The 2018 Olympics go to…
Posted July 6, 2011 8:54 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA (NEWS1130) – The South Korean city of PyeongChang has been awarded the 2018 Winter Olympics, after failing in two previous attempts.
PyeongChang defeated Munich, Germany and Annecy, France, in the first round of a secret ballot of the International Olympic Committee.
The Koreans had narrowly lost bids for the Games in 2010 to Vancouver and in 2014 to Sochi, Russia.
PyeongChang will be the first city in Asia outside Japan to host the Winter Games. Japan held the Games in Sapporo in 1972 and Nagano in 1998.
Premier Christy Clark’s Olympic statement
On behalf of British Columbians, I congratulate PyeongChang on having won the opportunity of a lifetime – to bring the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games to Korea. PyeongChang was Vancouver’s closest competition for the 2010 Winter Games and I am delighted to see them now have their turn in the spotlight.
South Korea is the province’s fourth-largest trading partner, and their inclusion into the family of Olympic hosts will help us build even stronger bonds. Our tourism experts have already partnered with the YongPyong ski resort, where many of the 2018 venues have already been built, giving them insight into what it took to host the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
British Columbia was proud to have hosted the 2010 Winter Games, an experience we will always remember. As a result of their work on the 2010 Games, BC companies are well-positioned to provide the services and skills to help make PyeongChang a huge success.
We have a wealth of suppliers and experts in security, sport hosting and development, business development and tourism, which are high priorities during an Olympic Games. We look forward to working with our Korean partners.
