#118 The Olympics Return to Korea: Looking forward to PyeongChang 2018

[스티븐스 대사]

PyeongChang has been selected to host the 2018 Winter Olympics!  Determination and effort has been rewarded; it took until the third try, but it’s clear the International Olympic Committee had come to know Korea and Koreans, and they recognized that PyeongChang is ready to host a great Winter Olympics.  This winter’s record storms covered the beautiful mountains of PyeongChang in beautiful white snow during the IOC’s visit, but I’m guessing that the IOC was even more impressed by the enthusiasm they saw throughout that visit from the people of Korea and especially Gangwon Province for hosting a Winter Olympics.  The presentations by the Korean delegation in Durban, including President Lee Myung-bak, figure skating superstar Kim Yuna and Taekwondo Olympic gold medalist Moon Dae-Sung - all given in confident English – helped seal the deal that PyeongChang should be the host. 

As IOC Vice President Thomas Bach in Durban just before the big vote said: “This decision today is about the merits and only the merits.”  Pyeongchang was simply the best choice.

Congratulations to Chairman Cho Yang-ho, former Gangwondo Governor Kim Jin-sun and everyone on the winning team; I think that means everyone in Korea!  I was in Korea in 1988 for the historic 1988 Seoul Olympics, and I hope to be back in 2018 for PyeongChang.  In between, there will be the very significant “Special Olympics World Winter Games” in 2013.  What a meaningful symbol of Korea’ great journey to think that twenty-five years after the 1988 Seoul Olympics, Korea will host the 2013 “Special Olympics World Winter Games” and then on the 30^th anniversary of the 1988 Games, Korea will again hold the Olympic stage, this time in the beautiful mountains of PyeongChang.

Congratulations!  

My two brothers came to Korea for the first time in 1988 to enjoy with me the magical Seoul Olympics.  I’m going to make a booking soon for all of us to come back in 2018 for PyeongChang.