Top News

Pyeongchang could be Asian winter sports hub - S Korea

(Agencies)
Updated: 2011-07-05 18:08

DURBAN, South Africa - South Korea's Pyeongchang will become a winter sports hub for the entire Asian continent if the city wins the bid to host the 2018 winter Olympics, the country's president said on Monday.

"If we win the bid it is not just about Korea," South Korean President Lee Myung-bak told a small group of reporters.

Related readings:  Pyeongchang pick themselves up after 2014 loss  S Korea's Lee to attend 2018 Olympics vote  Beckenbauer to boost Munich 2018 bid

"It is our vision, our aspiration of becoming a mecca for winter sports," he said two days before the International Olympic Committee elects the winning bid at its session in Durban.

Germany's Munich and France's Annecy are also in the running with Pyeongchang bidding for the third straight time. No Asian country other than Japan has hosted a winter Games.

Lee has travelled to South Africa to personally throw his weight behind the candidacy. Pyeongchang narrowly lost out on the 2010 and 2014 editions.

"I consider it as a duty and a mission to deliver this for Asia," said Lee. "I want more people in Asia to enjoy winter sports. (Unlike Europe and the United States) people in Asia have not had that opportunity."

Lee said the Games and the subsequent influx of tourists would boost the region's economy. Bid officials have said an estimated one billion people live within a two-hour flight radius.

"If we succeed what we can expect is that the regional economy will be vastly revitalised," Lee said. "Today in Korea and other countries in the region we see the most robust growth. This trend will continue."

Pyeongchang has by far the biggest budget for non-Games infrastructure projects from all three bidders, including a $3 billion high-speed rail link connecting the capital Seoul and its international airport with Pyeongchang.

"I am here on behalf of the government to reassure of our commitment to this bid," he said.