(ATR) International Olympic Committee secretary general Gunilla Lindberg says the winter sports world is now "clearly focused" on the next Winter Olympics.
Lindberg opened a plenary assembly on the second day of the PyeongChang 2018 Coordination Commission visit with praise for the South Korean organizers of the Games.
"We are in the middle of an exciting and overwhelming positive season of 28 test events," Lindberg told the assembly on Tuesday. "Not only have we seen competitions at the highest level at a number of inter-disciplines, but the feedback from the IFs and the athletes has also been very positive.
"Our congratulations go to the team of POCOG, the province of Gangwon and the national government who have been involved in these successful undertakings."
Lindberg says the 26 test events that have already concluded have demonstrated the quality of venues and ability for organizers to deliver under deadlines.
"The success of team Korea and the test events has raised the profile of the PyeongChang 2018 brand both in the Republic of Korea and abroad," she said.
IOC president Thomas Bach will have his first opportunity to witness a PyeongChang test event later this week. Lindberg says Bach will attend the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation test event at the end of the week at the Alpensia Sliding Centre along with members of the IOC Executive Board.
Bach arrived in South Korea Tuesday morning where he was welcomed by POCOG president Hee Beom Lee. Before arriving in PyeongChang, Bach stopped in Seoul where he met with South Korea acting President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo Ahn and speaker of the Korean National Assembly, Chung Sye Kyun. Bach also received an honorary doctorate from the Korea National Sport University during his stop.
The IOC president is visiting the Olympic hosts for the IOC’s first EB in South Korea on March 16-17. Lindberg says Bach is also expected to attend some of the final Coordination Committee meetings taking place on Wednesday.
The POCOG team will present to the IOC EB about the final steps and preparations of its project with the Winter Games now 11 months away. Lindberg says that while the PyeongChang Games are on track, there is still much work that needs to be done.
"Paying attention to details is now more important than ever as we’ll be expecting deadlines with less and less time available to recover from slippages as we get closer to the Opening Ceremony," Lindberg says.
"The undivided attention of all parties to the Games over the next 11 months will be crucial to your success. This means that Team Korea, POCOG and its partners, the Gangwon province and the national government, now more than ever must work in full partnership.
"At all levels, teamwork will be the key to our mutual success."
The PyeongChang 2018 Winter Games will take place from Feb. 9-25.
Written by Kevin Nutley
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