19/03/2015
The International Olympic
Committee (IOC)’s Coordination Commission for the Olympic Winter Games
PyeongChang 2018 has wrapped up its fourth visit to Korea, satisfied
with progress but clear with the organisers that multiple areas require
their focus if the first test events taking place early next year are to
be delivered successfully.
Staying for the first time in
Gangneung – site of the venues for three of the seven Olympic winter
sports in 2018 – the Commission’s trip coincided with the signing of
PyeongChang 2018’s latest official Tier 1 partner and the first meeting
of the Integration Working Group, following its creation last month at
the IOC’s Executive Board meeting in Rio de Janeiro.
Speaking after the meeting, IOC Coordination
Commission Chair Gunilla Lindberg said, “The PyeongChang 2018 Organising
Committee (POCOG), led by President Yang-ho Cho, and its partners have
taken a solid step forward this week in their Games’ preparations. We
have seen significant advances in the development of the venues, a major
new partner joining POCOG, and a successful first meeting of the
Integration Working Group, with all parties working hand-in-hand for the
benefit of the 2018 Games. We are satisfied with progress, particularly
on construction, but this positive momentum now needs to be continued
to allow POCOG and Korea to deliver on their vision and commitments.”
She continued, “With the first test events less than
one year away, POCOG and its partners will need to focus simultaneously
on multiple objectives over the next year in order to deliver them
successfully. The creation of the ‘PyeongChang Winter Series Foundation’
to help organise the events is a step in the right direction, but
preparing the delivery team, getting the venues ready, advancing the
operational planning, refining budgets and raising the profile of
PyeongChang 2018 are all key areas that will require POCOG’s full
attention. The Government partners will also have a crucial role to play
in the success of the test events, and this is why the strong support
for the Games from President Park and Governor Choi is greatly
appreciated.”
Each of the different areas mentioned above were
covered in depth by the organisers during the meetings, and the
Commission used its knowledge and experience of the Games to help
provide guidance to POCOG and its partners in each domain. The
Commission was clear though that, three years out, rapid progress in
each area of preparation would be required if POCOG planned to reach its
objectives for this year.
With this in mind, the Commission was informed about
the evolution of POCOG’s management structure, which has a strong focus
on integration, blending together resources from various stakeholders in
Korea. There will also be a number of internationally recognised
experts contracted in key areas like sport and operations.
The Commission also congratulated the POCOG team on a
number of its recent initiatives, like its three years-to-go event,
which engaged all of the national stakeholders together in a celebration
of the Games; its first Paralympic Day, which brought Paralympic sport
to the citizens of Seoul; and its involvement in the 2015 Dream
Programme, which brought young people from around the world to
experience winter sports in an educational context in PyeongChang. POCOG
was encouraged by the Commission to continue engaging with people from
across the country and around the world in order to help spread the
PyeongChang 2018 Games’ vision and the Olympic values.
PyeongChang 2018 President and CEO Yang-ho Cho
commented, “This is a turning point for PyeongChang 2018. Based on the
feedback that we have received over this past week, we will move forward
aggressively and with momentum; and our main focus will now be on
operations. By working together as a team, we will deliver successful
Winter Games.”
The first meeting of the Integration Working Group,
which was set up following discussions between the IOC and POCOG in Rio
to facilitate decision-making processes and improve integration between
all stakeholders, was also successfully held yesterday. Meetings will be
held monthly and involve representatives from the IOC, POCOG, the
Winter Olympic International Federations, the Government of the Republic
of Korea and the Province of Gangwon. This initial gathering outlined
how the group will operate, and saw the different parties all commit to
enhance their cooperation for the successful delivery of the Games, and
already take some important decisions. It was attended by IOC
Coordination Commission Chair Lindberg, IOC Olympic Games Executive
Director Christophe Dubi, POCOG President Cho, POCOG Secretary General
Young-jin Kwak, Vice-Minister of Sport Chong Kim, Gangwon Governor
Moon-soon Choi, and Gian-Franco Kasper representing the International
Federations.
During its three day visit, the Coordination
Commission received updates from the organisers and their partners about
areas as diverse as athlete and National Olympic Committee (NOC)
services, sport and International Federation services, media operations,
governance, legacy, spectators, transport, marketing, technology and
the Paralympic Games. The Commission’s venue tour took it to Gangneung
Ice Arena, Gangneung Oval, Ice Hockey 1 and 2, Gangneung Media Village
and Olympic Village, and the Alpensia sliding centre.
The next visit of the Commission’s Chair to the
Republic of Korea will be for a project review visit in July. Monthly
Integration Working Group meetings will ensure that the close
collaboration between POCOG and the IOC’s Coordination Commission
continues apace in the interim.
Coordinated efforts in Vanuatu on behalf of the Olympic Movement will be undertaken jointly by the IOC and ANOC.
