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S Korean resort delighted by high marks from IOC

South Korea's alpine resort of Pyeongchang, which is bidding to host the 2014 Winter Olympics, expressed delight yesterday after International Olympic Committee (IOC) experts gave it high marks in their technical evaluation.

"We are delighted that the IOC evaluation commission has made such a favorable assessment of Pyeongchang's bid," PyeongChang 2014 chairman Han Seung-soo said in a statement.

Han expressed particular pleasure that the IOC's independent polling had shown such a high level of public support, "demonstrating the tremendous enthusiasm for the Winter Games here in Korea."

The evaluation praised all three candidates. But the report on Pyeongchang was marked by a lack of criticism, while questions were raised about Salzburg, Austria's budget and about the extent of construction needed in the Russian city of Sochi.

A full session of the IOC is set to choose the host city on July 4 at a meeting in Guatemala. A strong technical report does not guarantee that a city will win the vote.

The Pyeongchang bid committee said the evaluation noted that 90 percent of athletes at the Korean resort would be able to reach their venue within 10 minutes.

High-quality accommodation would be available, transport needs would be fully met and the Paralympic Games had been well thought-out.

There is also strong support from the government and public. The bid committee said an independent poll had found 91 percent public support in Pyeongchang and 83 percent nationally.

"The Pyeongchang 2014 bid committee accepts the evaluation commission's report with humility. We are very pleased to receive a positive assessment from such an expert group," said Kim Jin-sun, governor of Gangwon Province and executive president of the committee.

Pyeongchang, in Gangwon some 160km east of Seoul, narrowly lost out to Vancouver for the 2010 event.
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