“When we want to bring corporate sponsors on board, there has to be some mutual benefits. We must convince the companies of the benefits they will enjoy if they sponsor the Winter Olympics. Early on, we didn’t do a great job of that. Nonetheless, many companies do believe that they’ll provide support to ensure the success of the Olympics at home. With the help of the Federation of Korean Industries, things have been going smoothly. We’re trying to get many deals completed this year. “
“We must win a lot of medals to drive up people’s interests. The Korean Olympic Committee (KOC) is trying to develop athletes who can accomplish that at PyeongChang. We’re also developing educational programs for the people to help them better enjoy sports that may not be familiar to them.”
- Cho Yang-ho, president of organizing committee for 2018 PyeongchangWinter Olympics
Cho Yang-ho, president of the organizing committee, said Pyeongchang’s efforts to sign new sponsors have picked up speed and that more deals could be on the horizon. (image: Yonhap)
GANGNEUNG, South Korea, March 19 (Korea Bizwire) — Pyeongchang, the South Korean host of the 2018 Winter Olympics, has been slow to secure corporate sponsors for the quadrennial competition, but the event’s chief organizer said Thursday he isn’t overly concerned.
Cho Yang-ho, president of the organizing committee, said Pyeongchang’s efforts to sign new sponsors have picked up speed and that more deals could be on the horizon.
“When we want to bring corporate sponsors on board, there has to be some mutual benefits,” Cho said at a press conference here Thursday, wrapping up a three-day visit by the International Olympic Committee‘s Coordination Commission. The commission reviewed Pyeongchang’s preparations and said it was satisfied with the progress being made.
Most recently, Pyeongchang reached an agreement with Korean Air on Wednesday, making the nation’s top carrier the fifth sponsor for the 2018 Winter Games host. Cho is chairman of Hanjin Group, of which Korean Air is the flagship unit.
Lagging sponsorship prompted President Park Geun-hye to call on business leaders to step up and actively sponsor the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.
Cho said he has sensed a change of pace since Park made her comments.
“With the help of the Federation of Korean Industries (the largest business lobby group), things have been going smoothly,” Cho added. “We’re trying to get many deals completed this year.”
As for the competition itself, Cho said the organizing committee is trying to create a buzz for winter sports in South Korea, where most of the marquee Winter Olympics events, such as alpine skiing and hockey, remain foreign to casual observers.
“We must win a lot of medals to drive up people’s interests,” Cho said. “The Korean Olympic Committee (KOC) is trying to develop athletes who can accomplish that at Pyeongchang. We’re also developing educational programs for the people to help them better enjoy sports that may not be familiar to them.”
(END)
