Olympic Flame for PyeongChang 2018 Starts Journey on October 24

PyeongChang, April 17 – The PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Organizing Committee for the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (POCOG) announced its plan for the Olympic Torch Relay routes and the selection of Olympic torchbearers.

The slogan of the Olympic Torch Relay - ‘Let Everyone Shine’ - means the Olympic flame is never extinguished and sheds light on the dreams, passion, and future of everyone, anytime, and anywhere. It describes the Olympic Torch Relay of PyeongChang 2018, where light will shine on the potential of everyone and open new horizons.

Coinciding with 100 days to go on November 1st, and following the lighting of the flame in Olympia, Greece on October 24th, the torch will be handed over to the PyeongChang 2018 Organizing Committee on October 31st. The torch will travel to 17 metropolitan cities and provinces nationwide for 101 days, highlighting Korea’s leading IT technologies, traditional culture, and most spectacular sites to the world. The Olympic Torch will bring excitement to the whole country as communities come out to celebrate the special torchbearers that will carry the torch. The final torchbearer who will light the Olympic cauldron will only be revealed on February 9, the day of the opening ceremony for the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018, and the cauldron will shed light on the events of the XXIII Olympic Winter Games for 17 days.

There will be a total of 7,500 torchbearers with 2,018 supporting torchbearers (supporting torch bearers: security, assistant torchbearers for the physically impaired participants etc., to be recruited separately). During the torch relay period, fun events will be held in each city that welcomes the flame every evening of its journey.

POCOG President LEE Hee-beom said, "The PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Torch Relay will inspire a generation and bring people together from different cultures, races, and religions. As the torchbearers carry the torch for 101 days, we are confident that the flame will truly ‘Let Everyone Shine’ and spark passion and excitement before the Games."

Yuna Kim, PyeongChang 2018 Honorary Ambassador, also shared her experience as a torchbearer for Torino 2006 and Vancouver 2010 and mentioned, "It was a great honor to carry the Olympic torch for Torino 2006 and Vancouver 2010. It motivated me to work even harder towards winning a gold medal at the Olympic Winter Games. I am also excited and honored to take part in lighting the flame in Olympia Greece on October 24. I hope that many people can be a part of the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Torch Relay and create a lifelong memory."

The PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Torch Relay will be supported by presenting partners – Coca-Cola, Samsung Electronics, and KT. The torchbearer selection program began in March and runs until May and the three companies have already begun selecting torchbearers. Details of the campaign are available on the partner websites.

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