Pyeongchang 2018 Games struggle with tickets and legacy

LIMA: The basics for next year’s Pyeongchang winter Olympics are in place but the International Olympic Committee ( IOC) urged Games organisers on Wednesday to boost promotion and ticket sales and ensure no white elephants were left standing after the event.

The Games , s ta r t ing in February, are also faced with an escalating North Korean crisis that has now become a major hurdle in preparations.

North Korea conducted its sixth nuclear test on Sept 3, prompting the UN Security Council to step up sanctions with a ban on the reclusive regime’s textile exports and a cap on fuel supplies.

“Al l ( Games) fundamental principles are in place and this is very reassuring,” the IOC’s coordination commission chief Gunilla Linberg told the IOC session. When all fundamentals are in place the focus shifts to operational readiness, promotion

Today there are no legacy plans ready for the sliding centre, the ice oval and one of the hockey venues. We don’t want white elephants left behind.

and legacy,” she said.

She said five months before the start there were still no postGames legacy plans for some venues.

“Today there are no legacy plans ready for the sliding centre, the ice oval and one of the hockey venues. We don’t want white elephants left behind.”

Ticket sales were also a problem with South Koreans having so far bought fewer than 10 per cent of the 750,000 domestic tickets with a new round of sales having started this month.

Games chief Lee Hee-beom said he was communicating with local governments and schools to boost lagging sales and achieve “full stadia”.

“Tickets is one of the priority agendas. When we began ticket sales in February until April 23 we found that ( demand) for short track, figure skating and ice hockey – high- demand games – was three, four times above,” he said. “Low- demand competitions – some snow venues, cross-country and Paralympic Games – there demand was less than 10, 20 per cent.”

Lee said organisers were now enforcing their backup plan and trying to mobilise 17 local governments and schools to boost sales. International sales look stronger with half of the 320,000 international tickets gone. — Reuters

Gunilla Linberg, IOC’s coordination commission chief