SOUTH KOREA: South Koreans welcome their Olympics bidding team's return after winning the rights to host the 2018 Winter Games at the third attempt

Record ID: 329634

  • Title: SOUTH KOREA: South Koreans welcome their Olympics bidding team's return after winning the rights to host the 2018 Winter Games at the third attempt
  • Date: 9th July 2011
  • Summary: INCHEON, SOUTH KOREA (JULY 8, 2011) (REUTERS) ***CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** PEOPLE WAITING FOR OLYMPICS BID COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVES IN FRONT OF ARRIVAL GATE AT INCHEON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT KOREAN PRIME MINISTER, KIM HWANG-SIK (RIGHT), WAITING PEOPLE WITH PLACARD READING 'CONGRATULATIONS, WINNING OF PYEONGCHANG WINTER OLYMPICS BID COMMITTEE MEMBERS ARRIVING/ SHAKING HANDS WITH KIM COMMITTEE MEMBERS RECEIVING GARLANDS VARIOUS OF REPRESENTATIVES STANDING IN FRONT OF JOURNALISTS AND WAVING HANDS VIEW OF NEWS CONFERENCE JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) PYEONGCHANG OLYMPICS BIDDING COMMITTEE CHIEF CHO YANG-HO SAYING "Pyeongchang hosting (the Olympics) isn't the resultof work by one or two people. It was a victory by everyone from president to the government, KOC (Korean Olympic Committee) and Gangwon Province, because all of them worked closely together." JOURNALISTS PEOPLE BOWING VARIOUS OF REPRESENTATIVES SAYING 'GO FOR IT' VARIOUS OF CROWD (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) 28-YEAR-OLD KWON HYUCK-JAE SAYING: "There had been difficult times, but thanks to their efforts, we can live happily until then. I also feel very good because it was a good chance to honour our country." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE CHANTING 'PYEONGCHANG' AND WAVING KOREAN FLAG (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) 35-YEAR-OLD OH JUNG-GEUN SAYING: "They worked very hard and did well with the presentations in a far away country. I deeply congratulate the hosts of the Winter Olympics, which has been our long cherished wish. I hope this will develop my country's sports." COMMITTEE MEMBERS PASSING THROUGH CROWD CROWD COMMITTEE SURROUNDED BY CROWD SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (JULY 8, 2011) (REUTERS) PEACE ACTIVISTS CHANTING WHILE HOLDING WORLD NATIONAL FLAGS VARIOUS OF MARCH BY ACTIVISTS HOLDING FLAGS OF VARIOUS COUNTRIES (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) AHN JAE-CHUL, CHAIRMAN OF THE WORLD PEACE FREEDOM UNITED, SAYING: "Hosting the Winter Olympic in Pyeongchang doesn't simply mean hosting Olympic game again. I believe that we were able to host the Winter Games through a spirit of 'New horizons' which gives hope to countries in difficult situations." VARIOUS OF ACTIVISTS MARCHING
  • Embargoed: 24th July 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Korea, Republic of
  • Country: South Korea
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA7EV2H873VEB4DD0NL360SJ4WE
  • Story Text: Hundreds of South Koreans flocked to Incheon airport on Friday (July 8) to give a rousing reception to the bidding team which won the rights to host the 2018 Winter Olympics.
    Pyeongchang beat rival bids from Munich and Annecy at the IOC's meeting in Durban, South Africa on Wednesday (July 8), a final success for the country which had two previous bids rejected by the Olympics governing body. Korea also staged the 1988 summer games.
    Pyeongchang bid chief Cho Yang-ho led the delegation as they arrived at the airport and got a warm reception from the crowd.
    Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik greeted the team and gave them his congratulations.
    "Pyeongchang hosting (the Olympics) isn't the result by one or two people. It was a victory by everyone from president to the government, KOC (Korean Olympic Committee) and Gangwon Province because all of them closely worked together," said Cho at a news conference in the airport.
    But one of the leading members of the bid team, 2010 skating gold medallist Kim Yu-na, was not at the airport due to ill health.
    Pyeongchang will be the third Asian venue for the winter games after Japan's Sapporo, in 1972, and Nagano in 1998.
    Meanwhile, in Seoul, about two hundred peace activists staged a march and carried flags of 67 allied countries which stood by South Korea during the Korean War.
    "Hosting Winter Olympic in Pyeongchang doesn't simply mean hosting Olympic games again. I believe that we were able to host the Winter Game through a spirit of 'New horizons' which gives hope to countries in difficult situations," said march organiser Ahn Jae-Chul.
    Pyeongchang ran under the slogan "New Horizons", arguing Asia's stellar economic growth in recent decades and the continent's massive population offered an untapped market for winter sports.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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