PyeongChang: In their seventh visit to the host city of Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018, the apex Olympic body, IOC’s Coordination Commission has found that the progress is in line with the events timeline.
The IOC’s COCOM, led by IOC member Gunilla Lindberg, which concluded its visit on a happy note, was particularly happy with the venue construction.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC)’s Coordination Commission for the Olympic Winter Games assessed every aspect of Games preparations during three days of venue visits and collaborative discussions with the PyeongChang 2018 Organising Committee.
During the schedule of meeting with the Organising Committee, it was reported to the COCOM that the new venues in PyeongChang and nearby Gangneung are 90 per cent complete in advance of 26 test events scheduled between this November and April 2017. While PyeongChang will host the mountain events of the winter games, Gangneung will host the ice sports.
Speaking in a press conference post the meetings and venue visits, the COCOM Chairperson Lindberg said, “We saw first hand the progress of the construction projects.”
Adding further, he said today, “There is no doubt that the venues will be ready for the upcoming test events.”
The Games Organising Committee’s President Hee-beom Lee who was satisfied with the visit of the monitoring panel (COCOM), which he calls to be productive three days, added “With the Rio Games now behind us, it is time for PyeongChang. Based on thorough preparation, we will strive to provide the best of service to all participants and realise our goal of making the PyeongChang 2018 Games Cultural Olympics, Environmental Olympics, Olympics for Peace and Economic Olympics, and pleasantly surprise the world with our performance.”
Lee announced the launch of ticket sales for the Games and informed that it will commence conjunction with the one-year-to-go milestone celebration in February 2017.
The meeting, which included all the seven International federations who’re part of Winter Olympics, discussed about 10 areas: test events, sport, venues, legacy, Games services, full stadiums, finance, accessibility, governance, and communications and engagement. COCOM and POCOG (PyeongChang 2018 Organising Committee for Olympic Games) held two plenary sessions and a series of specific topics’ meeting to cover concerns related to athletes and National Olympic Committees; sport and International Federations; and spectators.
Speaking further about the preparations, the COCOM Chairperson said, “PyeongChang 2018 is entering the last stages of preparations. My colleagues and I leave here more confident than ever that PyeongChang 2018 will deliver great Games.”
Participating International federations were part of discussions about the test events. Planned to be held during November 23-26, the first test event for the Olympic Winter Games will be the FIS Snowboard Big Air World Cup. This sport Snowboard Big Air is making its Olympic debut at PyeongChang 2018.