On the Scene -- Korean President, Record Snow Greets IOC

Korean Government Backing Bid

South Korean president Myung-bak Lee paid a visit to the IOC Evaluation Commission in PyeongChangTuesday.

According to a presidential spokesperson, "President Lee decided to meet the IOC delegation in person to convey the South Korean people's aspiration for a successful bid and demonstrate the government's support."

He visited PyeongChang’s "Dream Program" in the afternoon. There he saw participants practice bobsleigh on a controlled track and even helped push some youngsters off on their practice runs.

Following the visit to the program, President Lee had an informal reception with the Evaluation Commission.

The Dream Program is PyeongChang’s effort to give a winter sport experience to young athletes from countries that lack winter sports infrastructure. More than 130 children from 33 countries areparticipating in this year’s program.

Lee also had a private reception with bid leaders—but not the commission.

Snow Shatters Records

PyeongChang 2018 has a chance to show the Korean city as a winter wonderland to the IOC.

Record snow fell in the last few days in Gangwon Province with more than three feet since the weekend.

Government authorities were charged with clearing thoroughfares specifically for the Evaluation Commission visit to PyeongChang on Tuesday.

Temperatures remained below freezing all day Tuesday and the same is forecast for Wednesday. Lows of minus 16 Celsius are predicted, while the high will peak at minus 1.

However, the extreme weather is unlikely to faze the IOC too much. Tuesday and Wednesday are both indoor-days.

The IOC will hearpresentationsfrom the bid those dayson the 17 topics covered in thecandidature file. Briefings take place at the Alpensia Convention Center, a short walk from their hotel, the Intercontinental.

On Thursday, the IOC will make its first inspection of the bid’s proposed venues.

Wednesday also marks the first time the bid will meet the press. A press briefing with bid chairman Yang-ho Cho is scheduled for 6:10 PM local time.

So far only about a half-dozen members of the foreign media are on the scene, with a similar number of Korean press. More are expected to arrive in the next few days.

While this much snow hasn’t fallen in Korea in 100 years, and the army has struggled to keep up with removal efforts, the top story in Korea is, without a doubt, the Evaluation Commission. All the major daily newspapers published front page, above-the-fold stories on the visit.

On the Road

It is hard to go anywhere in PyeongChang and not be reminded of the presence of the IOC commission.

Banners and billboards dress the street at seemingly every turn, greeting the IOC and urging residents to continue cheering on the bid "until the day of victory". That day would be July 6 at the IOC Session in Durban, South Africa.

Even church groups have gotten in on the action with their own, unofficial flags saying they are "praying" for a PyeongChang victory.

Along the way to PyeongChang, billboards promote the bid and welcome the IOC Evaluation Commission to Korea.

Also advertised along the way—the 2011 Athletics World Championships in Daegu and the 2013 Rowing World Championships in Tangeum Lake, neither of which are in the direction of PyeongChang.

With reporting in PyeongChang from Ed Hula III.