PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games Inspection Report [Part 2]: 2020 Has Already Begun!
I am Tanimura from the President’s Office.
In this post, I will introduce the core details of our inspection!
Now, the first destination we managed to reach—thanks to sheer determination and a translation app—was the Media Center located within the Olympic Village. News agencies and newspapers from around the world gathered here to provide real-time coverage of the Games.
We were granted access to the booth of Getty Images, the world’s largest photo agency and the official photo agency of the IOC (International Olympic Committee) and IPC (International Paralympic Committee). It is said that they will take approximately 100 million photos throughout these Games. It takes only about two seconds from the moment a photographer presses the shutter on-site for the photo to reach the Media Center. From there, an editor selects the most suitable image, integrates it into an article, and distributes it to the world in as little as 90 seconds! We were able to catch a glimpse of a professional workspace filled with a sense of urgency.
Truly a professional workplace!
After leaving the Media Center, we inspected the pavilions set up independently by various countries. As if to blow away the cold of PyeongChang, every pavilion was filled with incredible excitement inside. It seems to be a universal truth that athletes and VIPs from all nations enjoy a place where they can relax and have fun.
There were many moments where I felt like joining in the excitement and having a beer.
We also stopped by Japan House. Our “Fried Egg President” was delighted to experience Japan’s world-class animation technology. This technology was truly magnificent.
The President is really getting into the spirit. Since it’s an animation, I thought about showing her face here… but due to some internal pressure, I will cover it with a fried egg.
At Japan House, we had a chance reunion with colleagues from different organizations who share the same aspirations!
We also visited stadiums and corporate promotion booths, racing all over PyeongChang. However, one feeling I couldn’t shake until the very end was that it could have been even more exciting… Both the city and the Olympic Village felt quieter than I had imagined.
Sparse crowds no matter where we took photos…
Looking toward 2020, we want to create even greater excitement in our city, Tokyo! I headed home with that thought in mind. Within SUNNY SIDE UP, those activities have already begun! In 2020, rather than viewing the Olympics simply as a sporting festival, SUNNY SIDE UP will work behind the scenes to build excitement through the power of PR, ensuring that all of Japan shines as a “showcase for the world.” I, too, will be running full speed through these next two years!
P.S. The Fried Egg President did not return to Japan but instead departed from South Korea for her next destination, Azerbaijan. She is just too tough. I will leave the report of that unusual journey to another team member. Please look forward to it!
