 (Photo: IOC/CHUNG SUNG-JUN) |
The 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics is expected to attract 6,000 athletes from 100 countries and territories to participate in 102 gold medal events.
The Games’ motto will be “Passion, Connection”. A white tiger named Soohorang will be the official mascot. An Asiatic black bear named Bandabi will be the official mascot of the 2018 Winter Paralympics.
South Korea hopes these mascots will convey a message of courage, friendliness, and the will to overcome any difficulties.
To prepare for the upcoming games, South Korea has spent more than 11.2 billion USD. The competition venues include Phoenix Snow Park, Alpensia Olympic Park, Olympic Sliding Center, Jeongseon Alpine Center, Younpyong Alpine Center, and Pyeongchang Olympic Stadium. More than half of the money was spent on a high-speed train system linking Seoul and Pyeongchang city. A trip between the 2 cities takes only an hour on the new train line.
The Korean government has called on Koreans to join the Games’ volunteer groups and buy tickets to attend the games. According to the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics Committee, some 16,000 volunteers from around the world have been recruited.
High-tech is a highlight of this year Olympic Games. A 5G wireless network will cover airports, media centers, and competition venues. This technology will enable spectators to immerse themselves in the event via 5G-powered 360-degree video streaming, virtual reality, and augmented reality. Spectators will be able to view the competitions from different vantage points and control their own instant replay of events.
South Korea will take the opportunity to promote its culture, arts, and cuisine. Many traditional, K-Pop, and contemporary performances have been planned to entertain visitors.
The Korean Culture, Sports, and Tourism Ministry has simplified visa procedures and created ticket discounts to attract more tourists to the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics.
The Olympic Games is expected to earn 55 billion USD in revenues for South Korea and create 230,000 temporary jobs.