Slovenian House in Pyeongchang to promote sport and business
Ljubljana, 10 November - The Slovenian House at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, will be not only a place of sport but will also promote Slovenian economy and tourism, representatives of the Slovenian Olympic Committee (OKS) announced as the project was presented in Ljubljana on Friday.
According to OKS secretary general Blaž Perko and financial and marketing manager Matic Švab, socialising will be the common thread of the project.
The house will be hosting athletes and representatives of national teams and Olympic committees, business executives and sponsors, while Slovenian fans who want to feel like home in South Korea are also welcome.
"Also expected in the Slovenian House are senior representatives of the state, and we will also be looking to host an international meeting of Olympians, possibly also the IOC president", said Perko.
"The hosts of future Olympic games are also to be invited," he said, adding that the house would hopefully also host a meeting with the officials who will be deciding on the world championship bid of the Planica Nordic Centre.
The house will be headed by former Olympian Peter Dokl, who said that "we wanted that it to represent Slovenia, our culture and hospitality", adding that in addition to athletes, it would also host press conferences and receptions.
The house will be located in a golf club in the Alpensia ski resort near the Olympic Village and the venues for ski jumps, biathlon, cross-country skiing and technical Alpine skiing disciplines.
The organisers believe that the location for the project worth EUR 250,000 was perfect as similar facilities of winter sports powerhouses Austria, Switzerland, Italy and Germany are in the vicinity.
The house resembling a kozolec, the traditional Slovenian hayrack, will also host presentations of Slovenian tourism, culinary events and the studio of public broadcaster RTV Slovenija.
OKS regrettably noted that Slovenia did not have its official house at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, where the country won eight medals, adding that they would hopefully make up for it in February 2018 in Pyeongchang.