(ATR) PyeongChang 2018 president Yang-Ho Cho said that preparations are going as planned for next February’s critical first test event, men’s World Cup downhill and super-G races.
The FIS races are scheduled for Feb. 4-7, at the future Jeongseon Alpine Skiing Center.
Cho dismissed concerns about monsoon season causing delays and lack of on-mountain experience amongst construction workers.
"The construction company has a lot of experience and we have more than ten ski slopes already, so most of the contract engineers have experience how to build downhill ski slopes," Cho said.
"The monsoon season is now and we are prepared for any problems – the downhill is very steep so as soon as I took over, I expressed my concern about any mudslides in Jeongseon," the POCOG leader. "We put our best civil engineer onto the site and they are fully aware of it, watching it every day, so I think we are well-prepared."
The courses should be race ready, however, the venue is only expected to be approximately 40% completed. On average, other venues are 25% finished.
Freestyle skiing and snowboard test events are slated for later that month at the Bokwang Snow Park.
Cho, leading the Korean organizing committee for one year now, received a vote of confidence from ski federation boss Gian Franco Kasper following his report to the IOC on Saturday in Kuala Lumpur.
Twenty-eight test events in total are planned, however that number will likely increase, considering that four new events – snowboard big air, alpine nations team event, mass start speed skating and mixed gender curling – were added to the program by the IOC in June.
PyeongChang 2018 will be the largest edition of the Winter Games in history, with a record 102 sets of medals to be awarded in February 2018.
Cho and other POCOG officials hinted that the snowboard big air could be contested in PyeongChang’s future Olympic stadium. In 2011, a snowboard big air event was held near King’s Palace in Seoul.
Otherwise, Cho said that sites for all other venues have been finalized.
High-Speed Train and IBC/MPC Change
Cho also advised that the high speed train connecting Incheon Airport and PyeongChang will be ready in July 2017, just six months before the Feb. 9-25, 2018 Games.
"Because of the high speed train it will be one hour guaranteed," Cho said. "If we succeed with our goals on the quality of service, PyeongChang will become a hot sport for tourists year round."
Plans for construction of the International Broadcast Center and Main Press Center have now been scrapped, with the Alpensia Resort Convention Center to be utilized, trimming costs U.S. 20 million dollars.
"We came after Agenda 2020, but we got it approved from the IOC," Cho said. "We are open to flexibility.
Cho, who is concurrently chairman of Korean Air, has made certain that all is on schedule and progress is steady. With the hardware preparation in full swing, POCOG is moving towards operational readiness across all functional areas.
Marketing and Sponsorships
Cho has also sparked a surge in sponsor sales since taking over. Automakers Hyundai and KEA Motors recently came onboard, bringing PyeongChang's total to eight domestic sponsors so far.
In terms of sponsorship revenues, POCOG has now generated 360 U.S. million dollars in local sponsorship, 49% of their revenues goal.
"We expect some more and hopefully, we can achieve 75% of our target by the end of this year," Cho said.
Cho advised that 850 U.S. million dollars is the total target for the PyeongChang Games.
The IOC Coordination Commission, accompanied by members from all seven winter sport federations, return to PyeongChang for the fifth IOC Project Review at the end of September.
"We are not perfect yet, but we try very hard to make a perfect Olympic Games in 2018," Cho said. "We still have two-and-a-half years to go, so if need be, we have time to correct things."
Written by Brian Pinelli
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