PyeongChang Learns from Sochi Olympic Success

(ATR) Sochi 2014 leaves 15 lessons for PyeongChang 2018.

Dmitry Chernyshenko, president of Sochi 2014, left the lessons with PyeongChang organizers on Friday during the 2014 debrief. His speech was his final as Sochi 2014 president.

Perhaps his strongest piece of advice for upcoming organizers is to listen to the IOC.

"The IOC is like God’s voice so you never lose your sense of direction," he said.

Cherynshenko also stressed the importance of following the master schedule - an easy task for anyone who has never had to follow one, he said.

There are some 15,000 milestones to reach and failing to meet one will cost you "10 times more."

Chernyshenko has ended his day-to-day responsibilities with Sochi 2014. The organizing committee has ceased all operational duties and is left with a bare-bones staff consisting almost entirely of accountants closing the 2014 Olympics’ books.

Bach to Korea: Have More Confidence!

In his closing press conference, IOC president Thomas Bach told South Koreans to have more confidence in their ability to stage the Olympics.

He was asked about rumors of possible disillusionment with the Games.

"There are, in fact, different reasons to be confident," Bach said, noting "the great determination" to host the Olympics from the highest levels of business and government throughout the country.

"They all know that they have to support the organizing committee ...Maybe the Korean people should be a little bit more optimistic in general and more self confident about the great achievements has made in the recent years."

One Group of Protesters Swapped for Another

A group protesting the Olympic train station location was replaced by a group upset over Yuna Kim’s silver medal in Sochi.

Controversy erupted when Kim lost out to Russian Adelina Sotnikova. One of the Olympic judges is married to the former president of the Russian Skating Union. That, critics said, indicated impropriety in the judging.

Protesters of the Korean Figure Skating Fan Union held banners with IOC president Thomas Bach’s face, as well as Ottavio Cinquanta, president of the International Skating Union, and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Upon leaving the debrief, Bach spent about five minutes with one of the protesters, hearing their arguments with a smile. They explained they were making the appeal on behalf of skating fans, and they want a decision in line with the Olympic spirit.

Bach explained to the representative that he met with Kim a few days after the decision and she had accepted the ruling.

"Sometimes the Olympic spirit is also accepting the results and judgments of referees," Bach explained.

2014 Debrief Continues

Many of the 450 delegates who attended the IOC 2014 debrief are staying in PyeongChang for a few more days.

While the IOC program ended on Wednesday, the International Paralympic Committee stages its debrief until July 4-5.

The theme for the IPC Debrief is: "Building on the greatest Winter Paralympics Ever."

Written by Ed Hula III in PyeongChang

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