Pyeongchang County, "Anger and Frustration Over Continuous Neglect"
Pyeongchang Social Groups Announce Collective Action Against Decision
Possibility of Changes in Detailed Plans Due to Event Characteristics
Pyeongchang County Council stated on the 2nd, "Together with 50,000 Pyeongchang residents, we express strong anger and regret regarding the joint hosting of the opening and closing ceremonies of the '2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games'." [Pyeongchang County]
[Asia Economy Reporter Ra Young-cheol] Pyeongchang County is strongly opposing the plan by the Organizing Committee of the 2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games to hold the opening and closing ceremonies as a 'joint event between Pyeongchang and Gangneung.'
The Organizing Committee announced on the 1st that the athletes' parade and VIP protocol will take place in Gangneung, while the torch relay and some performances will be held in Pyeongchang.
If the athletes' parade and the main ceremonies, including the opening and closing ceremonies, are all held in Gangneung, IOC officials and other VIPs will attend only the Gangneung venues.
Although detailed plans have not been released, Pyeongchang County calls it a 'nominal joint hosting' and has expressed willingness to boycott the event. In particular, as the Olympic city that hosted the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics four years ago, it feels deeply wounded in terms of pride.
Pyeongchang County stated, "Residents who have worked for over a decade to attract the Winter Olympics have fallen into great anger and despair due to continuous neglect from the moment the event name was changed from 'Pyeongchang' to 'Gangwon' and the decision on the opening and closing ceremonies," opposing the Organizing Committee's decision.
From the beginning of discussions on the venues for the opening and closing ceremonies, Pyeongchang County has consistently opposed joint hosting and announced that it will review all administrative support, including closing the dedicated Olympic organization it had already established and reconsidering promotion and operation of the event.
Pyeongchang County had been investing in construction worth approximately 10 billion KRW and various Olympic events for the Winter Youth Olympic opening and closing ceremonies.
The Pyeongchang County Council also expressed strong regret, stating, "We cannot help but lament the brutal trampling of the pride of Pyeongchang residents, and therefore we will not participate in the 2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games at all."
They added, "We will fully boycott future domestic and international winter sports events and will never approve related budget allocations."
Furthermore, they warned, "We will demonstrate strong condemnation of the Organizing Committee's decision through collective actions, including protest rallies."
Pyeongchang local organizations are planning large-scale collective actions during this week.
However, variables that could change the detailed plans are also expected.
Winter Olympic sports include many snow events considered the highlights of the Winter Olympics, such as biathlon, bobsleigh, skeleton, and ski jumping, and many of these venues are concentrated in Pyeongchang.
Moreover, accommodations and facilities such as Hanwha Resort, Phoenix Park, Yongpyong Resort, Alpensia, Daegwallyeong Ranch, and Herb Nara are evaluated to be more stable and better equipped than those in Gangneung.
Meanwhile, the '2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games' will be held for 15 days from January 19 to February 1, 2024, in four cities in Gangwon Province: Pyeongchang, Gangneung, Jeongseon, and Hoengseong.
The Winter Youth Olympics is a legacy event of the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. In particular, 'Gangwon 2024' is the fourth edition of the Games and the first Winter Youth Olympic Games to be held in Asia, outside Europe.
The expected scale of participation is about 2,900 athletes from over 70 countries, competing in 7 sports, 15 disciplines, and 81 events.
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