PyeongChang and Buenos Aires on track- Big Air confirmed in Beijing

The EB was updated on progress in PyeongChang and Buenos Aires by the heads of the Coordination Commissions and by the Organising Committees, while Coordination Commission updates were delivered on the other cities – Tokyo, Lausanne and Beijing. The EB congratulated PyeongChang and Buenos Aires on their progress and approved the location of Big Air for Beijing 2022, which will be at the site of the Shougang Industrial Park.

The PyeongChang 2018 Organising Committee updated the EB on its progress with the Games just five months away. Led by PyeongChang 2018 President Lee Hee-beom, the Korean delegation showed the EB that its Games fundamentals are in place with all its venues complete or nearly complete; its Olympic Villages approaching finalisation – with all units already sold post-Games; the main infrastructure improvements like the high-speed train linking Seoul to the Olympic venues finalised and being tested; and the International Broadcast Centre delivered to Olympic Broadcast Services and the final fit-out well underway. 

The Korean organisers will now turn their main focus to operational delivery and promotion, with major engagement opportunities already underway or coming up, with the second phase of ticket sales in the Republic of Korea starting last week and the Olympic flame arriving in Korea on 1 November. It was noted that the excitement is building in Korea, and the unique compactness of the venues will deliver a special Games experience to all those attending. The EB also appreciated the strong support being shown to the Games by the President of the Republic of Korea, Moon Jae-in, who was recently appointed as an Honorary Ambassador.

BAYOGOC President Gerardo Werthein led the Buenos Aires update, as he reported on the excellent progress being made on the Youth Olympic Village and Youth Olympic Centre. It was also mentioned that the Youth Olympic Games are having an important impact on sport in Argentina, as projects put in place to support athletes around the YOG are helping Argentina’s young sportsmen and women to deliver improved results in international competitions. 

Finally, the EB approved the Beijing 2022 proposal for the Big Air venue. This will see the event hosted at the Shougang Industrial Park in West Beijing. The site was a steel plant that was closed for environmental reasons before the Olympic Games Beijing 2008. It is now being redeveloped as an ambitious mixed development, which will include housing, leisure facilities, sports facilities and office space. The EB was excited by the project and felt that it would be an iconic location for Big Air at the Games.