SPORTS

Olympic torch unveiled in countdown to 2018 Games

Kim Tong-Hyung The Associated Press
Published Thursday, February 9, 2017 4:35PM EST

South Korean Byun Chun-sa, a 2006 Turin Winter Olympics gold medalist for Short Track Speed Skating, left, and Byun Jong-moon, a 1996 Harbin Winter Asian Games gold medalist, right, wearing torch runners uniforms, unveil the Pyeongchang 2018 Olympics torch during the unveiling ceremony for the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics at the Gangneung Hockey Centre in Gangneung, South Korea, Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017. (AP Photo / Lee Jin-man)

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GANGNEUNG, Korea, Republic Of -- Figure skating gold medallist Yuna Kim is unveiling the Olympic torch and online ticket reservations are being opened to mark the one-year countdown to the Winter Games in Pyeongchang.

Organizing committee chief Lee Hee-beom on Thursday also expressed hopes for participation in the games by athletes from North Korea and Russia.

Relations between the two Koreas have worsened since North Korea conducted two nuclear tests and a string of rocket launches last year as it continues to expand its nuclear weapons and missile programs.

Russian athletes have been caught up in the scandal following allegations of state-sponsored doping around the time of the 2014 Sochi Olympics.

"Every country and every athlete who loves peace has a right and obligation to participate in the Olympics," Lee told a news conference during the countdown ceremony in Gangneung, where the ice sport competitions will be staged next year. "North Korea is no exception.

"We are making preparations for the possibility that North Korea participates in the Games."

Pyeongchang 2018 will mark the second time the Olympic Games are staged in South Korea, which hosted the Summer Games in the capital Seoul in 1988.

This time, organizers have had to overcome delays, local conflicts regarding venue constructions and difficulties attracting domestic sponsorships before putting preparations on track.

They are now trying to stoke what has been lukewarm public interest for the Winter Games amid the distraction created by a political turmoil surrounding President Park Geun-hye, whose powers have been suspended over a corruption scandal.

Construction workers are putting the finishing touches on the 12 competition venues in Pyeongchang and nearby Gangneung, including six new facilities that organizers say are about 96 per cent complete on average.

The athletes' and media villages, an international broadcasting centre, and a pentagonal stadium that will host the opening and closing ceremonies are expected to be finished by September.

A new high-speed rail line designed to link the country's main international gateway of Incheon International Airport with Pyeongchang in about 90 minutes is expected to be up and running by early next year.