When I first heard on the news that the South Korean city of Pyeongchang had been chosen to host the 2018 Winter Olympics, I thought they were talking about Pyongyang, the capital of NORTH Korea!
And I must admit, I was a bit shocked, surprised – and excited! I mean, I was thinking, THIS is one Winter Olympics that I might even want to attend! Oh, well.
No, it wasn’t Pyongyang that was selected following the first round of secret balloting at the 123rd International Olympic Committee meeting, which was held in Durban, South Africa.
It was Pyeongchang, which received 63 out of 95 votes. Other top vote getters included Munich, Germany, with 25 votes, and Annecy, France, with seven votes.
Ouch! I would hate to think who came in fourth! (And how many fewer votes THEY got – it doesn’t get much fewer than SEVEN!!!)
Land of the Morning Calm
Anyway, congratulations to South Korea! It will be the country’s second Olympics after a 30 year hiatus. The Land of the Morning Calm, as South Korea also likes to be called, hosted the Summer Olympics in 1988.
As a reporter, I have an inquiring mind, and this is what I want to know: how did the North Korean delegation vote?
Not sure, but I have a feeling that it wasn’t for Peongchang …
Pyeongchang 101
As the third city in Asia to host Winter Olympics after Sapporo and Nagano in Japan, Pyeongchang might not have been on my radar screen, but skiing enthusiasts refer to it as the Alps of Korea – Korean skiing enthusiasts, at least.
Popular with winter sports enthusiasts, Pyeongchang is home to Odaesan National Park and several ski resorts. It also offers snowboarding and sledding.
An all year travel destination, Pyeongchang also offers para gliding, horseback riding, and rafting during the spring, summer, and fall.
Copyright: Michael Taylor Pictured: Yongpeong Ski Resort Photo Credits: Visit Korea
For More Information on Korea
Visit Korea — Korea Tourism Organization