| PyeongChang is rapidly rising as the likely | | | | bid after the scandal was made public. Ironically, |
| candidate for the 2014 bid. Partly it's because | | | | the very fact that Salzburg has hosted Olympics |
| Pyeong Chang is well financed with no doping | | | | twice goes against it. The competitors are in |
| scandal(Salzburg) and with no risk of terrorism or | | | | geographical zones that have not hosted them |
| bad infrastructure(Sochi). Korea ( ) proved it's | | | | before perhaps can argue for diversity and |
| mettle in the winter games and is the favorite to | | | | opportunity for others. Finally, Mr. Radmann who |
| win. PyeongChang is already prequalified, given it's | | | | was very connected with the IOC has recently |
| strong performance in 2010 Winter Olympics | | | | resigned. This is considered a set back for the |
| selection process, where it lost by the narrowest | | | | Olympic bid of Salzburg. |
| of margins. The trainers, staff and athletes from | | | | Sochi: |
| 31 countries were impressed by the facilities | | | | Sochi, an underdog in the beginning of the race |
| during the 2007 PyeongChang InterSki Congress. | | | | made it to the short list, thanks to the public |
| Another factor that helps Pyeong Chang's case is | | | | relationing of President Putin. To Sochi's credit, it is |
| that this would be the first ever Winter Olympics | | | | very well financed, given Russia's wish to display |
| in continental Asia, and would promote diversity | | | | it's newly found oil wealth. However, there are |
| and opportunity in the Winter Olympics. In a | | | | reasons why it was an underdog to begin with, |
| continent housing half the world's population, Asia | | | | and no amount of spin will make these reasons |
| has lagged behind in Winter Olympic participation. | | | | go away. Sochi is wracked by power failures. |
| Korea's nomination should raise the interest in | | | | There were 2 black outs two weeks before |
| winter sports in this under represented continent. | | | | IOC's review of the city. These were dismissed |
| The factor that stacks the cards in | | | | by their officials as "happens every year". As if |
| PyeongChang's favor is the possibility of North | | | | this improves matters! There is a lack of modern |
| and South Korea competing jointly if | | | | infrastructure in the Krasnador region. It may |
| PyeongChang gets the nomination. This "Peace | | | | have been a fancy resort in Soviet times(by |
| and Harmony" games would be great emotional | | | | Soviet standards), but it just doesn't compare to |
| importance to the Koreans, and may very well | | | | the standards expected in the 21 st century. |
| bring about regional peace. | | | | Sochi just does not have the track record |
| Salzburg: | | | | PyeongChang has, of hosting international meets |
| Salzburg was the favorite, given it's past status | | | | year after year since 1997. The Sochi region is an |
| as a venue for winter Olympics as well as due to | | | | ecological basket case already due to over |
| the dynamic personality of Radmann who headed | | | | exploitation. Making Sochi ready for Winter |
| the bid committee. It was thought that Salzburg's | | | | Olympics will entail tearing down national forest |
| "Olympic Tradition" alone will allow it to win | | | | and exacerbating the situation. Sochi's bid is being |
| nomination. However, a few factors have since | | | | actively slammed by environmental groups-a fact |
| changed the dynamics. First of all, Salzburg just | | | | not lost on the IOC. Furthermore, Sochi is |
| doesn't have the financial muscle to compete with | | | | uncomfortably close to Georgia, Abkhazia and |
| its well financed rivals. This is a very important | | | | Chechnya. The last thing the IOC will want is |
| consideration, given the facilities that are expected | | | | proximity to terrorist trouble. The IOC will have to |
| by the athletes as well as guests in 2014. The | | | | assess risks of an area 7 years in the future, |
| doping scandal surrounding Austria's team also had | | | | when today the security situation is dicey. While |
| a very negative effect on it's bid. Mr. Dick Pound, | | | | it's true that things can become better, but it can |
| who is the chairman of World Anti-Doping | | | | be argued that the situation can very well |
| Agency(and just as importantly a senior member | | | | become worse. |
| of IOC) seems to have a dim view of Austrian | | | | |