Lee makes final pitch for PyeongChang in IOC presentation

By Chang Jae-soon
DURBAN, South Africa, July 6 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak made a passionate case for PyeongChang's bid to host the 2018 Winter Olympics on Wednesday, stressing that delivering the event to the South Korean alpine city would honor the Olympic spirit of "transcending race, religion and culture."
Lee was the second speaker in PyeongChang's final presentation during a crucial assembly of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) just hours before IOC members select the winning city by secret ballot. PyeongChang's presentation followed those of Germany's Munich and France's Annecy.
"The Olympic movement is one of the most powerful legacies created by mankind," Lee said during the English-language speech. "Its beautiful values have united people by transcending race, religion and culture. Our vision of 'New Horizons' is a reflection of this Olympic spirit."
Lee was making the case for PyeongChang's No. 1 selling point that the IOC should broaden its horizons and award the 2018 Olympics to a new frontier in Asia. "New Horizons" is the slogan of PyeongChang's third consecutive Olympic bid after two previous attempts failed.
Japan is the only Asian nation so far to have hosted the Winter Games, with Sapporo in 1972 and Nagano in 1998.
"PyeongChang 2018 is a national priority of the Korean government and has been so for the last 10 years," Lee said. "As president of the Republic of Korea, I guarantee you the full and unconditional support of the Korean government for every commitment in our 2018 Winter Games bid."
Lee recalled the times when South Korea was one of the poorest countries in the world, saying that the country sent "three skaters, one coach and one staff" to the 1948 Winter Games in St. Moritz of Switzerland even though the country was in disarray without even a formal government.
South Korea has since grown rapidly and hosted the 1988 Summer Olympics that "gave the Korean people powerful lessons about the Olympic values. The games also gave our people a better future," Lee said.
"And now, Korea wants to give back to the Olympic Movement and to the world," he said.
"We have worked hard. We will make you proud," he said. "I ask for your support today so that we can finally make our Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games dream come true."
jschang@yna.co.kr