Invest KOREA

The Winter Olympics bidding committee for the South Korean town of PyeongChang on Tuesday reached an agreement with the country's major restaurants and hotel chains, a move that officials said was designed to help enhance cultural experience in the alpine town.

In a ceremony held here Tuesday, the bidding committee signed a deal with 16 companies and 80 brands, under an initiative dubbed "Best of Korea." Should PyeongChang win the bid to host the Winter Olympics in 2018, then several restaurants, shops, hotels and museums will open their business in the town, located about 180 kilometers east of Seoul in Gangwon Province.

"The Best of Korea initiative also highlights PyeongChang 2018's commitment to delivering an excellent cultural experience for Olympians, winter sports fans and members of the Olympic Family," a statement from the bidding committee said. "The Best of Korea program will be a central part of PyeongChang 2018's pledge to offer visitors an amazing cultural experience that celebrates Olympism."

This is PyeongChang's third straight bid to host a Winter Olympics, after it fell short to Vancouver, Canada, and Sochi, Russia. PyeongChang is up against Munich, Germany, and Annecy, France, this time.

PyeongChang is scheduled to receive a special evaluation delegation from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) next week for an on-site inspection. Cho Yang-ho, head of the PyeongChang's bidding committee, said he and the rest of the bid officials were looking forward to "sharing our vision for the 2018 Winter Games and our plans for the Best of Korea with the IOC officials."

The host city will be decided at the IOC General Assembly in Durban, South Africa, on July 6. South Korea has never before hosted the Winter Olympics.

Source: Yonhap News (Feb. 8, 2011)