During the visit, Park was briefed on preparations for the Games and given a tour of the Alpensia Ski Jumping Stadium, where she was given a progress report on the construction of key facilities and competition venues.

Park used the opportunity to pay compliments to the workers and organisers of the Games, without whose hard work, the 2018 Games would not be possible, she said. 

The visit comes at the halfway point between when Pyeongchang was awarded the hosting rights to the Games, and the scheduled date of the Opening Ceremony on February 9, 2018.

During the visit, Park Geun-hye was given a tour of the Ski Jump Stadium and briefed on preparations for the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Games ©Blue House



This is not the first experience Park has had with Pyeongchang 2018, having previously been a special adviser to the Green National Party, the precursor of the Saenuri Party, where she supported the bid for the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.

In this role, Park also joined the citizens of Gangwon Province on July 7, 2011, in a prayer for and rejoicing of Pyeonchang's successful bid for the Games.

Around 120 people were present for the President's visit, including Culture Minister Kim Jong-deok, Pyeongchang 2018 President Cho Yang-ho, Gangwon-do Administrative Vice-Governor Kim Jeong-sam, National Assembly members Yeom Dong-yeol and Kwon Seong-dong, Korean Olympic Committee President Kim Jung-haeng, Korea Paralympic Committee President Kim Sung-il and staff of the organising committee staff the Alpensia Resort.

South Korean President Park Geun-hye inspected the Pyeongchang 2018 preparations from the top of the Alpensia Ski Jumping Stadium ©Blue House

Throughout the visit, Park expressed her commitment to strengthening Government-wide support for the Pyeongchang Winter Games, which she assured were a national event.

She also asked the organisers to take an economical approach in the preparation of facilities while devising measures for their effective use after the Games.

After receiving an update from Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Kim on the progress in overall preparations, the President took time to talk with several national athletes, staff members of Pyeongchang 2018 and representatives of the companies heading construction of the facilities.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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