PyeongChang, South Korea appointed as official candidate city for 2014 Olympic Winter Games

Asia-Pacific

PyeongChang, South Korea has been appointed as a Candidate City for the 2014 Olympic Winter Games by the IOC Executive Committee following its meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland. It is the second time for…

PyeongChang, South Korea has been appointed as a Candidate City for the 2014 Olympic Winter Games by the IOC Executive Committee following its meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland. It is the second time for this city in Korea`s mountainous Gangwon Province to be chosen as a Winter Olympic Candidate City following its appointment in the bid for the 2010 Winter Olympics.

News of PyeongChang`s selection as a finalist candidate for the 2014 Winter Olympics bid overjoyed residents of PyeongChang and towns and cities across Gangwon Province.

Colorful celebratory banners waved in the breeze on streets and atop public buildings as thousands shared the news in a collective spirit, some calling out: Yes! PyeongChang! The passionate cheers of PyeongChang supporters continued what has been a weeklong festival surrounding the World Cup soccer matches.

Members of the nationwide winter sports support club, Dongsamo, erupted with broad smiles and cheers at bid headquarters, and they launched festive events across Korea including in the capital of Seoul and the port city of Busan. More than 100 Dongsamo members who had gathered on the grounds of the Gangwon Provincial Office in Chuncheon celebrated with Kim Jin Sun, the Gangwon Provincial governor, well into the night.

At the same time, plans took shape for holding a grand gala celebration of PyeongChang`s appointment as a 2014 Candidate City and to wish for its success in the final vote for Host City in July 2007.

Han Seung Soo, chairman of the PyeongChang 2014 Olympic Winter Games Bid Committee, said, We will compete by the rules of fair play to become the Host City, observing every provision of the IOC, until the Host City is selected next year and will do our best to become the Host City.

Gangwon Governor Kim Jin Sun, the president of the bid committee, said, We also congratulate Sochi and Salzburg which have been appointed as Candidate Cities together with PyeongChang. We have been thinking about 2014 ever since we missed out in the bid for the 2010 Winter Games.

He continued, PyeongChang has been going all out to design the best possible stadiums and transportation network for hosting the Winter Olympics; has been faithfully carrying out its ventures such as the Dream

Program to expand winter sports; and has begun developing the Alpensia Resort, where venues for the 2014 Winter Olympics including the main stadium and ski jump course will be built.

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