The presentation, which included the announcement of a new $500 million (£305 million) investment to help develop winter sports in South Korea, was widely praised afterwards as being their best so far.

But Lee, a highly influential figure who has been travelling the world for nearly a year promoting the bid, seemed determined to try to dampen down some of the enthusiasm that enveloped bid officials afterwards.

"A year ago it seemed like a dream that Pyeongchang might win its bid," he said in the lobby of the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge hotel as he was met by a scrum of South Korean television crews.

"Now it seems a little bit closer but there is still much work to do before Durban [on July 6 where the IOC Session will choose the host city].

"We must keep working hard."

The new investment, details of which were unveiled by Byoung-gug Choung (pictured), Korea's Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, will be used to upgrade and build new winter sports facilities and training centres in Korea, which will be made available to people of all levels.

The "Drive the Dream" programme also aims to identify and nurture elite level athletes, develop more coaches and provide greater funds for teaching winter sports in schools, helping to ensure that winter sports become more accessible for people across the country, he said.

As part of the "Drive the Dream" project, and to show Korea's commitment to the Olympic Movement, National Olympic Committees (NOCs) from across the world will be invited to Korea so they can benefit from the new facilities and training programmes, Pyeongchang 2018 chief executive and chairman Yang Ho Cho revealed.

The new scheme seemed designed to counter a similar deal that Munich 2018 is offering as part of its bid.

"PyeongChang 2018's vision is clear - we want to help promote the Olympic Movement and grow winter sports to new regions of the world, to leave a legacy like never before," Cho said.

"We want to give 650 million young people in new markets the opportunity and the access to enjoy winter sport.

"We want to grow and diversify the financial support for winter International Federations and sport through new investment from new regions.

"Pyeongchang 2018 is a new story for the Olympic Movement - building upon the lessons of the past, but looking forward to New Horizons."


During its presentation, Pyeongchang also detailed some of the new programmes they would introduce ahead of the 2018 Winter Games to assist key Olympic stakeholders with their preparation.

These new programmes will include the International Federation Advisory Programme and the NOC Advisory Programme.

The purpose of the programmes is to provide annual travel assistance for these stakeholders to send representatives to Pyeongchang from 2012-2017 and meet with the city's sport and venue planners to offer their insight and advice in development of the Winter Games plan.

Another highlight of the presentation was a new video message from South Korea's Olympic figure skating champion Yu-Na Kim, who had been planning to be here as part of the delegation until the World Championships were rescheduled for later this month after they had to be moved from Tokyo to Moscow following the earthquake and tsunamin in Japan.

"For me, as a figure skater, it is very exciting to imagine new generations of Korean and Asian winter athletes excelling in all winter sports, thanks to the venues in our Winter Games plan," she said.

"Pyeongchang 2018 will give life to the Olympic and Paralympic dreams of millions of youth - just like me - in new areas of the world."

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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