeongchang, Gangwon-do Province, on Aug. 31.
By Sohn JiAe and Kim Young Shin
Photos = PyeongChang Organizing Committee
The International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Coordination Commission was satisfied with the results of its final inspection visit to Pyeongchang to check its readiness to host the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games next year, just 161 days away.
The IOC Coordination Commission meeting was held over three days from Aug. 29 to 31 at the Alpensia Convention Center in Pyeongchang, Gangwon-do Province. Some 300 personnel, including IOC Coordination Commission Chair Gunilla Lindberg, the president of the PyeongChang organizing committee Lee Hee-beom, members of the IOC Coordination Commission and staff from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism attended the meeting.
They visited the sport venues, the Olympic village and other infrastructure items, and checked their operational readiness, such as promotional activities.
“Over the course of our three-day evaluation, Pyeongchang’s readiness to host the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games was highlighted,” said Lindberg. “We saw first-hand the advancements that have been made on venues and infrastructure, as well as heard updates on plans to further engage with Olympic fans. While details must continue to be refined in the coming months, it was evident that the organizing committee is well on its way to delivering a successful Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.”
“The second phase of ticket sales starts next week, and the Olympic Torch Relay is set to begin in just over two months. Both are expected to heighten media and public attention on the Games,” added the IOC Coordination Commission chair.
President of the PyeongChang organizing committee Lee Hee-beom (fourth from left) attends the ninth meeting of the IOC Coordination Commission, at the Alpensia Convention Center in Pyeongchang, Gangwon-do Province, on Aug. 31.
“Although this is the final meeting of the IOC Coordination Commission to evaluate the readiness of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, there is no end to the preparations,” said the president of the PyeongChang organizing committee. “We will take this point as the time to start preparing and evaluating even more carefully to make this the best Winter Games ever.”
jiae5853@korea.kr
