Yang Ho Cho has been officially appointed President of the PyeongChang 2018 Organizing Committee (POCOG) at the organization’s 10th General Assembly is Seoul Friday. The Chairman of both Korea’s Hanjin Group and Korean Air also led PyeongChang’s campaign to host the Olympic Games in 2011 when the town easily defeated Munich and Annecy, France.
Last week Games President Jin-Sun Kim suddenly stepped down from his post without explanation, creating the vacancy. As Governor of the host Gangwon Province, Kim developed the original vision to host the Games and spearheaded two failed bids for 2010 and 2014.
Cho initially turned down the opportunity to succeed Kim, but later reconsidered when no other suitable candidate was available.
Cho said “the PyeongChang 2018 Games is a historic project, which will present a more developed Korea to the world.”
“I’ll devote myself to organizing a successful Games, using my knowledge and experience as head of PyeongChang 2018’s bid committee.”
International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach said “We are pleased that President Cho has been elected so quickly and that he will dedicate himself to this important national project.”
“I welcome him back to the PyeongChang team. I am sure that he will deliver great Olympic Winter Games for the athletes in 2018.”
Cho is scheduled to have his first face-to-face meeting with Bach as POCOG President during the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games next month. He will also meet with Coordination Committee Chair Gunilla Lindberg and IOC Deputy Executive Director Christophe Dubi during the event.
The PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Games will be staged February 9 to February 25.
