One year before the '18 PyeongChang Games, South Korea is "in political disarray, and winter sports are the last thing on many people's minds," according to Hyung-Jin Kim of the AP. To say that South Koreans are "distracted from what had been billed as a crowning sports achievement is an understatement." A "toothless prime minister, thrust into leadership by the country's biggest corruption scandal in recent memory, struggles with huge economic, social and diplomatic tensions." Despite the political turmoil, the PyeongChang Games will "likely be well-organized and ready to go." Still, the "upheaval in government will likely dominate headlines throughout the year and add to worries about Pyeongchang's preparations, enormous costs and a lack of public buzz" (AP, 2/8). USA TODAY's Christine Brennan notes PyeongChang is the "smallest city (including the surrounding environs) to host an Olympic Games, summer or winter," since Lillehammer in '94. The PyeongChang Games will be "faced with some of the same pressing concerns that dogged" the '16 Rio Games, which include "internal political turmoil and scandal, fears about a tumultuous global order, and, most specifically, Russia’s state-sponsored doping, and what to do about it." PyeongChang Organizing Committee President & CEO Lee Hee-Beom is "vowing that there will be no 'white elephants'" after the '18 Games, "with private ownership stepping in to take over the venues." He said that 10 of the 12 are "already spoken for." He also envisions the Games "as a launching pad of sorts, encouraging Asian children to get involved in winter sports" (USA TODAY, 2/8).
A YEAR IN THE LIFE: Staff writer Ben Fischer looks at various issues surrounding the runup to the '18 Games in our SBJ/SBD podcast. He is joined by two veteran Olympic business consultants: Ketchum's Ann Wool and GlideSlope Founder Dave Mingey. Listen below or on Soundcloud.
