PyeongChang 2018 presents vision to expand winter sports and advance Olympic Movement

The PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Bid Committee took to the stage today at the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) General Assembly in Lomé, Togo, and presented its case for the right to host the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in 2018.

PyeongChang 2018 highlighted how its bid would help National Olympic Committees (NOCs) in areas of the world like Africa and Asia develop more winter sports athletes and fans, and expand the overall winter sports industry in new markets.

Expressed as ‘New Horizons’, PyeongChang’s vision for the 2018 Winter Games also aims to spread the positive message of Olympism and help take the Olympic Movement and its values to new generations in new parts of the world.

The PyeongChang 2018 Bid Committee, led by Chairman and CEO, Yang Ho Cho, outlined the goals for the bid:

Create new opportunities for winter sports in areas of the world where they are underdeveloped

Create an athlete-friendly Winter Games through the most compact and efficient venue layout

Organize a successful Winter Games based on Korea’s experience in hosting major events and the nation’s growing passion for winter sports

Create the most modern and sustainable winter sports hub in Asia to serve athletes for generations to come.

Reigning Olympic Champion for Ladies Figure Skating, Yuna Kim, who is also a member of PyeongChang 2018’s Athletes Committee, outlined that PyeongChang has been working for almost 10 years to develop the ideal Winter Games Plan. Yuna Kim stated that the bid would commit to:

Ensuring all Olympic teams have access to training facilities and venues prior to the Winter Games

Providing ample accommodation for all additional team officials

Ensuring that the Olympic Village Plaza has plenty of fun and interesting activities for all Olympians

Making free WiFi available at all Olympic sites, including all residential and common areas of the Olympic Villages

Guaranteeing that NOCs are treated fairly with operational matters and costs with PyeongChang’s Rate Card programme.

Yuna Kim, reigning Olympic Figure Skating Champion, said: "It would be a great honour for PyeongChang to host the Winter Games in 2018. We are committed to creating a long-term and sustainable winter sport legacy that means more winter sport athletes and fans around the world."

Yang Ho Cho, Chairman and CEO of the PyeongChang 2018 Bid Committee, said: "Our vision, called ‘New Horizons’, is simple. We want to help promote the Olympic Movement, and grow winter sport to new regions and connect with new audiences. We think that this is unique in this race for 2018, and it is something that only PyeongChang 2018 can provide."

For more information, contact:sjasani@verocom.co.uk

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