Sports

Rogge wraps up 1st trip to Pyeongchang with praise

February 1, 2013 | Modified: February 1, 2013 at 7:46 am
Leave a comment

International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge speaks during a press conference in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Feb. 1, 2013. Rogge arrived in South Korea on Wednesday for a four-day visit to inspect ongoing preparations for the 2018 Pyeong Chang Olympic Winter Games in the South Korean alpine city. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — IOC President Jacques Rogge has wrapped up his first visit to Pyeongchang with praise for the host of the 2018 Winter Olympics.

Rogge said Friday in Seoul that Pyeongchang has state-of-the-art facilities and will grow into a hub for winter sports in Asia.

Rogge visited Pyeongchang and its co-host city of Gangneung after arriving in South Korea on Wednesday.

Pyeongchang, located in the mountains east of Seoul, defeated Munich and Annecy, France, in the IOC vote in 2011. It is currently hosting the Special Olympics for the intellectually disabled.

Seoul hosted the Summer Olympics in 1988.