- Date
- 07 Aug 2016
- Tags
- RIO 2016 , PyeongChang 2018 , IOC News
PyeongChang 2018 brings a bit of winter to sunny Copacabana
The PyeongChang 2018 House has officially opened in Rio de Janeiro, giving visitors to the Olympic Games Rio 2016 a preview of the next big global sporting event.
Located on world-famous Copacabana Beach, the interactive hospitality centre features exhibits on Olympic winter sports and offers guests an opportunity to experience ski jumping in a virtual reality simulator. Visitors can also sample Korean food and learn about Korean culture.
“As the world enjoys the Olympic Games Rio 2016 over the next two weeks, the PyeongChang House serves as a welcoming reminder of more good things to come,” IOC Executive Board Member Gunilla Lindberg, the Chair of the Coordination Commission for PyeongChang 2018, said at the opening ceremony on Saturday.
Noting that the PyeongChang Games are now just over 550 days away, she added, “Thanks to this facility, we do not have to wait that long to get a sampling of the Olympic Winter Games 2018.”
The Honourable Jong-deok Kim, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism for the Republic of Korea, said the Games in PyeongChang and Rio de Janeiro will build a bridge between two countries on opposite sides of the earth.
“That is possible since the Olympic Games are the very festival where people across the globe meet and build friendship regardless of distance between countries, location, religion or race,” the Minister said.
In welcoming guests to the PyeongChang House, PyeongChang 2018 President Hee-beom Lee offered special greetings for representatives from Rio 2016.
“The slogan of Rio 2016 is a New World — “Um mundo novo.” I would like to ask for your strong support so that we can create a new world in Rio and open up a new horizon through the Olympics,” he said.
The PyeongChang House will be open to the public through the end of the Rio Games. In additional, a mobile version will travel throughout Brazil and to neighbouring countries in South America.
