The International Olympic Committee’s 14-member Evaluation Commission arrived in PyeongChang Monday to inspect the city’s bid for the 2018 Winter Olympic Games.
Despite a heavy snowfall, the commission was met by more than one thousand PyeongChang Country residents, including children banging “thunder sticks” and adults waving the national flags of the visiting IOC members. The streets are decorated with dozens of placards which say “Welcome IOC Evaluation Commission” and Yes, PyeongChang”.
During its visit the inspection team, led by Gunilla Lindberg of Sweden, will be checking out PyeongChang’s Games plan, proposed stadiums, training centres and broadcasting facilities.
Tuesday the commission is to hold a closed-door meeting with the bid committee. President Lee Myung-bak is expected to meet the delegation later in the day to demonstrate the government’s full support for PyeongChang’s bid.
Wednesday the IOC team will attend presentations at the Alpensia Convention centre and from Wednesday until Friday the IOC members will visit PyeongChang’s proposed venues for the Winter Games, including ski jump, cross country and the biathlon venues in the Alpensia Resort, and ice hockey and figure skating venues in Gangneung.
The IOC team will wrap up its visit with a press conference Saturday and will leave PyeongChang Sunday morning.
