Gangwon Province in South Korea has become the Korean candidate city to bid for the 2010 Winter Games, following a vote by the Korean Olympic Committee (KOC). A potential host city has not yet been selected; potential host cities must submit their formal bids to the IOC by Feb. 4.
The governor of Gangwon Province said it would host the opening and closing ceremony either in Gengneung or in Pyeongchang if the bid is success, adding that he would cooperate with Jeonbuk, who garnered less votes from the KOC, as a sub host city.
Earlier this month South Korea announced it would let two local provinces, Kangwon and North Cholla, bid together for the 2010 Games, but the decision sparked criticism from opposition lawmakers, which considered the idea unrealistic since Kangwon and North Cholla provinces are 200 kilometers (124 miles) apart.
The KOC then decided to select a main candidate site through a vote. A KOC official said, “voting was the last resort to solve the dispute between the provinces. Drawing a compromise was almost impossible”.
The Winter Games have been staged only twice in Asia – in Japan in 1972 and 1998.
