POSTED: Friday June 1st 2012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games will be held February 9-25 2018
Travelling to PyeongChang for the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games is about to become a lot easier, as ground for the high-speed rail project connecting Wonju, PyeongChang and Gangneung was broken today.
"One of the first efforts to successfully host the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games is the construction of the Wonju to Gangneung high-speed rail link," said Mr. Lee Myung-bak, president of the Republic of Korea. "This project is a perfect example of the unified support of the Korean people and the determination of the government to achieve excellence."
Operating at a maximum speed of 250km per hour, the high-speed KTX network will deliver shorter commute times to PyeongChang. From Wonju, it will take only 37 minutes to reach Gangneung, where the ice sports events will be held. The high-speed network will also help reduce travelling time between the Seoul metropolitan area and PyeongChang /Gangneung to around an hour.
In addition, the existing rail service connecting Incheon International Airport, Seoul, and Wonju will be upgraded. Participating athletes and members of the Olympic Family can look forward to a comfortable transfer from the airport to PyeongChang in a special direct Olympic rail service. All projects are expected to be completed by 2017.
Among the dignitaries who attended the ceremony at the Gangneung Station were President Lee Myung-bak; Do Youp Kwon, minister of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs; Jin Sun Kim, president of the PyeongChang 2018 Organizing Committee; and Moon Soon Choi, governor of Gangwon Province.
"We have taken the first significant step to fulfilling our bid commitment of efficient and effortless travel to PyeongChang," said Organizing Committee President Kim. "We sincerely thank the government and the Korean people for their unwavering support."
The groundbreaking ceremony is symbolic of PyeongChang's commitment to fulfilling one of its core bid commitments, and the Korean government has also underlined its full support for the Games. Set at a cost of 3.94 trillion Korean won (USD 3.35 billion), the rail projects are part of the government's on-going infrastructure development plans for the region.
The projects will contribute immensely to the long-term development of Gangwon Province, where PyeongChang is located. As the 2018 Games are expected to open up new horizons for winter sports in Asia, Gangwon Province is preparing itself for its transformation into a winter sports enthusiast's wonderland.
The rail service project is one of the main components of staging the most athlete-oriented and compact Olympic and Paralympic Games ever. A total of 15 transportation projects are expected to be initiated in 2013. These projects include developments to the transportation networks in Gangwon Province and the shuttle bus services to the competition venues.
Notes to editors:
PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games
The Korean city of PyeongChang was selected as the host city of the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games at the 123rd IOC Session in Durban, South Africa, on 6 July 2011. 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. For more information about the PyeongChang 2018 Games, please contact news@pyeongchang2018.org.
Worldwide Olympic Partners
The Worldwide Olympic Partners who support the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games and the National Olympic Committees around the world are Coca-Cola, Dow, GE, McDonald's, Omega, Procter and Gamble and Visa.
Name: Media Desk
Organization: PyeongChang Organizing Committee for the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games
Email:
URL: http://www.pyeongchang2018.com