In a tightly contested campaign, the South Korean city beat Munich and Annecy to give Asia the Winter Olympic Games for only the third time, having failed with bids for 2010 and 2014.

Bubka believes that their persistence and experience played a significant part in their success.

"Korea has got a good sporting reputation," he said.

"It has held plenty of major championships in winter sports which gave a boost to winter sport in the whole of Asia.

"It is a lesson for those who intend to host Olympics in the near future - Ukraine in particular – as experience in hosting sport events gives an advantage.

"The most helpful factor for Pyeongchang team was their experience.

"It was the third Winter Olympics bid in a row for them.

"During these years Koreans made their bid close to perfect.

"They fulfilled all the promises given to IOC concerning venues, infrastructure and logistics.

"The 2018 Olympics will become only the third Winter Games held in Asia.

"This fact has also influenced the decision as the IOC follows a policy of the geographical expansion of the Olympics.


"The brand new Alpensia resort is the best in this part of the world and the Pyeongchang bid team showed a great level of motivation, self-belief, persistency and tenacity.

"It was also crucial that their proposal was for a compact Games' concept.

"For obvious reasons, venues of most Olympic Winter Games are traditionally spread across wide territory.

"That is why, as I see it, the compact Pyeongchang bid with a maximum 20-30 minutes between venues impressed IOC members.

"These shortened travelling times save not only athletes' and fans' time.

"They save - globally - financial and energy resources for all people and organisations involved in the Olympic Games.

"It highlights the great level of sustainability of the Pyeongchang 2018 Olympic Winter Games."

Bubka was full of praise for the defeated rivals, Munich and Annecy, who also put in superb bids but only walked away with 25 and seven votes respectively.

"I would like to say thanks to all three candidate cities and to the hundreds of people who worked on the bids and hundreds of thousands who live in the candidate cities and inspired the bid committees," he added.

"Your work and your inspiration not only helps your cities - it helps sport and the rest of the world.

"Every new Olympic bid has become a step forward not only for sport but globally as well.

"Revolutionary new technologies are being implemented that are used for building venues and Olympic villages, for managing the events and logistics and for media coverage which can then be used for improving the everyday life of the population.

"All three 2018 candidate cities held on the tradition.

"Several months before the vote, it was clear that whoever won would be a good choice.

"Both the IOC Evaluation Commission and IOC president Jacques Rogge said that every candidate city deserved to host the Olympic Winter Games, particularly in respect of green considerations.

"Munich had a great concept with their use of the legendary Summer Olympic Games 1972 venues for the Winter Games.

"The Bavarians made a great presentation, they focused on financial and managerial resources for their bid.

"The German president and Franz Beckenbauer yodelled for their city.

"When it became clear that the first round was the last, I saw tears in the eyes of many people.

"Well done too to Annecy, for their splendid Alpine Olympics concept which harmoniously combined the unique splendid nature of the Alps with hi-tech ideas."

Bubka concluded: "Certainly sport is the winner after this campaign.

"Nobody could foresee that first round of voting would be the final round.

"Most of IOC members, I think, counted on a second round competition between Pyeongchang and Munich who were considered as favourites.

"So I would one more time like to thank to Munich and Annecy for their good fight and wish them future success.

"Congratulations to Pyeongchang on their win.

"And compliments to the whole Olympic Movement for discovering a new location on our Olympic map."

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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