Pyeongchang bid pledges to respect IOC rules

Nov 4, 2010, 12:25 GMT

Seoul - South Korean officials pledged on Thursday to respect Olympic ethics rules after receiving a warning from the International Olympic Committee the previous day around Pyeongchang's bid for the 2018 Winter Games.

'Pyeongchang 2018 has always been and continues to remain committed complying with all IOC rules and regulations,' the bid committee said in a statement.

Pyeongchang bid chief Cho Yang Ho also adressed the IOC ethics commission in an email, pledging to work according to the rules.

The ethics committee issued the warning in connection with sponsorship deals of two South Korean companies with sports federations headed by IOC members, rowing federation chief Denis Oswald and skating boss Ottavio Cinquanta.

The IOC members elect the 2018 host city in July 2011, with Munich and Annecy the rivals of Pyeongchang.

The rowing federation has a deal with electronics giants Samsung and the IOC has said that Oswald will abstain from the vote to avoid a conflict of interest.

National carrier Korean Air, meanwhile, has agreed to delay its skating deal until after the host city election.

'We believe that this matter is now closed and we can all move forward into the next phase of the 2018 bid campaign,' said the bid committee.

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