By Duncan Mackay

Pyeongchang 2018 have continued preparations with the appointment of several key figures ©Pyeongchang 2018April 18 - Pyeongchang 2018 has accelerated its planning for the next Winter Olympics and Paralympics by appointing three new vice-presidents who will oversee three major divisions, Games planning, Games operations and Games facilities.


The new vice-president of Games planning and administration is Young-jin Kwak, former Vice-Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism and a former academic who is a member for the jury for the UNESCO International Literacy Prizes.

He will oversee planning, general affairs, human resoruces, finance, marketing, public relations, media and culture.

Young-jin Kwak was involved in Pyeongchang's successful bid to host the 2018 Winter Olympics and Paralympics as South Korea's former Vice Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism ©UNESCOYoung-jin Kwak was involved in Pyeongchang's successful bid to host the 2018 Winter Olympics and Paralympics as South Korea's former Vice Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism ©UNESCO

Dong-hoo Moon has been moved from being the secretary-general of the Organising Committee to become vice-president of Games operations, an area that will involve him looking after sports, National Olympic Committees and National Paralympic Committees services, media operations, international relations and protocol.

Moon had been the secretary-general and vice-president of the Organising Committee which hosted the successful 2011 International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Word Championships in Daegu. 

Dong-hoo Moon was credited with the success of the 2011 IAAF World Championships in Daegu ©Daegu 2011Dong-hoo Moon was credited with the success of the 2011 IAAF World Championships in Daegu having worked as secretary-general and vice-president  ©Daegu 2011

Former Vice- Governor of Gangwon Province, Sang-pyo Kim, meanwhile, has been named vice-president of Games facilities

Kim will be responsible for various infrastructure projects including competition venues and accommodation, as well as technology-related matters, including IT and telecommunication.

The appointments came in effect following the approval by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

A special, seven-member nomination panel had recommended five candidates, and the official selection process picked two finalists who were then confirmed by the Pyeongchang 2018 Executive Board and the General Assembly.

The appointments come just a few days before the next International Olympic Committee Coordination Commission, chaired by Sweden's Gunilla Lindberg, is due to start its third three-day visit on April 29 to inspect Pyeongchang 2018 preparations. 

It is the Coordination Commission's first visit since the end of Sochi 2014. 

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