Pyeongchang will stage Asia's first Winter Games outside Japan and kick off an Asian Olympic cycle that reflects the region's growing influence on world sport with Tokyo hosting the 2020 Summer Games and Beijing holding the 2022 Winter Olympics. Located in the mountainous Gangwon Province, some 180 kilometres east of Seoul, Pyeongchang failed in bids for the 2010 and 2014 Winter Games. Local media reports suggested that contracts for the Pyeongchang Games had been tainted by the scandal but Lee reiterated that proper procedures had been followed. Only Japan, Germany, Italy and France have hosted both Winter and Summer Games, a soccer World Cup and a world athletics championships. A traditional powerhouse in short track, South Korea has won 21 of its 26 Winter Games gold medals in the sport, with four more coming from speed skating.

Source: The Star February 09, 2017 07:07 UTC