On May 10, the International Olympic Committee issued a report from the IOC 2018 Evaluation Commission, a technical analysis elaborating on the three official candidate cities vying for the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games: Munich, Annecy and Pyeongchang.
The report was based on the assessment on-site inspections held in February and March this year. In the report, the commission noted Pyeongchang's "very compact concept," its existing legacies from previous Olympic Winter Games bids and its significance in winter sports development throughout Asia. The evaluation was positive on Pyeongchang's short travel times and multi-modal transport. Pyeongchang also stood out in the levels of regional and public support for the games.
Pyeongchang Bid Committee Chairman Cho Yang-ho said he was delighted that the IOC's report confirms Pyeongchang's readiness to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Korea for the first time. He added confidently that "Pyeongchang would deliver an unforgettable Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games that have the power to inspire a new generation of winter sports athletes and provide a platform for winter sports to grow and thrive in new areas of the world."
In light of the report, the Pyeongchang Bid Committee is now in the process of refining its presentation of the technical aspects to IOC members on May 18, in Lausanne. On the same day, the Associated Press (AP) reported, "Pyeongchang, bidding for a third straight time, received a generally glowing assessment from the International Olympic Committee's evaluation commission, bolstering the South Korean city's status as front-runner." On May 11, the French journal "Le Parisien" also said the report points out the compactness of Pyeongchang, in contrast to Annecy, which is more dispersed and has greater travel times between venues.
The Report of the IOC 2018 Evaluation Commission analyzed candidate cities based on 17 criteria, including vision and concept, sport and competition venues, accommodation, transport and finance, as well as government and public support. For more information, please visit the official website at: www.olympic.org (English and French)
Source: Korea.net
