POSTED: Tuesday December 21st 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Local residents roll up their sleeves to support the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Games Bid

To celebrate the 200-days-to-go mark last weekend, local people from PyeongChang climbed to the top of Hallasan

PYEONGCHANG, SOUTH KOREA, 21 DECEMBER 2010: Residents of Gangwon Province rolled up their sleeves this weekend to show their continued support for the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Bid.

With less than 200 days to go until the IOC Host City decision in Durban next year, the people of PyeongChang decorated the streets of the Alpensia mountain resort with waves of colourful placards expressing their messages of support. Local residents are united in their unwavering enthusiasm and commitment to help bring the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games to their hometown - and to Korea for the first time in its history. The Alpensia Resort is a key component of PyeongChang 2018's Winter Games Plan and would be the location of the Olympic Village and several competition venues.

To celebrate the 200-days-to-go mark last weekend, local people from PyeongChang climbed to the top of Hallasan, the southernmost mountain of Korea, as part of a series of climbing events around Korea to reaffirm support for PyeongChang 2018. This expedition follows a climb up Taebaeksan, a sacred peak in the Taebaek Mountain Range in PyeongChang, in September 2010. These bid supporters will also climb Baekdusan, the northernmost mountain peak of the Korean peninsula, next year to celebrate 100 days to go until the 2018 Host City decision and show further support for the bid.

The Provincial government plans to add to this atmosphere of excitement through its two annual winter festivals in February 2011 - the Daegwallyeong Snow Festival and PyeongChang Trout Festival - visited each year by thousands of tourists from around the country and from nearby Asian countries. This year these festivals are preparing special programmes, such as a snow sculpture contest, to increase public participation and support for the PyeongChang 2018 bid.

Yang Ho Cho, PyeongChang 2018 Bid Committee Chairman and CEO, said: "Over 91% of the South Korean population endorses the PyeongChang bid and this unwavering support inspires us to keep our promises to the IOC and deliver on our commitments. The IOC Evaluation Commission visit in January will provide the perfect opportunity to show the Olympic Family how committed the region is to hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in 2018, and the PyeongChang Bid Committee is delighted to welcome this continued national support.

"With 100% of the land secured for the proposed 2018 Winter Games venues and the World Curling Federation last week approving our proposed facility for the Curling competition, we believe PyeongChang can host a truly outstanding Winter Games for athletes, winter sports fans and the Olympic Family."

-ENDS-

NOTE TO EDITORS

Please find attached to this press release photos of PyeongChang residents who climbed the Hallasan mountain to show their support of the PyeongChang 2018 bid.

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 the PyeongChang bid to host the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, please visit http://www.pyeongchang2018.org

For further information:

Sujit Jasani

VERO Communications

sjasani@verocom.co.uk

M: +44.794.037.5282

# # #

---

Keywords · PyeongChang 2018 bid · Gangwon Province · Olympic bids · Yangho Cho · Korean Air · Daegwallyeong Snow Festival · PyeongChang Trout Festival

---

Name: Sujit Jasani
Organization: PyeongChang 2018 Bid Committee
Email:
Phone: +44.794.037.5282
URL: http://www.pyeongchang2018.org

---

Please refer all questions to the company listed above issuing the press release. SFC will not be able to assist you with any inquiries and disclaims any content in these press releases.