POSTED: Monday August 16th 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

15,000 people participate in 2010 Gangwon Bike Race to support PyeongChang 2018

The race was held throughout 18 cities and counties in the Gangwon Province.

PYEONGCHANG, SOUTH KOREA, 16 AUGUST 2010: 15,000 people took part in the 2010 Gangwon Bike Race yesterday, 15 August, to help support PyeongChang’s bid to host the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

The bike race was held across 18 cities and counties in Gangwon Province, the region in South Korea where PyeongChang is located. The annual race lasted approximately two hours and the theme of this year’s event was to promote PyeongChang 2018. To show their support during the 10 kilometre race, participants also attached PyeongChang flags to their bikes.

The Gangwon Bike Race also coincides with Korean National Liberation Day and 2010 marks the 65th anniversary of this important date with celebrations taking place across the region and country.

Nak Chun Sung, President of the Gangwok Bicycle Riders Association, said: “We are delighted to celebrate Liberation Day this year by holding the Gangwon Bike Race and supporting the PyeongChang 2018 bid. It is great to see so many race participants show their enthusiasm for hosting Winter Games here in PyeongChang.”

This weekend, Gangwon Province also hosted a special PyeongChang Walkathon to support The Autism Society of Korea (ASK) and help improve awareness of autism.

50 participants, including many autistic children and volunteers, walked 72.5 kilometres from Wonju to PyeongChang for three days from August 14 to 16. Along their journey, the Walkathon participants stopped at various points to promote greater awareness of autism and also express their support of PyeongChang’s bid to host the 2018 Winter Games.

Geum Suk Sohn, ASK Gangwon Branch Director, said: “It is great to see so many people of all ages take part and complete this Walkathon to raise awareness of autism. Their dedication and commitment also highlights the desire of the people of Gangwon to bring the Winter Games to PyeongChang.” 

Yang Ho Cho, Chairman and CEO of the PyeongChang 2018 Bid Committee, said: “The entire nation, as well as people of Gangwon, has shown passionate and unwavering support for many years to bring the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games to PyeongChang. 91% of Korea and 93% of the PyeongChang public back our bid, and we feel that this passionate support is vital to help us succeed in winning the right to host the Winter Games in 2018.”

-ENDS-

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The city of PyeongChang in Gangwon Province, South Korea is bidding to host the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in 2018. The city’s bid is managed by the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Bid Committee, a non-profit organisation that was established on 14 September 2009. The Chairman and CEO of the Bid Committee is Yang Ho Cho, who is also Chairman of Korean Air. Additional members of the PyeongChang 2018 Bid Committee include representatives from all levels of national and local government, the Korean Olympic Committee (KOC), the Korean Paralympic Committee (KPC), winter sports athletes and para-athletes, and private businesses. The election of the Host City of the XXIII Olympic Winter Games will take place during the 123rd International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session in Durban, South Africa on 6 July 2011.

For further information about PyeongChang’s bid to host the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, please visit http://www.pyeongchang2018.org

For further information:

Catherine St-Laurent

cstlaurent@verocom.co.uk

M: +44.759.504.9682

Sujit Jasani

sjasani@verocom.co.uk

M: +44.794.037.5282

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Keywords · PyeongChang 2018 bid · Olympic bids · Yangho Cho · Nak Chun Sung · Geum Suk Sohn

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Name: Catherine St-laurent
Organization: PyeongChang 2018
Email:
Phone: +44.759.504.9682
URL: http://www.pyeongchang2018.org

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