(ATR) South Korea’s Winter Olympic preparations were dealt a major blow Monday when organizing committee president Kim Jin-sun quit, saying new leadership was needed.
"PyeongChang 2018 is at a turning point for the latter half of its Games preparation, which requires more detailed planning and execution," Kim said in his speech to POCOG employees at its headquarters in Seoul.
"At this critical juncture, I believe that PyeongChang 2018 needs new leadership and a stronger system that will effectively carry out various Games-related projects. And this is why I decided to resign as President of POCOG."
The South Korean government reportedly accepted Kim’s resignation. Speaking to POCOG staff today, he called for the continued support of all stakeholders and the media in preparing for the 2018 Games.
The 67-year-old’s sudden resignation will alarm the IOC, who were apparently not made aware of Kim’s plans to leave when the 2018 Olympics coordination commission conducted an inspection visit two weeks ago.
The former head of PyeongChang’s two failed Winter Olympic bids for the 2010 and 2014 Games had been expected to head the organizing committee until the end of October 2015.
His absence last week from the groundbreaking ceremony for new ice sports venues sparked rumors about his position as president of PyeongChang 2018.
PyeongChang 2018 came under the scrutiny of state auditor, the Board of Audit and Inspection, in June. The organizing committee’s secretary general Moon Dong-hoo stepped down last month. Gunilla Lindberg, IOC coordination commission chair for the 2018 Games, denied that Moon had left due to conflicting views with other members of POCOG, citing health reasons for his departure.
Similarly, Kim on Monday dismissed the suggestion that his resignation was linked to the audit inspection, according to Yonhap news agency.
Cho Yang-ho, who headed the successful 2018 bid, is mentioned as a possible successor to Kim by Korean media. However, PyeongChang 2018 spokesman Minji Kang told Around the Rings that Cho's office has dismissed the rumors.
Commenting on the procedure to select Kim's successor, she said: "All members of the committee would have to vote, and the final candidate must be approved by the government. We can't give you any timeline at this point."
In a statement sent to ATR, the IOC said: "We thank Jin-sun Kim for his hard work and excellent commitment to the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games. We continue to work closely with the PyeongChang organisers to stage excellent Olympic Winter Games for the athletes in 2018.
"We held our last project review meeting with POCOG at the end of June and developed with them a clear roadmap of activities until the end of the year. We have full confidence that these activities will be delivered by the POCOG team in a timely manner and using their existing processes. We continue to work closely with them on their preparations for the Games."
Written by Mark Bisson.
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