POSTED: Wednesday January 4th 2012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PyeongChang/Seoul - With the dawn of the new year and the completion of the office setup this week, the PyeongChang 2018 Organizing Committee has earnestly engaged in the preparations for a successful hosting of the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
On 30th December 2011, the National Assembly approved the budget for the organization of the Games.
The budget includes KRW 25.4 billion Won for the designs of six new venues and KRW 210 billion Won for the fulfillment of the bid promise to build high-speed rail tracks linking Wonju and the cities of PyeongChang and Gangneung, where the snow and ice venues will be located respectively.
This announcement puts to rest the recent speculations of the local media, which had reported inaccurately that the government was not supporting the new high-speed railway which they thought would cover the distance between Incheon and Gangneung.
In fact, the Organizing Committee remains on course to achieve its bid targets.
During Games time, the existing tracks linking the Incheon International Airport, Yongsan (within Seoul), Deokso and Wonju would be enhanced with a new operating system to ensure the shortest possible travel time.
The proposed construction of the new 113km high-speed track between Wonju and Gangneung, which will enable travelling speeds of up to 250km per hour, will guarantee the smooth delivery of participants.
The National Assembly also passed a 'Special Act to Support the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Games'. One of the main purposes of this Special Support Act is to legally protect the intellectual properties of the International Olympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee in Korea.
As part of its obligations, the Organizing Committee has established a team of experts from home and abroad to commence work on its Games Foundation Plan. The GFP will thoroughly lay out the visions and strategies of the Organizing Committee in the coming years. The Organizing Committee also strives to complete the foundation operation plan and the marketing agreements by this year.
Finally, there had been requests from environmental civil groups to relocate the downhill venue in Joongbong to alternative locations. Upon further investigations, however, the Organizing Committee concluded that the proposed locations did not meet the technical standards of the International Ski Federation, which is in charge of the downhill events.
While the original plans remain, the Organizing Committee would work in close consultation with the stakeholders, including the Ministry of Environment, the Korea Forest Service, the Gangwon Province and other civil groups to minimize the impact of the constructions on the environment.
Name: Sangil Woo
Organization: PyeongChang Organizing Committee for the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games
Email:
URL: http://www.pyeongchang2018.org