(ATR) The head of PyeongChang’s bid for the 2018 Olympics tells Around the Rings he is "very delighted" about the IOC Evaluation Commission report, released earlier today.
"The IOC has confidence in our bid books and they have received our message of ‘New Horizons’ which means expanded winter sports market in Asia, and expand the winter sports for young people in Asia" Cho said.
"This is our key message".
While Cho was pleased with the IOC’s reaction, he declined to say if PyeongChang is the front-runner for 2018.
"All the teams are very qualified and they are working hard" he said, adding that PyeongChang will have to work until July 6, when the IOC decides which of the three cities bidding will stage the 2018 Olympics.
One of the strongest points for the bid involved nearly unanimous public support for PyeongChang 2018. According to the report, 92 percent of Koreans back the bid.
Cho claims that strong public support is a benefit of hosting the 1988 Seoul Olympics.
"After our legacy of 88 Summer Olympics, we know the impact of all Koreans. So all the Koreans understand we need to honor another moment."
The IOC did highlight a few concerns with PyeongChang’s proposal, among them spectator capacity at some venues.
The IOC wrote that at alpine speed andtechnical venues "it might prove difficult to achieve the spectator capacities presented in the Candidature File due to transport access constraints and, as a result, PyeongChang 2018 decided to lower spectator capacities from 18,000 to 12,000 for both of these venues".
The IOC expressed concern about transport to alpine speed events to be held at Jungbong, a hamlet 25 minutes from PyeongChang. At the slalom venue, spectators take a shuttle bus up a narrow and winding road to get to the grandstand.
"We have confidence in our architecture and engineers" Cho said in regard to the IOC’s concerns with venue access and seating.
"We are going to consult with the IOC for the final evaluation."
The three bid cities will head to Lausanne for a bid city technical meeting with the IOC on May 18 and 19. Cho said the high-level team from PyeongChang will include him, Theresa Rah, director of communications for the bid; governmental representatives, and Y.S. Park, president of the Korean Olympic Committee.
With only about nine weeks left in the bid, Cho said not to expect many surprises from the bid.
"We have to do according to our bid books. We are confident in our bid books, they are very qualified and meet IOC standards. I don’t think there will be any surprises."
Written by Ed Hula III.
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