POSTED: June 22nd 2010
NewsUpdate
PyeongChang to offer free wireless internet for 2018 winter Games
LAURA WALDEN / Sports Features Communications
LAUSANNE, June 22: The PyeongChang 2018 bid is planning to offer full free wireless internet in its plan for the 2018 winter Olympics, underlining the objective of a high-tech, eco-friendly Olympics.
So far no one has ever offered wireless internet Olympics, London’s mayor Boris Johnson has talked about setting up a London-wide network in time for 2012 but that is a different sort of project with no direct relationship to the hosting.
This would be a historic first for the Korean bid will actually add the free service to their bid books.
Chairman Yang-ho Cho, talking exclusively to SportsFeatures.com, said: “We will supply free wireless internet service for the Games and we are very strong with our technical abilities. “This is the first time in Olympic history that a bid will be able to offer free wireless internet in all competition and non-competition venues.”
Changes in government
Elections were held in early June for the governorship of the Gangwon Province as current Governor Jin-sun Kim was stepping down after three terms in office. He has also served as co-chairman with Cho to lead the bid forward.
Kim said: “We are delighted with today’s announcement and with the progress of our campaign so far. The Gangwon province continues to push ahead with plans for expansion of critical transport and venue infrastructure and promoting winter sports through our successful Dream Programme.”
Kwang-jae Lee was elected the new regional leader and is set to take office at the beginning of the month.
Cho said: “Newly-elected Governor Lee has experience with the earlier 2014 bid and fully supports PyeongChang. He will act as Vice-Chairman of our bid committee. He will be sworn in July 1 and the outgoing Governor Kim will remain until June 30 and then there will be a change of guards.
“Governor Kim will be involved one way or another he has been working with this bid for a long time and has good experience and we need that. We haven’t decided exactly what position he will have but he will definitely be involved. He will accept our offer and we will be united as a team.”
Cho also has the responsibility of running major world airlines Korean Air but he intends to give the majority of his attention to the PyeongChang bid.
He added: “I am committing 80pc to this bid and 20pc to Korean Airlines or maybe even less. We will be reading the report and listening to the IOC suggestions to improve the bid.”
PyeongChang is in the running for the third time to bid at hosting the winter Games. The decision falls at the IOC Session in Durban on July 6 next year.
Keywords · PyeongChang 2018 · Olympic bids · Yang-ho Cho · Jin-sun Kim
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