SEOUL, South Korea — IOC inspectors concluded their second visit to Pyeongchang on Wednesday by praising organizers for making good progress on preparations for the 2018 Winter Games.
IOC co-ordination commission chief Gunilla Lindberg said the panel has "once again seen good progress" and "an excellent team effort" from the organizing committee, all levels of government and the Korean Olympic Committee.
The commission cited the launch of Pyeongchang’s new logo and finalization of venue plans.
The IOC panel, which made its first visit to Pyeongchang last year, noted that the locations for all sports venues have been finalized and "work is progressing rapidly on the design phase to ensure that all will be ready in time for the test events ahead of the games."
With five years until games, the organizing committee "is well placed to ensure that the athletes have the best possible fields of play upon which to compete," the International Olympic Committee said in a statement.
The panel, however, stressed that "some areas required additional efforts" to ensure the success of the games. The IOC cited the need for organizers to find enough accommodation for the games, launch a marketing program, recruit the workforce and ensure that South Korea has a competitive home team in all sports.
In 2011, Pyeongchang was awarded the rights to bring the Winter Olympics to South Korea for the first time by beating rival bids from Munich and Annecy, France.
Pyeongchang is in northeast South Korea near the demilitarized zone that separates the two Koreas. Its province was cut into North and South Korean sides after the 1950-53 Korean War, which ended in a truce.
South Korean organizers have said the Olympics will help promote peace on the divided peninsula.
