While recognising that good progress has been made since the IOC's last visit, IOC Coordination Commission chair Gunilla Lindberg stressed that timelines remained tight, particularly with test events due to start next year.

"As we enter the delivery stage of the Games, some key priorities have been identified, and this has retained the full attention of [Pyeongchang 2018 President] President Cho [Yang-ho], who is leading the organisational effort," she said.

"Timelines in a number of areas remain tight, including for test events, so the Pyeongchang Organising Committee (POCOG) and its partners must continue to accelerate their work and reorganisation in order to ensure the successful delivery of the venues and related services."

The IOC Coordination Commission also accepted the venue master plan, acceding to Pyeongchang's plans not to move any sports outside of the country, something made theoretically possible by the outcomes of the IOC's Agenda 2020 reform process. 

"The approval of the Olympic Agenda 2020 recommendations by the IOC created the opportunity for the Korean organisers to propose hosting sports or disciplines outside the host city in order to maximise legacies and minimise costs where feasible," added Lindberg, who is also a member of the IOC's ruling Executive Board.

"Since then, both POCOG and their Government partners have made it clear that they will maintain their current venue plan.

"As a result, the venue master plan is now finalised."

South Korean Prime Minister Chung Hong-won categorically ruled out the idea of events being held outside of South Korea ©Getty Images


Last month, the IOC held discussions with organisers to move the locations for bobsleigh, skeleton and luge events outside the host nation, possibly to Japan or even to Europe or North America.

The IOC was allegedly particularly keen that construction of a proposed new sliding venue for the Games be halted in order to curb costs, with reports a move would save around $120 million (£77 million/€97 million) in construction costs.

South Korea was firmly against the idea, with President Park Geun-hye rejecting all proposals to move events outside of Pyeongchang.

Prime Minister Chung Hong-won echoed the President's stance, categorically ruling out moving any events abroad, while approving KRW 86 billion (£50 million/$78 million/€64 million) for a 40,000-capacity venue to host the Opening and Closing Ceremonies.

Despite growing scheduling fears, Gangwon Province Governor Choi Moon-soon confirmed that, from the region's side, everything was being put in place to deliver the Games successfully.

He also emphasised that the delivery plans for the upcoming test events were settled, allowing preparations to move ahead at full speed.

The two-day visit, which took place yesterday and today, was attended by the Coordination Commission Chair and IOC staff, and served as an interim update between full Coordination Commission visits.

The last Coordination Commission, scheduled to take place from November 25 to 27, was cancelled after the two parties felt it would be more appropriate to hold the Commission's visit at a later date in order to provide more time for necessary changes to come into fruition following the appointment of Cho as President last August. 

This later visit will take place between March 17 and 19.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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