By Yoon Sojung

The torch relay for the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games began on Oct. 24, as the Olympic flame was lit at the Temple of Hera in Olympia, Greece.

Due to rainy weather, the torch was lit from a frame that was used in the previous day’s rehearsals. Taking the role of high priestess, Greek actress Katerina Lehou lit the torch for the first torch bearer, Greek cross-country skier Apostolos Angelis. Angelis jogged outside the temple and passed the flame to the first Korean runner, former national soccer player Park Ji-sung.

As one of the leading Korean soccer players and as a PR ambassador for the upcoming Winter Olympics, Park jogged briskly for about 300 meters while holding the torch that will shine above Pyeongchang.

President Lee Hee-beom of the PyeongChang Organizing Committee for the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic said, “Today’s torch lighting ceremony is the official start of the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.”

“PyeongChang 2018 will be the event that lets the world know that the Republic of Korea is a safe country and that we respect peace,” he said.




The torch will be carried by 505 runners for one week across Greece, including to some well-known historical sites. After that, it will arrive at Incheon International Airport on Nov. 1.

Given the theme this year of “Let everyone shine,” the Olympic flame will be carried by 7,500 people, representing the 7.5 million joint-population of both South and North Korea. They will run a total of 2,018 kilometers across Korea.

arete@korea.kr