A delegation, led by BOA chief executive Bill Sweeney, underwent a briefing session with Games organises in which updates were provided in relation to a number of major projects, including National Olympic Committee (NOC) services, accommodation, the Olympic Village and transport facilities.

They then visited competition venues, including the Sliding Centre, the location for Great Britain's bid to win a third successive female Olympic skeleton gold in Pyeongchang, following wins for Amy Williams at Vancouver 2010 and for Lizzy Yarnold earlier this year in Sochi.

Skeleton gold for Yarnold in the Russian resort was accompanied by men's silver and women's bronze in curling, as well as a slopestyle snowboarding bronze medal for Jenny Jones, Britain's best Winter Olympic performance for 90 years. 

They are keen to build upon this success and getting an early glimpse of the venues is seen as a key aspect of the first stages of preparations.

"This was our first trip out to Pyeongchang ahead of the Games in 2018," Mike Hay, head of Sport Engagement, and, as Chef de Mission, a chief architect of the successful performance in Sochi, told insidethegames.

"Their master plan suggests that it will be a very compact Games in terms of venues which would make it extraordinarily exciting for athletes and spectators alike.

"We had really open and informative discussions with the Organising Committee and look forward to seeing everything progress over the coming months and years."

The skeleton venue, where Lizzy Yarnold could attempt to successfully defend the title she won in Sochi, formed part of the visit ©Getty Images




The Pyeongchang 2018 venue concept, in which all locations will be situated within 30 minutes by car from the Main Stadium, was also praised by the British officials, along with the fact that the South Korean city is using some existing venues for the Games.

The visit was a latest example of how Pyeongchang's NOC and National Paralympic Committee Services Department is already "networking actively with its stakeholders", it is claimed, and more visits by NOCs and National Paralympic Committees are now being organised in order to provide a progress briefing and to receive their suggestions for further improvements.

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