Abstracts from IOC Report on 2010 Winter Olympics Bidders

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Abstracts from IOC Report on 2010 Winter Olympics Bidders

Following are abstracts from the evaluation report of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) issued on its website on Friday on the three bids for the 2010 Winter Olympics.

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Following are abstracts from the evaluation report of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) issued on its website on Friday on the three bids for the 2010 Winter Olympics.

The host city will be decided by the IOC on July 2 in Prague.

Pyeongchang, South Korea:

Major sports events in South Korea: 1988 Summer Olympics, 2002 World Cup and Asian Games.

The South Korean bid has "very good potential." It is "an initiative which looks toward developing winter sports and tourismin Korea, as well as working toward peace and reconciliation on the Korean peninsula."

The bid has strong backing from the South Korean public, private investors and regional and national authorities. South Korean authorities will cover all security costs for the games.

"The present situation in the peninsula may be a concern," but "recent sports events have shown that there are no significant security risks anticipated."

Eight out of 13 venues needed for the games will be built from scratch, including four ice sports arenas, bobsled, luge and skeleton track, the ski jumping stadium -- which also will host the opening and closing ceremonies -- and a brand new ski resort for alpine events.

"Although feasible, the construction of the latter ... will represent a risk."

However, all the new venues will leave a good legacy for ice sports in South Korea and skiing in Asia.

Pyeongchang's budget "appears to be on the low side and costs for temporary facilities and operations have not been fully integrated." But IOC inspectors are "confident about the financial outcome as the government is greatly involved in the project" and provincial authorities also have guaranteed to make up any shortfall.

Salzburg, Austria:

Major sports events in Austria: 1964 and 1976 Winter Olympics; ski World Cup events; the country to co-host Euro 2008 soccer tournament with neighboring Switzerland.

Salzburg is at the heart of a world-renowned ski region which offers a wide choice of high standard skiing venues.

"The bid's concept is based on making the best and most attractive use of them."

Using existing, far-flung sites could increase the cost of the games, so the bid committee had decided to combine cross-country events in one region.

The games would have three "venue clusters" for ice sports, curling and skiing. Three-quarters of athletes will need less than15 minutes to travel to training and competition venues.

The games' budget is "reasonable and achievable."

"Although costs are likely to fluctuate as planning detail is developed, they can be managed within the overall revenue scenario."

Opening, closing and medal ceremonies would be held in a temporary stadium overlooking the city's river and facing a fortress.

"No significant security risks are anticipated," the report adds.

Austria's federal government and authorities in neighboring Germany's Bavaria region have guaranteed to cover security costs.

Vancouver, British Columbia:

Major sports events in Canada: 1976 Summer Olympics, 1988 Winter Olympics, 1994 Commonwealth Games, 1999 Pan-American Games;Toronto lost to Beijing in bid to host 2008 Olympics.

Bid has popular backing, including the February 22 "Yes" vote in a Vancouver residents' referendum and support of business community, federal, provincial and local authorities.

Proposed venues and the Olympic village are "well thought-out."

Plans to build six out of 13 venues "will provide centers of excellence for the development of sports in Canada."

Some 83 percent of athletes will be accommodated close to theirtraining and competition venues.

Vancouver's environmental plans are "professional and ambitious," the budget is "fundamentally sound" and bid leaders have carriedout "thorough and detailed planned based on risk minimization."

Canada's federal government has taken responsibility for security and "no significant" risks are anticipated.

Vancouver plans to hold the opening, closing and most medal ceremonies at an indoor 55,000-seat stadium.

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