By Xu Aiying and Kim Young Shin
Photos = Heo Manjin, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Do Jongwhan visited major venues for next year's PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games on June 20 to check on progress. He emphasized that, “The Olympics are one of the main projects for this new government and we must cooperate to bring success.”

After the minister was briefed about progress by the organizing committee, he said, “The organizing committee, the Gangwon-do provincial government and the central government must work together to prepare for these Games thoroughly, throughout the remaining 234 days. We will certainly support them with a budget for the Winter Olympics if there is an urgent need.”

He visited the PyeongChang Olympic Stadium, where the opening and closing ceremonies will be held for next year’s Winter Olympics. There, he asked the organizers to, “Take extra care in preparing the facilities for disabled visitors.”



The minister looked around the Gangneung Oval in Gangneung, Gangwon-do Province, and urged the organizers to, “Pay attention to every detail, such as transportation, accommodations, food and the scenery, with the amount of tourist traffic in mind. Also, please increase awareness of the Paralympic Games so that the Paralympic athletes can compete with the support and cheers from the crowds.”

“We must prepare and make the games into 'Peace Olympics,'” stressed the minister. “I will cooperate with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and other related bodies to bring North Korean athletes here, too.”

xuaiy@korea.kr