While commenting that the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) evaluation report on the bid candidates for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games was “good and fair”, Pyeongchang 2010’s chairman Gong Ro-myung had concerns about some of the international media’s coverage of the report.
Gong told The Korea Times he was concerned about a number of stories that indicate which city was considered best. According to several media reports the IOC gave Vancouver the best evaluation.
Gong said, “The IOC report didn’t rank the cities. If they (the media) thoroughly read the report, they could find the fact that the evaluation commission had pointed out factors of concern and challenge in all bid cities”.
Gong added, “The IOC report expected that the Games in Pyeongchang could contribute to reconciliation on the Korean peninsula. But some media gave out a false report, saying that Pyeongchang received a low grade due to the tension on the peninsula. That’s nonsense”.
Gong dismissed some news reports regarding a possible joint hosting of North and South Korea. He said, “co-hosting is not a thing we can decide. The IOC has to recognize it. In addition, we have already undergone the IOC inspection on our bid. If the North jointly hosts it, there should be new venues. So, it’s nearly impossible”.
But he expected that the two Koreas would discuss ways to field a unified tem if Pyeongchang wins the bid.
He said, “marching into stadiums hand-in-hand has already become a common thing for the two Koreas. We should make a more developed case in 2010 like fielding a unified team and training them together”.
Gong also told The Korea Times “there are still some people who argue Pyeongchang is not a proper venue due to the security issue. But Pyongyang (North Korea) has rendered its support of Pyeongchang, easing concerns around the world over the North’s nuclear standoff”.
