Ni JONATHAN M. HICAP

KUMPIYANSA ang South Korea na mailalarga ang 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics bilang pinakamatikas na edisyon sa kasaysayan.

“We want to make Pyeongchang 2018 the biggest and greatest Games ever,” pahayag ni Lee Jihye, head ng Pyeongchang Olympics International Media Relations, sa foreign media kabilang ang Manila Bulletin, sa media briefing sa Pyeongchang sa Gangwon Province ng South Korea.

Host ang South Korea sa 2018 Winter Olympics, sa unang pagkakataon mula nang maging abala ang Seoul sa 1988 Summer Olympics.

Nakatakda ang Winter Games sa February 9-25 at tampok ang 102 events sa kabuuang 15 disciplines. Nakatakda naman ang Paralympic Games sa Marso 9-18.

Iginiit ni Lee na madarama ng mga bisita at kalahok ang kakaibang karanasan sa inihandang palabas at programa ng organizers.

Hindi rin mahirap ang biyahe sa venue bunsod nang mga bagong gawang high-speed railway kung saan may isang oras lamang ang travel time mula Incheon at Seoul.

Hindi rin pahuhuli ang 5G telecommunications services sa Winter Games, gayundin ang makabagong serbisyo tulad ng 5G BUS, 360° VR, Omni-view, glasses-free 3D, hologram, real-time parking information, robot services at humanoid robots.

Inaantabayan din ang paglahok ng North Korea.

“Athletes who want to attend the Olympic Games first have to earn their qualifications through competitions. So far, two skaters, one pair, has earned the right to participate. All countries have until January 29 to register their participation,” pahayag ni Lee.

“We don’t know yet whether they [North Korea] will or will not. But we are encouraging all athletes and countries to participate as is the IOC and the Association of National Committees. So we don’t have any direct contact but we are very hopeful that they will as a sport loving country,” aniya.

“We hope more people in Asia will be able to be inspired by Games and participate. We also want to make this opportunity to put Gangwon Province and Pyeongchang on the map of winter tourism,” sambit ni Lee.