Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Winter Games evacuation plans



British Olympic Association preparing Winter Games evacuation plans in case of North Korea attack



 
Olympic mascots Soohorang (left) and Bandabi (right) at Gyeongpo beach in Pyeonchang Credit: Jeon Heon-Kyun /EPA 
Plans are being drawn up to evacuate British athletes from the Winter Olympics in the event of an attack on the Games by North Korea, the chief executive of British Olympic Association revealed on Wednesday.
Bill Sweeney confirmed the BOA was preparing for the worst-case scenario amid rising tensions between US president Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un over the latter’s growing nuclear arsenal and weapons tests.

Sweeney was confident the BOA would not have to implement its emergency plan during what will be the first Olympics held in South Korea since the 1988 Summer Games.
But he admitted evacuation plans would be drawn up as a precaution.
“We are working on all possible contingency plans,” he said. “The only one you have in the situation of the extreme event you mentioned is evacuation.
“We will go there with a clearly laid out evacuation plan if it is necessary. I don’t think it will be necessary. The health and welfare of the delegation is our number-one priority.”





Military parade in Pyongyang, North Korea - British Olympic Association preparing Winter Games evacuation plans in case of North Korea attack
 
Tensions have been mounting between North Korea and USA with only four months to go until the Winter Games begin  Credit: Wong Maye-E /AP
France’s sports minister last month warned its team for Pyeongchang 2018 would “stay at home" if their security could not be guaranteed at a ski resort town only 50 miles south of the heavily-armed North Korean border.


Sweeney said: “The South Koreans have lived with this for 60 years and tensions have gone up and down. There seems a higher level this time obviously.”
He added: “Clearly, there is an issue around the escalation of tensions between North and South Korea and the Americans.
“We talk to the Foreign Office and the embassy in South Korea on a weekly basis. We had conversations with them last week.”
The threat has not deterred families from cheering on the British team at the February 9-25 Games, according to British chef de mission Mike Hay.





Olympic flame ceremony - British Olympic Association preparing Winter Games evacuation plans in case of North Korea attack
 
On Tuesday the Olympic torch was lit at the site of Ancient Olympia to begin its journey to Pyeongchang, South Korea   Credit: AP 
He said: “That security question has come up and I think we have explained the situation and they are happy to register their interest in going.”
The BOA had similar evacuation plans in place for last year’s Olympics given the concerns about violence in Rio.
“I lost a lot more sleep going to Rio than Pyeongchang,” Sweeney said.
“The security threat in Rio was a lot more personal, a lot more unpredictable. We were prepared against any opportunity around mugging and crime and the violent nature of Rio.
“They are things that are difficult to manage. South Korea as a country is really safe and secure, probably one of the safest you can go into.”

Many ESC fans from all over the world are so very sad because we lost Joy Fleming - one of the best singers ever. 


Betty MacDonald fan club founder Wolfgang Hampel sings  'Try to remember' especially for Betty MacDonald fan club organizer Linde Lund at Vita Magica September

you can join 


Betty MacDonald fan club


Betty MacDonald Society  


Vita Magica  


Eurovision Song Contest Fan Club 




on Facebook



Vita Magica Betty MacDonald event with Wolfgang Hampel, Thomas Bödigheimer and Friedrich von Hoheneichen


Vita Magica 


Betty MacDonald 

Betty MacDonald fan club 


Betty MacDonald fan club on Facebook


Betty MacDonald forum  

Wolfgang Hampel - Wikipedia ( English ) 

Wolfgang Hampel - Wikipedia ( English ) - The Egg and I 


Wolfgang Hampel - Wikipedia ( Polski)   

Wolfgang Hampel - Wikipedia ( German )

Wolfgang Hampel - LinkFang ( German ) 

Wolfgang Hampel - Academic ( German )

Wolfgang Hampel -   

Wolfgang Hampel - DBpedia  ( English / German )

Wolfgang Hampel - people check ( English ) 

Wolfgang Hampel - Memim ( English )

Vashon Island - Wikipedia ( German )

Wolfgang Hampel - Monica Sone - Wikipedia ( English )

Wolfgang Hampel - Ma and Pa Kettle - Wikipedia ( English )

Wolfgang Hampel - Ma and Pa Kettle - Wikipedia ( French ) 


Wolfgang Hampel - Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle - Wikipedia ( English)

Wolfgang Hampel in Florida State University 

Betty MacDonald fan club founder Wolfgang Hampel 

Betty MacDonald fan club interviews on CD/DVD

Betty MacDonald fan club items 

Betty MacDonald fan club items  - comments

Betty MacDonald fan club - The Stove and I  

Betty MacDonald fan club groups 


Betty MacDonald fan club organizer Linde Lund  


Betty MacDonald fan club organizer Greta Larson