Organizers of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics on Monday officially settled into their new headquarters in the host city, a move designed to ensure more efficiency in preparations for the first Winter Games in Korea.
The PyeongChang Organizing Committee for the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Games marked the occasion with a ceremony in PyeongChang, Gangwon Province, some 180 kilometers east of Seoul.
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(Yonhap) |
Lee Hee-beom, president of the POCOG, said the opening of the new headquarters has ushered in a new phase for PyeongChang's Olympic preparations.
"This ceremony is a meaningful occasion, as we reaffirm our determination to stage a successful Olympics that will leave its mark in history," Lee told the audience of officials from the POCOG, Gangwon Province, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and the Korean Olympic Committee.
"Hosting the Games was a daunting task, but successfully delivering the Olympic Games is an even more challenging one," Lee added. "Yet we have passion and willpower that will help us overcome any barriers in our journey. The central government, Gangwon Province, the POCOG and the residents of PyeongChang must work hand in hand to organize and stage the Games that will leave a truly great legacy in history."
The construction of the three-story building began in November 2015 and the building was completed earlier this month. The 15.7 billion won ($13.3 million) structure covers a total floor area of 10,408㎡. Prior to the move, the POCOG ran separate offices in Seoul and PyeongChang.
Lee also noted the significance of the 2018 PyeongChang Games, as it will kick off a string of three consecutive Olympics in the region. Tokyo will hold the 2020 Summer Games, and Beijing will be the host of the 2022 Winter Olympics.
"The PyeongChang Winter Olympics will usher in the era of Northeast Asia, and it will mark an important milestone for South Korea's rising global standing," he said. "As soon as the Olympic flame in Rio de Janeiro is extinguished in the coming August, the world will have its eye on PyeongChang. We are making all the necessary preparations for the Games that will contribute to the economy, culture, the environment, and peace." (Yonhap)
