With less than 200 days to go until the IOC Host City decision in Durban next year, the people of Pyeongchang decorated the streets of the Alpensia mountain resort with waves of colourful placards expressing their messages of support.

The Alpensia Resort is a key component of Pyeongchang plans and would be the location of the Olympic Village and several competition venues.

To celebrate the 200-days-to-go mark last weekend, local people from Pyeongchang climbed to the top of Hallasan, the southernmost mountain of Korea, as part of a series of climbing events around Korea to reaffirm support for the campaign.

This expedition follows a climb up Taebaeksan, a sacred peak in the Taebaek Mountain Range in PyeongChang, in September 2010.

These bid supporters will also climb Baekdusan, the northernmost mountain peak of the Korean peninsula, next year to celebrate 100 days to go until the 2018 Host City decision and show further support for the bid.

The IOC Evaluation Commission is due to visit Pyeongchang between February 16 and 20.

To coincide with the visit, the Provincial Government plans to add to this atmosphere of excitement through its two annual winter festivals in February 2011 - the Daegwallyeong Snow Festival and Pyeongchang Trout Festival - visited each year by thousands of tourists from around the country and from nearby Asian countries.

This year these festivals are preparing special programmes, such as a snow sculpture contest, to increase public participation and support for the Pyeongchang 2018 bid.

Yang Ho Cho, the chairman and chief executive of Pyeongchang 2018, said: "Over 91 per cent of the South Korean population endorses the Pyeongchang bid and this unwavering support inspires us to keep our promises to the IOC and deliver on our commitments.

"The IOC Evaluation Commission visit in February will provide the perfect opportunity to show the Olympic Family how committed the region is to hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in 2018, and the Pyeongchang Bid Committee is delighted to welcome this continued national support.

"With 100 per cent of the land secured for the proposed 2018 Winter Games venues and the World Curling Federation last week approving our proposed facility for the curling competition, we believe Pyeongchang can host a truly outstanding Winter Games for athletes, winter sports fans and the Olympic Family."

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