(SP) – Not long ago the sights and sounds of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics filled the televisions around the world. But now that the Games are over, many of the dozens of expensive venues built for the two-week event have fallen into disuse and disarray.
”We do regret how quickly the facilities have deteriorated,” admitted Lee Hee-beom, president of the 2018 Games. “We had good intentions to use the facilities after the Games, but within minutes of the Olympic flame going out, roofs were falling off and the entire ski jump was covered by towering, 60-foot trees. I’ve never seen anything like it. Nature is amazing.”
PyeongChang organizers have received harsh rebukes from many in South Korea over the millions of dollars that were spent for just two weeks of competition.
“I wanted to have my daughter learn to skate where the ice skaters competed,” said one South Korean mother today. “But I took her to the arena today and it was nothing but an old, rusty merry-go-round and a swing set that was grown over by grass and had a hornet’s nest under the swing seat. There’s almost no sign that a high-level sports competition was held here not so long ago. In fact, less than 24 hours ago.”
There is some talk about investing in a clean up and restoration program to bring the 2018 PyeongChang venues back to their former glory, but it is not expected to receive much support.
“Now that the Olympics are over, most people have moved on,” said Hee-beom. “It’s hard to believe that not long ago, people were interested in that thing where they slide a big iron on ice and then yell at it while doing housework. Crazy. No one will want to pay for that now.”
