Gangneung, The 2018 Winter Olympics Winner

Jul 06, 2011 1 Comment by
While the logo will say PyeongChang, Korea, the real winner of today’s 2018 Winter Olympics announcement is Gangneung (one of its historic sites is pictured left), a pleasant city of 250,000 on Korea’s east coast.

The IOC’s decision to rewards PyeongChang the 2018 Games was a smart one for a host of reasons:  geopolitical, environmental, and yes, sentimental.  But while Gangwon Province and Yeongdong County (where PyeongChang is located) offer stunning Alpine scenery, the real treasure will be Gangneung, where marquee events like ice hockey and figure skating will reign.

Korea’s east coast is a well kept travel secret.  While Korea’s capital, Seoul, is a guilty pleasure full of 10 million-plus gregarious people, the East Sea offers a welcome contrast.  In one day, visitors can hike steep mountains, relax at the beach, wander through timeless religious and historic sites, and enjoy fresh fish and local vegetables.  Stuffed and grilled local squid is a favorite.

For Gangneung (which was often spelled as Kangneung, Kangnung, or the unfortunate Gangrene), its citizens have a spectacular opportunity during the PyeongChang Olympics to show that Korea is far more than Seoul.

Besides my personal feeling about Korea (I had lived there for over 3 years), the 2018 Winter Olympic Games promise to be a showcase for environmental stewardship and compact design.  Korea often overlooked sustainability-related issues and its people’s quality of life while the country industrialized.  Now that Korea has become one of the world’s mightiest economic powers, the country is turning inwards and working to provide citizens green space, cleaner air, healthier food, and even more seamless transport options.  Let’s hope the 2018 games leaves a healthy legacy of improved infrastructure and open space in Gangneung--its friendly residents deserve the opportunity to prove that Korea’s east coast is well worth a short rail ride from Seoul.

air - land - quality of life, art and culture, International, Top Stories of 2012

About the author

Leon Kaye is the founder and editor of GreenGoPost.com and its advisory division, GGP Media. Contact him to discuss how he can work with your organization or event. His focus is making the business case for sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR). He writes for San Francisco-based Triple Pundit, Inhabitat and now The Guardian, for which he writes about waste, water, and green building. He has also written for AIA's Architect Magazine. Leon lives in Los Angeles, and when he has free time, he enjoys hiking, gardening, cooking, weightlifting, and planning his next trip to one of the 50+ countries he has visited. He has an MBA from USC's Marshall School of Business and is also a proud graduate of the University of Maryland-Baltimore County (UMBC) and Cal State-Fresno.

One Response to “Gangneung, The 2018 Winter Olympics Winner”

  1. McDonald’s Exempt From Sustainable Food Sourcing at London Olympics says:

    [...] Overall, what London 2012 has accomplished so far is impressive and will set the bar high for future events.Perhaps Rio 2016 can promise to source chicken from the United Kingdom.Leon Kaye is a freelance [...]

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