LONDON (AFP) ― Olympic bosses praised organizers of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Games for making solid progress Wednesday ― but warned about environmental risks posed by the downhill skiing venue.
Gunilla Lindberg, who heads the International Olympic Committee’s coordination commission for the Games, said the South Korean organizers had already taken several steps toward delivering the Games on time.
“A lot has already happened,” she said. “PyeongChang has laid strong foundations to support the first phase of its Olympic journey.”
But Lindberg, an ex-IOC vice president, said much care should be taken at the Jungbong downhill skiing course, which is in a protected nature reserve.
“There is a need to minimize environmental impact of downhill venue in Jungbong,” she said. “It will need careful planning and close consultation with environmental groups.”
Kim Jin-sun, president of the local organizing committee, said his team was determined to deliver a memorable Games after twice narrowly missing out on hosting rights.
“We want to deliver an outstanding Games and also deliver a second great drama, the first having been the winning bid,” he said.
koreaherald@heraldcorp.com
