Games prep on schedule, reports IOC Commission

Gunilla Lindberg, who heads the International Olympic Committee (IOC)’s Coordination Commission, said on Thursday that the preparations for the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Games are going well, although she urged the organizers to maintain their focus to meet the deadline for the first test event next February.

The commission concluded its three-day inspection in Pyeongchang along with representatives from seven other international federations to check the preparations for Korea’s first-ever Winter Games.

Pyeongchang will host test events early next year ahead of the Winter Games, including the FIS Alpine World Cup and the FIS Freestyle Skiing and Snowboard World Cup.

The Swedish IOC member said the organizers should not lose their
concentration and must meet the schedule.

“The competition sites remain on schedule for the Games, but the organizers need to maintain their focus, as some delivery dates are very close to the start of the test events,” she said.

“This will also be a great opportunity for Koreans to experience elite winter sports ... as some of the world’s best athletes in those sports will be present in order to get a feeling for the 2018 Olympic venues.”

BY JOO KYUNG-DON [joo.kyungdon@joongang.co.kr]