The government said Friday that it will complete construction on six new stadiums for the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics by the end of 2017.
 
The new venues, including the Alpensia Sliding Centre—an alpine slope in Jeongseon—and an ice hockey stadium in Gangneung, are only at 17 to 25 percent complete. With Saturday starting a thousand-day countdown to the opening of the 2018 Winter Games, concerns have been raised that the venues may not be completed on time. 
 
The construction costs have been set at more than 800 billion won, higher than the government's initial estimate of 760 billion won.
 
The Pyeongchang organizing committee has secured 362 billion won worth sponsorship from seven local companies so far, including Samsung, Korean Air, KT and the law firm of Bae, Kim & Lee.
 
The construction of the athletes’ village, which will be funded from the private sector, will begin in July.