New Governor Suspended from Office in Korea
A spokesman for PyeongChang 2018 tells Around the Rings that the suspension of the newly elected governor of Gangwon Province should not affect the bid for the Winter Olympics.
As soon as he was inaugurated Thursday, Kwang Jae Lee was suspended over a conviction for taking illegal campaign funds.
Despite legal proceedings pending against him, Lee was elected June 2 to lead the province, which is the primary backer of the PyeongChang bid for the 2018 Olympic Winter Games.
On June 9, the Seoul High Court upheld charges against Lee related to illegal contributions. Lee faces six months in prison and a fine of about $100,000, reports the Korea Times.
Under Korean law, Lee must be suspended until the Supreme Court rules on an appeal. Vice governor Ki Chang Kang will hold the duties of governor in the meantime.
A statement to Around the Rings from the PyeongChang bid says the troubles facing the new governor will not hamper the bid.
"This is not a matter for PyeongChang 2018 - it will be settled by due legal process. As a candidate city we are focused on the development of our international campaign and the road to Durban next July," says the statement.
Along with PyeongChang, Annecy in France and Munich, Germany are seeking the 2018 Games. The race will be decided in just over one year, July 6, 2011, at the IOC Session in Durban, South Africa.
As governor-elect, Lee had already decided to take a low-key role in the Olympic bid, compared to his predecessor Jin Sun Kim. Kim, governor for three terms, had become a well-known figure for the bid internationally, leading the previous two campaigns for 2010 and 2014. He had to step down from office due to term limits.
Under a new bid leadership structure announced last month, the governor of Gangwon was dropped as co-chairman of the bid.
While it may seem to have been in anticipation of problems for the new governor, Yang Ho Cho, who became the solitary chairman in the restructure, told Around the Rings last week the change "streamlines the leadership pf the PyeongChang bid".
Without detailing specifics, Cho also said ex-Governor Kim will be involved in the bid as it moves into the final year of the campaign.
Whistler Mayor Backs Annecy
Whistler mayor Ken Melamed is endorsing the Annecy bid for the 2018 Winter Olympics.
Melamed spent three days in Annecy last week, attending a lakeside rally June 23 and touring Olympic venues in Annecy and Chamonix.
He also took part in a briefing for Annecy staff on sustainability issues for an Olympic Games.
Melamed told Around the Rings last week that he was impressed with the location of Annecy and the bid commitment to sustainability. Melamed, who speaks French, met with several mayors from the bid region, including Annecy mayor Jean Luc Rigault.
"Annecy 2018 has every chance to win the organization of the 2018 Winter Olympics" he said. "They have all it takes to offer fantastic Games in the mountains. I was truly impressed by the concepts and the approach taken by the bid team," said Melamed in a statement from Annecy issued Thursday.
Munich Signs Legal Sponsor
Norton Rose LLP will serve as Munich 2018’s legal advisors after the bid signed a sponsorship with the law firm.
The partnership was announced Wednesday at the firm’s Munich office.
"Norton Rose’s support comes at exactly the right time to boost our preparation of the bid book" said Munich 2018 chief Willy Bogner. "We need a large number of contracts and guarantees with local authorities, so we will makefull use of their extensive legal expertise."
The main focus of the group’s sponsorship will be in drafting Munich 2018’s bid book.
Bid books will be submitted to the IOC in January.
"Norton Rose is a sports-minded law firm" said Alexander von Bergwelt, Managing Partner of Norton Rose LLP in Germany. "Naturally, we support Munich’s application to host the Winter Games in 2018."
Auckland Mayor Supports Bid
The Mayor of Auckland, New Zealand is floating the idea of a bid for the 2020 Olympics.
John Banks, who is running for reelection, told Radio Sport "can you imagine, in our lifetime, bringing the Olympic Games to the southwest Pacific, Auckland. How good would that be?"
Banks’ dream may be hard to accomplish. Approximately 1.25 million Kiwis live in the Auckland area and 5 million live in the country.
Another obstacle is local political support.
Andrew Williams, the mayor of North Shore, a town in the Auckland area said: "We must not get sidetracked by pie in the sky ideas of grandeur such as hosting the Olympic Games when Auckland will have heavy demand on all available finances to deliver what is needed for the people of the Auckland region".
Media reports in New Zealand say Banks has not officially discussed the proposal with any federal government officials.
The IOC will select a host for the 2020 Olympics at the IOC Session in 2013.
Written by Ed Hula III.
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