(ATR) The final PyeongChang 2018 Chef de Mission seminar has some Olympic team leaders singing high praises about preparations for the next Winter Olympics.
The representatives from the 132 National Olympic Committees taking part in the Winter Games next February are gathered in South Korea for a three-day seminar to get a firsthand glimpse of final preparations.
The seminar began Feb. 1 at the Alpensia Convention Centre where the Chef de Missions were welcomed by PyeongChang 2018 Organizing Committee (POCOG) president Hee Beom Lee.
"I trust the Chefs de Mission Seminar will be an opportunity for you to get all the important information and updates in your preparations for the PyeongChang 2018 Games," Lee said.
"As athletes are the heart of the Games, it is also essential for us to listen and learn from your expertise and experiences to move forward in our final planning for operational readiness. We will do our best to deliver a most memorable and athlete-centered Games for all NOC delegations and the entire Olympic Family."
Outside of presentations from the organizing committee, the CDMs will also participate in venue tours. The NOC delegates visited the ice sport venues in Gangneung on Wednesday, the PyeongChang snow sport venues, Olympic Village, Olympic Plaza and ceremony venues on Thursday and will conclude with a visit to Jeongseon and Bokwang on Friday to inspect the remaining skiing and snowboarding courses.
Team Great Britain CDM Mike Hay said he was impressed with the compactness of the venue clusters following the tour.
"The final Chef de Mission seminar has provided us with an invaluable update across a range of areas including logistics, transport, venues and villages and we have been pleased with the progress we have seen," said Hay.
Team USA CDM Alan Ashley added that the final seminar provided valuable insight to pass along to the Olympians gearing up to compete in PyeongChang.
"The Games are really starting to take shape and I have been very impressed by what I have seen here so far," said Ashley. "Our athletes and staff are all excited and looking forward to being here in 2018."
The seminar comes one week before the one-year countdown to the beginning of the Games on Feb. 8, 2018. The milestone marks the beginning of the critical phase of preparations for POCOG and athletes alike.
The National Paralympic Committee Chef de Mission seminar will take place from March 1-3 and will follow a similar format as the Olympic CDM meeting.
Written by Kevin Nutley
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