Activist groups "called for an independent investigation into the use of wood possibly originating from Malaysian forests" for the construction of Tokyo’s Olympic stadium, saying that it is a "significant breach" of the city’s commitment to a sustainable 2020 Games. Seven groups said in a statement that tropical plywood being used to mold concrete for the stadium "had markings that appear to belong to Shin Yang, a Malaysian group of businesses." The groups said that Shin Yang is one of the "Big Six" logging companies in Sarawak state on the island of Borneo, a place "where they say illegal logging is widespread" and the destruction of forests "extreme" (BLOOMBERG, 4/20).
South Korea will promote the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics to foreigners visiting state-run King Sejong Institutes set up overseas to teach the Korean language, a public foundation that manages the institutes said Thursday. The King Sejong Institute Foundation affiliated with the culture ministry said that it will "screen a promotional video for the PyeongChang Olympics in Korean cultural classes at 174 institutes in 58 countries around the world" (YONHAP, 4/20).
