PyeongChang (South Korea) Olympic Dream Comes True

The South Korean city of PyeongChang justified its status as favourite to be awarded the right to host the 2018 Winter Olympic Games by edging out Annecy and Munich at yesterday's International Olympic Committee (IOC) vote.

The decision was made on Wednesday afternoon by IOC members in a secret ballot in Durban, South Africa. PyeongChang won in the first round of bidding with 63 votes, ahead of Munich (25) and Annecy (seven). It was the third straight time PyeongChang had bid for the Winter Games after the city suffered close defeats in the tenders for the 2010 and 2014 Games.

"In choosing PyeongChang the IOC has recognised the vibrancy of Korea and Asia and is looking to build a winter sport legacy throughout a region that is not normally considered a winter sport centre," said Gary Pluchino, Senior Vice-President and Managing Director of Olympic Consulting at IMG.

"Korea's first Olympic Winter Games will energise a younger audience while introducing them to winter sports," he added. "As the Olympic Movement looks to broaden its reach to the world's youth and spread the principals of Olympism, the PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games will greatly enhance the IOC's efforts in this area."

Pluchino continued: "Winter sport federations and athletes will benefit from an ultra compact Winter Games plan. In choosing PyeongChang the IOC has also recognised the tremendous government and corporate support as well as the improvements made over the previous two PyeongChang bids."

Each candidate city made one final 45-minute presentation at the IOC Session in Durban. South Korean President Lee Myung-bak led PyeongChang's pitch, promising his government's "unconditional support" for the bid, asking the IOC for the chance to "finally make our Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games dream come true". PyeongChang's bid delegation also included Olympic figure skating champion Kim Yu-na and Korean-born US skier Toby Dawson.

Source: sportbusiness.com