Észak-Jeolla tartomány képviseli Dél-Koreát a 2036-os Olimpiai pályázaton
South Korea’s North Jeolla province beat the capital, Seoul, 49-11, to become the country’s candidate in the bidding race for the 2036 Summer Olympics.
"We've done it. We've created a miracle," North Jeolla Governor Kim Kwan-young said, according to the Korea Herald. "Support from our residents gave us the power. I'd like to thank fellow cities who have joined us in our dreams. The real race starts now and we will embark on a journey toward winning the final bid. If we all stick together as we move forward, we will succeed.”
The elective process included North Jeolla and Seoul giving a 45-minute presentation before the evaluation committee of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC), followed by a 15-minute Q&A session. Officials from national sports federations from both summer and winter sports then cast their ballots.
Seoul has already hosted the 1988 Summer Games, and South Korea will try to become the seventh country -- joining the United States, France, Britain, Australia, Japan and Greece -- to stage multiple Summer Olympics. The country has also held the Winter Olympics in 2018 in the eastern province of Gangwon, with PyeongChang holding snow and sliding events and Gangwon hosting ice events.
Photo Credit: AFP
While Seoul banked on its superior infrastructure, ability to use existing sports facilities, its experience in hosting the Olympics and other sporting events, and its proximity to Incheon International Airport, the country's main gateway, the voters opted for the chance to develop non-Seoul regions.
"Today, 88.5 per cent of all sporting events in South Korea are taking place outside the metropolitan Seoul area," Governor Kim said during his presentation. "Australia has had three Summer Games in three different cities, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. That was done to ensure balanced growth of that country.”
North Jeolla still needs to have its Olympic bid approved by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and also by the Ministry of Economy and Finance. Once approved the KSOC will submit the province's official bid to the International Olympic Committee.
The newly elected KSOC chief has already given his support to the region. Ryu Seung-min said he plans to cooperate with North Jeolla and help the province win the bid. The province will compete with Turkey's Istanbul, Chile's Santiago, Indonesia and India to win the hosting rights for the 2036 Games, with others including Egypt expected to join the race as well. The final decision will not be taken before 2026, IOC Grabar-Kitarovic has said.