The days pass, the temperatures drop and the Olympic flame slowly discovers the South Korean countryside. But nothing happens. 92 days before the opening of the PyeongChang 2018 Games, the ticket office still shows a desperate apathy. According to the latest official communication, the number of tickets sold for the Olympic events is slowly exceeding the 30% mark.
In South Korea, the speech is intended to be confident. At least in appearance. Elsewhere too. Asked by FrancsJeux, Gianfranco Kasper (photo below), president of the International Ski Federation (FIS) and historic member of the IOC, is careful not to sound the alarm. Few spectators? It doesn’t matter, confides the Swiss. According to him, the main thing is elsewhere.
FrancsJeux: The ticketing figures for the next Winter Games are proving to be historically low. Does this worry you?
Gianfranco Kasper: No way. I'll tell you the truth: I don't expect too many spectators at the PyeongChang 2018 Games. The current political crisis in the region does not encourage Europeans to go to South Korea. I hope the Koreans will come to watch the competitions, but I think they will rather attend the disciplines where they can shine, like skating. For skiing, don't expect a lot of people.
As president of the FIS, how do you view such a perspective?
It will not change the competition. In my eyes, this is the most important. I remember a snowboard world championship in South Korea (in 2009 in Gangwon, editor's note), where there were three of us in the finish area. The South Koreans will perhaps find solutions, they will bring in the schools. But for Europeans, you don't have to wait for the big crowds.
Doesn’t such a situation risk harming the development of skiing?
No. The public is not everything. Of course, there may not be very many of them in the arrival areas, but development mainly comes through television. And there, all the signals are green. The organizers did an excellent job. They are ready. And even more than ready. Several of our technicians at the FIS went there a few weeks ago. They came back very happy. I am very optimistic. Now, as always, we depend on the weather. Now the snow must start to fall.
You mention the political situation as an unfavorable factor for the Games…
The political situation doesn't interest me. I'm like many Koreans, I don't pay attention to it. As for the question of security, it does not concern me anymore. During the Winter Games, PyeongChang will be the safest place in the world.
