S. Korea's High 1 resort to host Int'l Ski Federation Congress in 2012

SEOUL, Jan. 16 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's High 1 resort has received official
confirmation that it has been chosen to host the 2012 International Ski
Federation Congress, the publicly owned company said Friday.
The ski-casino resort in the county of Jeongseon, located 214 km east of Seoul,
said the congress is significant because it marks the first time that an Asian
country has won the right to host the international sports governing event.
It said the confirmation certificate was presented by Gian Franco Kasper, the
federation's chairman in Seoul.
In the past, the biannual gathering has usually been hosted by European and North
American countries that dominate winter sports. South Korea competed with Canada
and Morocco to win the hosting right.
High 1 -- controlled by the Ministry of Knowledge Economy and originally set up
to help create jobs for mining towns -- has world-class ski slopes and
accommodations for 800 people, with 20 large conference rooms.
The congress will allow representatives from the federation's 110 members to
converge for a week in South Korea to make important decisions on various rules
and guidelines related to skiing. Decisions made at the congress can affect major
international events like the Olympics.
By having ski experts from all over the world to come to South Korea, High 1 said
it can better advertise Seoul's bid to host the 2018 Winter Olympics.
Pyeongchang, a county in Gangwon Province near High 1, has bid twice to host the
Winter Games, but lost to Vancouver in Canada and Sochi in Russia.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
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