PyeongChang's New Dreams

'Heavenly Blessed Land': pristine nature featuring mountains and the sea

PyeongChang, with a population of 50,000, boasts breathtakingly attractive natural beauty and is an ideal environment for winter sports. With ski resorts surrounded by snow-covered mountains, overlooking the clear blue sea, all venues of PyeongChang offer optimal conditions for hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
Just 25 minutes away from PyeongChang, surrounded by mountains, lakes and the East Sea is Gangneung. Best representing Korea's tradition and culture, this city with population of 300,000, boasts cultural traditions and historical sites. The Gangneung Dano Festival (Important Intangible Cultural Property No. 13) has been designated as UNESCO's intangible cultural heritage center.
Dreams, hopes, and passion will produce the most inspiring Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, said officials of the 2014 PyeongChang Olympic Bid Committee. The energy and spirit of the Korean people have come together to make a renewed bid for the Winter Games, they added.
Under the catchphrase "Why PyeongChang? The Best Place for the Best Games"civic organizations across the nation have accelerated their efforts to publicize PyeongChang's bid for becoming the host city of the 2014 Olympic Winter Games.
The IOC Session, slated for July 5 in Guatemala City, will decide the host city of the 2014 Olympic Winter Games.
The 2014 PyeongChang Olympic Bid Committee, armed with updated rationale and implementation plans built on the lesson PyeongChang learned from their first bid, said, "We are dreaming. Dreams can come true."The planned Ski jump course, to use for the headquarters and spectators'seats for the 2014 Olympics, has begun to take shape. The construction process stands at 17 percent, and the project is scheduled to be dedicated for the late October 2008. Projects to remodel cross-country and biathlon courses are under way with the process going forward at 18 percent and 27 percent, respectively. Officials sports at the 2014 PyeongChang Olympic Bid Committee, said the construction of the remaining 11 Olympic sports game stadiums will be launched as soon as PyeongChang is warded the right to host the 2014 Olympics.
PyeongChang, then apparently an underdog, stunned the world by making an impressive showing in an initial vote by the IOC members at their July 2003 Annual Meeting in Prague to select the host of the 2010 Games. The Korean candidate city led the first round with 51 votes versus 40 for Vancouver, Canada, and 16 for the Austrian city of Salzburg. But in the second-round play-off, PyeongChang lost to Vancouver by a razor-slim margin of 56-53. PyeongChang has thrown its hat in another race to gain the right to host the 2014 Winter Olympic Games. PyeongChang is vying with Salzburg and Sochi of Russia to become the host city of the 2014 Olympic Winter Games.
PYEONGCHANG's VISION. Cashing in on organizational excellence combined with a unique vision and passion, PyeongChang stands ready to make the 2014 Winter Olympics an unforgettable experience.
Asia has boundless, yet untapped, potential for winter sports. PyeongChang presents an opportunity to spread the joy of winter sports in Asia.
Bringing the Olympics to PyeongChang will promote peace and harmony on the Korean Peninsula, and thus advance the Olympic Movement of the IOC, according to the 2014 PyeongChang bid committee.
As proposed to the IOC, PyeongChang has been offering the world's first winter sports experiences program, the Dream Program. From its establishment in 2004 to 2007, a total of 471 young gifted players from 35 countries have participated in PyeongChang's Dream Program.
PyeongChang will continue this program, expanding its scope and scale. The Youth World Winter Sports Festival Games will be carried out every four years from 2015 as a way to extend the spread of the Olympic Movement to the next generation.
The 2014 PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games will take place for 16 days from February 7th to 23rd. All facilities will be located between two venue clusters with snow events in PyeongChang and ice events in Gangneung - only 37 km apart.
All venues will be less than 30 minutes away from the main Olympic Stadium.
ALPENSIA RESORT.
The Alpensia Resort is a world-class, four-season resort developed under PyeongChang's grand Olympic Complex project. Work on the $1.2 billion resort began in October 2006. The resort will feature the Olympic Stadium, ski jumping, biathlon, cross country skiing and sliding event venues as well as the Media Village and accommodations including the IOC Hotel.
EASY ACCESS VIA A THREE-TIERED TRANSPORT NETWORK.
A perfectly integrated, three-tiered network comprising expressway, railroad and national roads will guarantee each approach to all the venues. Yeongdong Expressway will be the main truck road linking the two clusters, with national roads for supplementary conveniences.
ABUNDANT, COMFORTABLE ACCOMMODATIONS.
PyeongChang is Korea's favorite tourist destination for all seasons drawing more than 20 million per annum. The city offers a wide range of accommodations from hotels to condominiums and pensions. On top of the 52,000 rooms already in service, an additional 14,500 rooms should be built by 2014.
Now, 26,307 rooms are guaranteed, surpassing the IOC requirement of 22,800 rooms. Guaranteed rooms are within 10 km of competition venues, an easy walking distance.
NEW PARADIGM. The 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games would be a major landmark as the first-ever ubiquitous Olympic integrated with Korea's cutting-edge information technology. PyeongChang will provide athletes, the media, the Olympic Family and spectators with an optimal environment enhanced by the state-of-the-art information technology system that transcends the boundaries of time and space. In line with this, PyeongChang will create a new paradigm for a 'safe and satisfactory Olympics'as pursed by the IOC.
ENVIRONMENTALLY-FRIENDLY GAMES.
The New Green Plan outlines the installation, operation and transportation of all Olympic-related facilities to minimize the impact on the environment.
PyeongChang will ensure the use of 'green'construction materials and energy sources as much as possible. A three-step review on the Games's environmental impact has been conducted, environmental management system with NGOS and private experts has also been established.
WARM HOSPITALITY AND AN EXPERIENCED HOST OF INTERNATIONAL EVENTS.
Korea successfully hosted 1988 Seoul Olympics, 1999 Winter Asian Games, 1999 IOC Session, 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan, 2006 ANOC General Assembly, FIS World Cup (4 times), ISU Short Track Speed Skating World Cup and Championships (5 times), 2006 IPC Alpine Skiing World Cup, 2007 Snowboard World Cup.
In addition, PyeongChang has been selected to host: 2008 IBU Biathlon World Cup; 2008 ISU Short Track International Championships; 2009 Women's WCF World Championships; 2009 IBU Biathlon World Championships; and 2009 FIS Snowboard World Championships.
Based on this proven track record of successful organization, PyeongChang is ready to offer warm Korean hospitality for the best Games ever.
PASSIONATE SUPPORT FROM PUBLIC AND GOV't. The Korean government and the National Assembly have affirmed that the bid for the 2014 PyeongChang Games was designated as a 'Top-Priority National Agenda'and are extending their fullest support including the construction of a high-speed railroad and competition venues. In addition to existing transport network and competition venues, a total of $6.5 billion of the budget is to be allocated for the upgrading and renovation work of a high-speed railway, an expressway and venues.
The aspiration of the entire Korean people, including 120,000-member supporter-group DongSaMo, is to host the most successful the 2014 Games in PyeongChang. Spirits are running high. A local opinion poll, conducted in November 2006 showed that 96 percent of residents in PyeongChang area were supportive of the bid, while support nationwide stood at 91.6%. nw

(top photo) PyeongChang has already gained recognition for one of Asia's popular winter sports destinations. Civic groups have accelerated their bid to provide support for bringing the 2014 Olympic Winter Games to PyeongChang.