From PyeongChang 2018

PYEONGCHANG, June 20, 2011 - The PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Bid Committee has received new messages of support from Korea’s religious community. 

The Korean Buddhist Jokye Order held a grand Buddhist service at the Taeneung National Training Center which was attended by 1,500 Buddhist civilians and athletes. Also present at the service was monk Ja-seung, Executive Chief of the Jokye Order, and a high level government delegation including Byoung-gug Choung, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Gangwon Province governor Moonsoon Choi. The service was dedicated to supporting the PyeongChang 2018 bid as the campaign enters the final stage leading up to the IOC Session in Durban in July.  

In addition to the Jokye Order service, Woljeong-sa, a thousand-year old Buddhist temple situated in PyeongChang, has started four daily prayer sessions to give local people the opportunity to offer their best wishes to the bid. 

The Gangwon Christian Association also hosted a torch prayer service to show support for PyeongChang 2018. Christians from 2,000 churches within Gangwon Province gathered in Chuncheon for the service. Prior to this special service taking place, the Association has been hosting early-morning prayer sessions every day since 28 May for people to express their well wishes for the bid. 

Yang Ho Cho, PyeongChang 2018 Chairman and CEO, said: “We are very grateful for the amazing support that people all over Korea, and from every community, have offered this bid. A Winter Games in PyeongChang will be for everyone and it would be an honour for us to welcome the world to South Korea in 2018.”