Busan is good

Busan to Declare Olympic Bid

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The Busan Metropolitan Government will officially announce its bid to host the 2020 Summer Olympic Games, becoming the latest among Korean cities to jump in a shopping spree of international sporting events.

In an event at the Busan City Hall today headed by Mayor Hur Nam-sik and other high-profile politicians and sports figures, the city will officially declare its bid to bring the Olympic Games to the country's southernmost port city and request for government support.

The Korea Culture and Tourism Institute (KCTI) is currently conducting a feasibility study over the city's potential hosting of an Olympic tournament. Busan announced its initiatives to host the Olympics in 2005 and has recently been accelerating its moves with the Gangwon-do ski resort of PyeongChang declaring it would submit its third Winter Olympics bid for the 2018 Games after losing to Vancouver and Sochi on consecutive tries.

Busan's announcement will certainly add to its touchy relationship with PyeongChang, with both sides believing that divided government support will weaken their chances for the respective bids.

Should the government approve its bid, Busan should expect a tough competition from other cities, including major contenders from Asia. India has already declared that New Delhi will bid for the rights to host the 2020 Games, and it is speculated that Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and Taipei will enter the race as well.

Cape Town is also expected to be a contender and Copenhagen, Istanbul, Rome, Prague and St. Petersburg could also come out from Europe. Boston and Toronto may apply for the bid from North America, while Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aries could represent South America.

The Source of News : The Korea Times (January 15, 2008)