It’s clear, PyeongChang’s presentation won the day – and the bid that has been the preceived leader in this race will probably remain in that position through to the end of today’s voting.
It almost doesn’t matter what was said or what was shown. It’s what we saw.
While Annecy and Munich used words like genuine, authentic and passion – the PyeongChang bid was all of these, without even saying it.
Jin-Sun Kim, the former Governor of Gangwon province who spearheaded the original bid for 2010 and the following attempt for 2014 has lived-and-breathed this project for ten years. When he stood on the podium and told IOC members that he believed it was his destiny to be presenting here today, he meant it. The hint of tears and his breaking voice were genuine.
“For more than 10 years the people of Gangwon province and I have worked hard to realize our Olympic dreams,” he said.
“We never gave up, and tried again.”
Then, at a press conference later he apologized for letting his emotions get the most of him.
“We have walked through a very rough road coming here.”
Well that road is going to come to a successful end today in Durban.
Korean Olympic Committee Chair YC Lee was comfortable using humour, offering quips to Prince Albert and his competitors – making everyone comfortable and and at ease. Maybe trying to make them feel at home in Korea too.
The two athlete ambassadors were quite authentic and couldn’t be more suitable for the ocassion. Yuna Kim is a product of the “Drive the Dream” program, a legacy of the bidding process, before the Games have even been won. And Toby Dawson – the culture minister’s “hidden card” for the presentation, showed that South Korea genuinely needs these Games and that “New Horizons” isn’t just a marketing campaign. Born in Busan, South Korea – he moved to Vail, Colorado with his adoptive parents where he had the sports infrastructure available to become a skier. The opportunity wouldn’t have existed in South Korea, but an Olympic Games can change that.
These two truly moving stories should be all the IOC needs to hear.
So if they believe that the Games need to go somewhere authentic or genuine – it’s time for the IOC to pick PyeongChang. I don’t see how the members can disagree.
It’s almost time for the vote.
