Who Do You Think Will Win 2014?

[coth]

i would not say that korean have more money than russia.

[baron-pierreIV]

i would not say that korean have more money than russia.

OK, whatever...

[Fox334]

i would not say that korean have more money than russia.

Actualy South Korea's GPD is 793,070 million USD and Russia's GPD is 766,180 million USD. Aditionaly, S. Korea GPD per Capita is $20,590 while Russia's is $11,041. So Koreans inded have more money that Russians.

But anyway, this isin't realy important anyway. The point (and I tink it is a bit Baron's point, to) is that S. Korea want the games, and they want it badly. They are douing absolutely everyting they can possibly do to get the games, while Austrians seem not to care that much...

[arwebb]

This is PyeongChang's last realistic chance, so of course they'll pulling all the stops out.

[Guest ryan04]

This is PyeongChang's last realistic chance, so of course they'll pulling all the stops out.

How is this their last chance?

[Athensfan]

How is this their last chance?

It's not.

[coth]

Actualy South Korea's GPD is 793,070 million USD and Russia's GPD is 766,180 million USD. Aditionaly, S. Korea GPD per Capita is $20,590 while Russia's is $11,041. So Koreans inded have more money that Russians.

But anyway, this isin't realy important anyway. The point (and I tink it is a bit Baron's point, to) is that S. Korea want the games, and they want it badly. They are douing absolutely everyting they can possibly do to get the games, while Austrians seem not to care that much...

Purchasing power is matter in this way and amount of money in the country. Not GDP per capita.

[Rei]

Salzburg, among the 3, would be the best host for a classic winter olympiad for sport tradition, background and culture..

Pyeongchang bid look nearly perfect but I wouldn't see a Nagano replica with these artificial atmosphere.. I mean a boring asian metropoli which back to silence after the party

Sochi doesn' thrill me so much considering also that a sea resort hosting the winters doesn't sound good.

[Andrew8]

Salzburg, among the 3, would be the best host for a classic winter olympiad for sport tradition, background and culture..

Pyeongchang bid look nearly perfect but I wouldn't see a Nagano replica with these artificial atmosphere.. I mean a boring asian metropoli which back to silence after the party

Sochi doesn' thrill me so much considering also that a sea resort hosting the winters doesn't sound good.

I think you need to define "Artificial Atmosphere" more clearly...

And I too hope PyeongChang does not replicate what Nagano did because Korean culture is very different from Japanese culture. If you were properly introduced to Asian culture, I believe you will be fascinated by it.

[Rei]

I think you need to define "Artificial Atmosphere" more clearly...

And I too hope PyeongChang does not replicate what Nagano did because Korean culture is very different from Japanese culture. If you were properly introduced to Asian culture, I believe you will be fascinated by it.

you're right. I wouldn't be misunderstood I have no preclusion about he great asian cultures.. I was referred about some specific boring cities like Nagano..

I don't know Pyeongchang but I hope you could help me to discover it

may be wrong but I still think that the best place to host the winter games are the Alpine regions, Canada, Scandinavia and the US.. sorry but asian winter hosts doesn't appeal to me.

[Andrew8]

I guess, I kinda grasp what you mean by "artificial atmosphere" now that you explained it...

Basically, I do agree with you that European and North American mountains do paint an ideal picture for a beautiful Winter Olympic.

But at the same time, I believe the media has to be held accountable for not showing the beauty of the mountains in the Orient. In fact, I remember some people asking "Korea gets snow?" "They have ski resorts?"..... I guess you can say this is a type of stereotype that people make because of influence from the media (sorry, I'm a Law/Political Science major so I talk about boring stuff like this)

I guess it depends on each individual taste.... For me, personally, the Alps and the Rockys are majestic and huge. The mountains in East Asia are feminine and artistic.... Hard to explain with words but I'll show it to you with pictures....

ALPS

Mountains in PyeongChang

[Fox334]

I get wath you mean. But stil, when it comes to Alpine Skiing, South Korea just can't rival the Alps, Banff, Whistler, Lack Tahoe, Aspen or the Pyrenes.

Not to say PC can't host, just that purely for Alpine Skiing, its far from the best possible host.And I get wath you mean about South-Asian mountains being artistic.

[Sir Rols]

As much as I really like Salzburg, and love the idea of Russian-Black Sea games, pragmatically I'm behind Pyeonchang for two main reasons:

* A PC win will open up 2018 as a battle of Europe, and with luck Sweden will show some thusiasm for bidding again;

* And I'd like to see a smaller town triumph again to prove the WOG haven't outgrown them and moved onto the big anchor cities. The recent trend towards regional WOGs is all very well, but it would be nice to see a more compact games ahead.

I think I can see what Rei means, it's true that winter sports culture is not as big outside Europe/Nth America. But Korea is building up some good success in winter competitions _ a games could only be a big bost to this trend!

[Gangwon]

may be wrong but I still think that the best place to host the winter games are the Alpine regions, Canada, Scandinavia and the US.. sorry but asian winter hosts doesn't appeal to me.

One of the reasons you might feel this way is because you associate winter sports more with Europe and NA more than with Asia. Not just you, but everyone, including me. This is understandable when winter sports have been a part of Euro and NA culture for a century, and probably even more.

This may very well be another reason for PyeongChang to host. The Winter Games has the potential to leave a far bigger legacy in Korea than in Austria. Austria's had the Winter Games in '64 and '76. They are about as developed in winter sports infrastructure as they will ever get. How many more times do they need to host? Not just Austria, but in a broader sense, how many times do the Winter Games have to rotate between North America and Europe before a deserving bid from outside this region can have a chance?

I may be biased but Korea as a winter host would greatly appeal to me. It's different from Japanese culture (thus different from Sapporo 72 and Nagano 98) and this is something the sporting world would see if Korea gets the games.

[baron-pierreIV]

The Winter Games has the potential to leave a far bigger legacy in Korea than in Austria. Austria's had the Winter Games in '64 and '76. They are about as developed in winter sports infrastructure as they will ever get. How many more times do they need to host?

That alone is the winning argument, Gangwon.

[SochiFan]

That alone is the winning argument, Gangwon.

Which can also be appllied to Russia which has never hosted the Winter Olympic Games and requires infrastructure

[baron-pierreIV]

Which can also be appllied to Russia which has never hosted the Winter Olympic Games and requires infrastructure

Except this is your first stab at it. I believe PC is farther along in terms of staging it tomorrow, if need be.

[Gangwon]

Which can also be appllied to Russia which has never hosted the Winter Olympic Games and requires infrastructure

That's true. I'm not too familiar with Sochi, other than what I've seen in photos. There's something about palm trees and bobsleds that don't seem quite right. It's a beautiful city, but what's the weather like in February?

At any rate, I think somewhere in Russia should get the winter games...when it's Europe's turn.

[verict]

I get wath you mean. But stil, when it comes to Alpine Skiing, South Korea just can't rival the Alps, Banff, Whistler, Lack Tahoe, Aspen or the Pyrenes.

Not to say PC can't host, just that purely for Alpine Skiing, its far from the best possible host.And I get wath you mean about South-Asian mountains being artistic.

sorry i just had to point this out.

South Korea is in Northeast Asia, not South Asia. South Asia refers the Indian subcontinent, Southeast asia would indochina peninsula (vietnam/thailand/cambodia/laos/singapore/etc)

Northeast asia usually refers to the koreas/japan/northeastern part of china and sometimes taiwan. It the largest continent on earth, saying pyeongchang is in south asia is like saying New York City is in Arizona.

[Fox334]

Ya, my mistake.

[jawnbc]

I think the days of the IOC awarding OG to cities/nations without a great deal of facilities either already built or committed to being built regardless are long behind us. There's too much of Sochi that needs to be created to make it competitive with Salzburg and Pyeonchang. This time.

Salzburg would do a fine job; I don't think anyone doubts that. And everyone loves winter sports in Austria--again, no doubts there. But there's nothing new, compelling or entrancing about their plans. Their bid boils down to: we do Winter sports better than most, and could host the OWG in our sleep.

Pyeongchang is hungry for the Games. They mounted a great bid last time and have only strengthened it with subsequent infrastructure development. And they've got the PRK on board to quasi-host an united Korean games. They are so clearly keen. Hosting the Games would clearly be considered an honour.

Unless something derails them, I think it's Pyeongchang on the first ballot. Or, Salzburg gets dumped on the first and then Pyeonchang wins in a walk. Sochi can have 2018, assuming the Norwegians or Swedes don't come up with something amazing.

How about Queenstown 2022?

[SochiFan]

I think the days of the IOC awarding OG to cities/nations without a great deal of facilities either already built or committed to being built regardless are long behind us. There's too much of Sochi that needs to be created to make it competitive with Salzburg and Pyeonchang. This time.

I take this point and understand that this type of bid requires more confidence in a country to deliver.

You may be interested to know that 12bn USD is already committed to upgrading region of which the Olypic bid is just a part, so it is committed to being built

[Guardian]

That is why I like Sochi's and PyeongChang's chances more than Salzburg. Sure, Austria is more than capable to host the Olympic Winter Games, when it hosted 1964 and became a back-up host for 1976 (when Denver decided to withdraw to becoming a host city). However, if either candidate city mentioned here wins next year, it will be the first time a NEW host NATION gets to host the Olympic Winter Games since Canada got its first Olympic Winter Games in 1988. I can't believe it has been that long since a new nation got a shot in getting that honor so far.

[Goodwin]

Russian Olympic Song - Sochi 2014!! In execution(performance) of all Russian stars.

www.sochi2014.com

[baron-pierreIV]

Unfortunately for Sochi, the IOC remembers and more often than not REWARDS previous excellent bids that didn't quite make it.