Olympic Body in Drive to Curb Venue-Building Frenzy

Thomas Bach

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach has flagged the possibility of cutting costs for hosting the Games by using existing venues, in neighboring countries if need be, rather than building new ones.

"There of course can also be venue changes being discussed if such venue changes lead to more sustainability and to less expenses," Bach told reporters on Saturday after an IOC executive committee meeting in Monaco.

He said if proposed changes known as Agenda 2020 are approved and more flexibility becomes possible, "then we will start the implementation for this right after the approval."

Korea could also be affected. "There will be project reviews in both organizing cities (Tokyo and Pyeongchang) in January and February to follow up on this and see what the Olympic Agenda 2020 means for their organization of the Games," Bach added.

Agenda 2020 includes 40 recommendations aimed at improving the way the Olympics are hosted. Media quoted an unnamed IOC official as saying there is a possibility of the bobsleigh, luge and skeleton events being held at existing sports facilities in other countries.

Officials in the government and the organizing committee for the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang said the changes would be "difficult to accept" since construction has already begun and the public might be against it. But they added the IOC seems very insistent.

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Uproar at Jeju Plans to Let Chinese Tourists Drive

Jeju Island plans to lift restrictions on Chinese tourists driving rental cars on the scenic resort in an effort to boost visitor numbers, but critics say that would be irresponsible and endanger traffic safety.

The Jeju provincial government said Tuesday that a special bill that will allow short-term Chinese visitors to drive on the resort island was given the green light in a Cabinet meeting.

Not everyone can simply drive a car here. Korea has agreements with the U.S., Japan and other countries allowing their citizens to drive rental cars, but no such pact has been signed with China, where road safety is not of the highest standard, so Chinese tourists on a 90-day visa are not allowed to drive here.

Cho Sang-bum, a Jeju government official, said, "Rental car companies must sign up for comprehensive insurance, and Chinese tourists who drive will be required to pay a deposit to be returned two months after their departure in case they break any traffic laws."

But critics point out that car accidents on Jeju Island involving rental cars are on the increase, rising from 233 with six dead and 449 injured in 2010 to 394 with 14 dead and 638 injured in 2013.

An official at the Jeju branch of the Korea Road Traffic Authority said, "China is notorious for traffic accidents. There's one every four minutes, and an average of 160 people get killed driving every day."

The official warned the Jeju provincial government not to rush the decision. "We also need to set up more sign posts in foreign languages, safety facilities and other infrastructure before allowing Chinese visitors to drive," he said.

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