Pyeongchang Announces Sustainability Partners
PyeongChang 2018 has announced the Coca-Cola Corporation and KT Corporation as their first sustainability partners with just over 200 days to go until the Games begin.
As part of the sustainability element of the partnerships, Coca-Cola, the longest continuous sponsor of the Olympic Games since 1928, is undertaking a water-quality project in the PyeongChang area, while local telecommunications partner KT is aiming to provide IT services to help improve the environment and tourism readiness of the province.
Yeo Hyung-koo, secretary general of the PyeongChang Organizing Committee for the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Games (POCOG), said: “The environment and sustainability have been two key issues at the heart of our plans and proposals for the winter games. We are delighted to announce our first sustainability partners today who are working closely with us on these environmental projects to support and benefit not only those coming to the games, but also those in the local area that will see the benefits for years to come.”
The Coca-Cola environmental initiative will install water detention systems that will ensure a consistent level of water reserve to prevent dry soil in the warmer months to provide a habitat for wildlife and aid biodiversity improvement in the area.
KT was announced as POCOG’s first local marketing partner back in 2014 to provide telecommunications services for the games including wireless communications, broadcasting facilities and other technology-based infrastructure. They will help create the first ever 5G Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
As part of the brand’s sustainability initiatives, they will also be introducing IT services to the Uiyaji Wind Village which will connect a rural area with the rest of the world for the first time, helping to grow their tourism and in turn the wider local economy.
Meanwhile, PyeongChang 2018 is the first Winter Games to receive the ISO 20121 certification for its sustainability efforts and goal to be a zero carbon emissions games. The sustainability website was launched earlier this month as a platform to showcase the importance of the games’ social responsibility throughout all stages of preparations and operations.
