(ATR) A fountain of youth could be one of the legacies of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics.
A business plan is calling for an anti-aging wellness program that could serve 300,000 clients a year at venues for the 2018 Winter Olympics. The altitude of PyeongChang at 800 meters is said to be the perfect setting for what’s known as the Bio Wellness and Health Cluster.
The proposal would make use of the International Broadcasting Center and other venues still without a defined legacy after the Games. A half dozen venues, including the IBC, sliding center and ceremonies stadium are in that group.
The Association For International Sport for All, known as TAFISA, is leading the push to bring the proposal to reality. Two years ago, TAFISA made a commitment to help host cities with legacy plans at the IOC Session in Kuala Lumpur. The former university professor Dr. Ju Ho Chang is the President of TAFISA and tells Around the Rings this is an opportunity to make the most of the hometown Olympics.
"Since then we have been working to make a memorandum of understanding. You cannot have legacy without the government. That’s why wehave been working with Gangwon Province and the PyeongChang district in the past two years. Now we are looking for support from the IOC," says the professor.
The MOU is now a signed document with the two local governments, TAFISA, Seoul National University and K-Will, a cooperative partner working with TAFISA to develop the project.
As Gangwon Province government wants to sell the entire Alpensia development that includes hotels and Olympic venues for $1 billion, this project will require at least $500 million to start-up. Stakeholders are talking to potential investors from both Korea and China.
In January, Tania Braga, the IOC head of legacy programs was briefed on the proposal during a symposium in Seoul organized by TAFISA on the legacy of the 2018 Olympics. IOC member Pal Schmitt also attended.
"It is encouraging that projects of this nature are being considered," says the IOC in a statement to ATR.
"TAFISA has a lot of experience in sport for all and in promoting and facilitating people’s access to physical activity. We look forward to collaborating with them on the next steps of the current feasibility study," says the IOC.
Written by Ed Hula.
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