WINTER OLYMPICS 2018 - PyeongChang celebrates one year anniversary of IOC decision

06 July 2012

PyeongChang, 6th July - Achievements and improved venue plans were announced as South Korea city celebrates one year anniversary of historic IOC decision taken on 6th July 2011 in Durban, South Africa.
As a testament to the swift progress that has been made in the year since winning the right to host the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, the PyeongChang Organizing Committee (POCOG) has published in their official website - www.pyeongchang2018.org - some of POCOG's main achievements over the period, as well as improved venue plans, "which are expected to add to the compact nature and festive mood of the Games" the website explains, by adding:
"Since bringing the Winter Games to Korea last year, we have laid the foundations and the road map for the successful hosting of the Games in accordance with our vision of transforming Gangwon Province into a winter tourism hub in East Asia," said POCOG President Jin Sun Kim.
"In the past year, the PyeongChang Organizing Committee has been established, a Special Act was approved to support preparation works, the ground for the Wonju-PyeongChang-Gangneung high-speed rail link was broken, and the designing of the competition venues has begun," added President Kim.
With regard to the improvements to the venue masterplan, President Kim noted that following a review by POCOG, which included input from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the International Federations (IFs), and other stakeholders, as well as some local residents and organizations, it had been decided to make some adjustments in order to improve the overall Games experience.
"The adjustments are inevitable in order to deliver the athlete- and Games-oriented concept that we had promised in the bid," said the president.
Among the improvements are the changes in locations of the Opening and Closing ceremonies, the Speed Skating and Ice Hockey II venues, as well as the Olympic Station. Furthermore, the sites for the downhill events, Ice Hockey I and snowboarding have been confirmed after detailed reviews.
One of the key changes is to the site of the Opening and Closing Ceremony. Originally slated for the ski jumping venue in the Alpensia ski resort, the proposed site will be in Hoenggae, just two kilometers from Alpensia. The new site is where the national team trains regularly and it will be specially converted into a festive hub during Games time.
The 23rd Olympic Winter Games will be held on 9-25 February 2018, and the 12th Paralympic Winter Games will be staged on 9-18 March 2018.