(ATR) Press corps are already arriving in PyeongChang, South Korea to begin preparations for next month’s Winter Olympics.
The PyeongChang 2018 Main Press Center opened its doors on Jan. 9. Main Press Center manager Joosun Lee tells Around the Rings that despite being open for less than a week, the MPC is beginning to fill up.
"On day one, two Japanese press organizations checked in," Lee says on the latest edition of ATRadio. "This shows how much interest they have as the next host country [of the Olympics]."
Lee says organizers also expect a large Korean press contingent to cover the Games as the host country, with approximately 180 South Korean press accredited for the Games.
These journalists are just part of the 3,000 accredited media expected to attend the Games. International Olympic Committee media operations manager Anthony Edgar tells ATR that the large press contingents from countries in Asia will lead to a packed Media Village and MPC. Asia is hosting the next three editions of the Olympics in South Korea, Japan and China.
"This is the first time in my history [at the IOC] where every single room was sold by deadline and that’s not because there are less, there are actually more rooms than there were in Sochi," Edgar says. "But it’s mainly very much because of Japan and China and the additional interest and additional accreditations they have."
As for whether North Korean press will be attending the Games, Edgar says he expects the same representation as in previous Games.
"Yes there will be press and an office for them as well," he says. "But that’s no different than any other Games. It’s not just because it’s in South Korea, it’s the same as any other Games where we’ve had North Korean press."
Listen below for more information about the MPC operations provided by Lee and Edgar.
Written by Kevin Nutley
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