Several snow gear rental shops near the snowboard and freestyle skiing venues at the Pyeongchang Winter Games have welcomed guests with signs reading “2018 Pyeongchang Olympic kill us!” and “Keep our right to live!”
Their complaint: The entire Phoenix Snow Park ski area has been closed for business since Jan. 20 because of the impending Olympics, and they say no compensation has been offered by either the regional government or the Olympic organizers.
The park has 17 slopes and six major hotels but has been quiet since it closed, except for a gradually growing contingent of journalists and Olympic officials. It will host competitions from Feb. 9-24, and then again during the Paralympics on March 12 and 16. Some restaurants remain open but there is little business for the rental and supply stores.
Pyeongchang 2018 President Lee Hee-beom apologized during a press conference Tuesday, but said the Olympics have support from most business owners. Gangwon province officials are talking to the shop owners, he said.
“There are ups and downs of hosting the Olympic Games, and we have already earned the participation and consensus of the ski rental shops within the region,” Lee said through an interpreter. “And this is not something the organizing committee should directly deal with. It needs to be dealt with between the province, the regions and the ski rental shops. They are having conversations with the ski rental shops, and we’d like to apologize for the inconvenience. I think this can be resolved before the Games start.”
The area also was disrupted by a road-widening project in advance of the Olympics.
There had been no further word from Pyeongchang organizers by Thursday morning, and the banners were still there, witnesses said.
