Candidates For 2014 Winter Games Lobby At SportAccord
25/04/2007 |
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SportAccord, the world?s biggest sports convention, is taking place in Beijing where the three candidates for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games, PyeongChang, Salzburg and Sochi, are reportedly lobbying intensely.
PyeongChang 2014 has a booth where visitors can see what they call the ?spectacular natural setting? of PyeongChang, the aerial view of the Alpensia Resort which will be at the heart of the 2014 Games and is under construction, as well as a video highlighting the enthusiasm and support received from the Korean citizens during the International Olympic Committee?s (IOC) Evaluation Commission visit to PyeongChang last February.
The booth also illustrates the bid?s ?highly compact? concept where all venues and facilities will be located within 30 minutes, and the progress that?s been made in the construction of the transportation network and accommodation. The bid committee is also showcasing how PyeongChang would use cutting edge technology in its bid.
Traditional Korean food and drinks will be offered to the visitors.
The Associated Press reports that Tuesday clusters of bid city leaders, lobbyists and PR advisers huddled in strategy sessions and spoke to IOC members, international sports federation officials, and various delegates.
Russian sports head Vyacheslav Fetisov, leader of Sochi?s 2014 bid said in Beijing ?hopefully those (IOC members) who haven?t made up their minds yet can make some choices here?. He added, ?we want the Sochi Games to be a showcase for the new Russia and provide a new winter sports centre for the world?.
Franz Klammer, the 1976 Olympic downhill gold medallist and a top official for Salzburg 2014 said, ?it?s our only chance to present our bid to a big number of IOC members. It?s very important for us to be here and get all the contacts and information and feedback. IOC members are starting to think about the July 4 vote. I hope we can make an impact?.
Kim Jin-sun, governor of South Korea?s Gangwon province said, ?it is a very important opportunity for PyeongChang to campaign for our bid and seize the initiative in the 2014 race. The race is neck and neck. A lot of people haven?t been to PyeongChang and we want to make them aware of all we have to offer?.
The Associated Press reports rivals were upset about a large PyeongChang 2014 billboard outside the entrance of the hotel saying it violated or bent IOC rules limiting promotional signs and posters. Although the billboard stayed there the Olympic rings were removed to meet the guidelines.
But PyeongChang may have its own concerns. The 2014 Asian Games were awarded to Incheon last week and Daegu is hosting the 2011 World Athletics Championships which it won in March.
Kim said, ?the athletics, the Asian Games, they are not decided by the International Olympic Committee. The athletics is just a single sporting event. The Asian Games is one of many, many regional games. They are fundamentally different from the Olympics. I do not see any relationship between PyeongChang, Daegu or Incheon. For the Korean government, bringing the Winter Games to PyeongChang is the number one priority?.
(Source: Gamesbids.com)
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