The hosting of the Winter Olympic Games, as did the 1988 Seoul Summer Olympic Games, can further contribute to peace on the Korean peninsula. As one of the finest publicity platforms of our modern world, the Games will make use of, and can serve also to demonstrate Korea's cutting-edge IT/environment technology in world markets. In terms of regional impact, the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in PyeongChang will allow the area to develop as one of the major centers of Asia winter sports. Han Seung-soo, Chairman of the 2014 PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games Bid Committee, stresses in a special exclusive interview with The Korea IT Times, "PyeongChang's Winter Olympic Games bid will furthermore allow the region to emerge as an Asia tourism hub through boosting tourism and local infrastructure, thus creating conditions to enable balanced regional development in Korea. First of all, the chairman points out that all national institutions, such as the government and the National Assembly must be united together for the purpose of attracting the 2014 Winter Olympic Games. He said the enthusiasm of the host country is a very important factor in the IOC's assessment, adding that the Winter Olympic Games bid is currently the nation's great task. Chairman Han emphasized that he would make every effort to lure the 2014 Winter Olympic Games by making the most of his experience as well as his extensive network of acquaintances at home and abroad that he has accumulated in the meanwhile. In the light of economic knock-on effects too, he says the direct effect of the Games is forecast to reach to approximately 45 billion won in terms of the income and expenditure generated. The indirect effect of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games is expected to reach 11.5166 trillion won. Direct effect of 45 billion won On Gangwon Province's bid strategy, Mr. Han underlines that the Province will place the most priority on each national actor to play a part. For this purpose, it is said that Gangwon Province is devoting huge efforts to prepare sports facilities and on drastically improve its infrastructure including traffic network and accommodation. The chairman said the 2014 PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games Bid Committee would continue to improve international confidence in PyeongChang's hosting ability and upgrade the awareness of the PyeongChang region. Moreover, he has committed himself to coping with IOC schedule that will allow for no setbacks, driving forward publicity activities at home and abroad in a variety of media to support PyeongChang's Winter Olympic Games bid. The chairman points out that at the present, big changes have taken place since PyeongChang was bidding for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. As PyeongChang emerged as a powerful candidate in the course of bidding for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games last time, he said that PyeongChang would be a force to contend with in view of its many competitor cities. Right now, 13 cities in 11 countries are preparing their bid applications, of which those in Europe, Winter sports powers such as Austria, Norway, Bulgaria, France, Sweden, Andorra, Spain and Bosnia are participating in the 2014 Winter Olympic Games bid. Thus, the 2014 PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games Bid Committee and Gangwon Province must prepare themselves with a determination to start from nothing to build a new readiness in order to win, he pointed out. He further points out, "Since PyeongChang was defeated by Vancouver, Canada by just three votes, the notion that we might win in the next race if we get three more votes should be discarded. We should not and will not be so complacent." The chairman said that President Roh Moo-hyun expressed the strong commitment of the central government to support the 2014 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games when meeting with Korean ambassadors at their annual meeting in Seoul on Feb. 26, and Prime Minister Lee Hai-chan also said at the inauguration meeting of the Bid Committee on March 31 that government would do its best to provide the utmost support to the PyeongChang Winter Olympic games. --------------- Han Seung-soo, Chairman of the 2014 PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games Bid Committee Great expectations from PyeongChang's Internet supporters Q: In your bid for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in PyeongChang, how do you assess the contribution of PyeongChang's Internet-based supporters A: As of May 30, PyeongChang has 100,000 Internet supporters. The quality of the bid, as well as public enthusiasm, are important factors for the IOC in selecting the host city. In that respect, we expect that our Internet supporters will play a big role in promoting winter sports and the 2014 Winter Olympic Games Bid pan-nationally with great enthusiasm. This is because the Internet supporters' group was formed with the spontaneous participation of the people who love winter sports and they can do much to publicize the activities of the 2014 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games as well as the national interest in winter sports. Q: Then, what is PyeongChang's vision for popularizing winter sports in Asia A: By attracting the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in PyeongChang, we judge that this would give important momentum by which winter sports can be popularized across the whole of Asia. In the meantime, the only winter sports hotbeds in Asia are in Japan and Korea. Gangwon Province will use a variety of media at home and abroad to publicize its bid and its facilities as well as generate pan-national enthusiasm for our bid, thereby boosting awareness of our province and capabilities, as well as confidence in Gangwon on the part of the international sporting world. Q: As part of your efforts to consolidate PyeongChang's support base to bid for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games, we understand that Gangwon Province plans to launch the 'Dream Program'. Could you explain what this is and how it would help you A: The goal of 'Dream Program' is to allow young boys and girls from each nation in the world where winter sports are not developed, to experience winter sports and to promote cultural exchange and international friendship. The Dream Program will operate over 7 years from 2004 through 2010 as 100-200 players as well as coaches from 20-40 countries every year are trained free of charge in 6 sports such as alpine and cross country skiing, snowboarding, speed skating, short track, and figure skating. Gangwon Province has already fixed 15 international matches under the program. Q: How are the plans proceeding to enhance Gangwon's Winter Olympic Sports Ground facilities, the local road system to improve traffic flows as well as accommodations for visitors A: Thirteen sports facilities will be built and 5 existing ones will be expanded. Our expansion plan includes the Alpensia complex, a resort, tourism and leisure facility, a new skiing slope for downhill racing, figure skating rink, short track rink, and ice hockey rink, plus an arena for free style sports. The plan to upgrade the traffic system for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games will proceed on the basis of the fourth edition of the Multiple Purpose Land Development plan.