DURBAN, South Africa – Pyeongchang made its final bid to stage the 2018 Winter Olympics, telling IOC members on Wednesday it has learned “valuable lessons” after twice failing to take the games to South Korea for the first time.
South Korean President Lee Myung-bak led the city’s pitch to the IOC in Durban, speaking in English and promising his government’s “unconditional support” for the bid in the candidate’s final presentation to the IOC.
“As president I can guarantee you the full and unconditional support of the Korean government for every commitment in our 2018 Winter Games bid,” Lee said, “so we can finally make our Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games dream come true.”
Pyeongchang failed in successive bids for 2010 and 2014 but is seen as the front-runner to win on its third attempt, against opponents Munich and Annecy, France.
Olympic figure skating champion Kim Yu-na and Korean-born U.S. skier Toby Dawson both figured in Pyeongchang’s final presentation, which began with a slick, motivational video but also played heavily – and with humour – on its previous failures and its desire to keep trying.
“We learnt some valuable lessons (after failing in bids for 2010 and 2014),” bid leader Cho Yang-ho said. “Persistence and patience are powerful words … so are loyalty and dedication.”
Korean Olympic Committee President Kim Yong-sung offered his congratulations to IOC member Prince Albert of Monaco on his recent wedding – and apologized that the Pyeongchang team was back again after just missing out to Vancouver and Sochi, Russia, for the last two Winter Olympics.
“Your Serene Highness, sorry you are spending your honeymoon listening to Pyeongchang bid for the Winter Olympic Games for the third time,” Kim said to laughter in the conference hall from the members. “I promise to make it up to you in Pyeongchang in 2018.”
Pyeongchang also used the final chance to impress the IOC to hammer home its message of taking the Winter Olympics to a new market in Asia and inspire a new generation of winter athletes.
Kim Yu-na, who won gold in Vancouver, figured prominently in the presentation, addressing members, hosting a video and being shown as a young athlete in still images.
Dawson – who also used his Korean name Kim Bong-seok – said Pyeongchang’s bid was “all about hope” and giving young Korean athletes the opportunities he was given in the United States after he was adopted by an American couple when he was three.
Bid spokesperson Theresa Rah, who spoke in French and English, said Pyeongchang had kept getting up “and dusting itself off” after failing in two straight bids.
“Ten years ago people thought that hosting the Winter Olympics in Korea was impossible,” Rah said. “We could have thought that and given up, but we didn’t.
“This is a historic choice and a historic chance to bring the Winter Olympics to South Korea for the first time.”
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