The Korean Air chairman insisted there is "absolutely no consideration" from the organising committee on sharing events for the Games, echoing South Korea's Presidential Office, which quashed rumours at the beginning of the year that the event could see North Korea acting as a co-host.

"It makes little economic sense to share the Olympics," Cho said.

"Simply building venues for competition in some other place won't get the job done.

"We have to take into account other infrastructure, communication, transportation and human resources, among other issues.

"There will also have to be residences for the athletes and the media.

"In terms of economic effect or efficiency, it doesn't help Pyeongchang to even think about splitting the Olympics with another city."

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


Pyeongchang 2018 has been forced to defend its preparations for the Games in recent months, with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) admitting "timelines in a number of areas remain tight" following its fourth Project Review visit of the Coordination Commission in January.

Both the IOC and Pyeongchang 2018 then agreed to form a special task force to try to help get the Winter Olympics get back on track and ease fears the event is facing trouble.

However, Cho, who met with IOC President Thomas Bach in Rio last month, has blamed a "misunderstanding" for the circulation of such reports.

"The IOC actually doesn't have concerns about our preparations, and media reports have been blown out of proportion," he explained.

"The IOC only recommended that hosts could share events but never made it mandatory.

"It doesn't help our preparations to keep hearing about possibilities of splitting our Olympics.

"It would only create confusion among the public, and it has a negative impact on our credibility internationally.

"Rather than wasting time trying to convince [the IOC] that we'll be the sole host of the Olympics, it'd be much better if we could focus on running a successful event."

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