On July 22, a great fireworks show lights up the skies above Chuncheon in Gangwon-do Province to mark 200 days until next February’s PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
By Kim Ji Hoe and Sohn JiAe
Photos = Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism
The words “PyeongChang 2018 G-200” appeared in the middle of a great fireworks display, shinning across the night skies on July 22.
As part of the official ceremony to mark 200 days until next February’s PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, the grandeur of the fireworks show celebrated the success of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, under the theme of “The One.”
The firework teams from Korea and China, the host nation of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, launched their decorative explosions into the sky for more than 40 minutes.
Prior to the fireworks show, a variety of performances — a taekwondo demonstration, a chorus of children and a traditional Korean drum dance — drummed up more excitement.
In particular, the theme song for the Olympic torch relay, “Let Everyone Shine,” rang across the venue for the first time.
In the lead-up to the official fireworks show to mark 200 days until next year’s PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do Province, on July 22, a large balloon with the official PyeongChang Olympic logo floats into the sky.
The ceremony had in attendance more than 25,000 audiences, including National Assembly Speaker Chung Syekyun, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Do Jong-hwan, President Lee Hee-beom of the PyeongChang organizing committee and Governor of Gangwon-do Province Choi Moon-soon.
“Today, I’ve realized that the power and the charms of Gangwon-do Province represent the power and charms of our nation,” said the culture minister in his remarks. “I hope that the PyeongChang Winter Olympics will be successful, as all eyes of the world will be on us,” he added.
The Gangwon-do governor said, “Today’s fireworks give us a chance to show the world that we’ve prepared very hard for the Winter Olympic Games, to make them truly world-class. We will muster up all our remaining strength to successfully host the Winter Olympic Games for the sake of the provincial residents and, also, for the sake of the whole nation.”
Singer Insooni sings the official theme song for the Olympic torch relay, ‘Let Everyone Shine,’ during an official ceremony to mark 200 days until next year’s PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, in Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do Province, on July 22.
The July 22 ceremony launched the PyeongChang festivities and kicked-off in earnest the “Culural Olympiad” (문화올림픽), a catchphrase designed to make the Winter Olympics “more cultural.”
On July 24, exactly 200 days until the Opening Ceremony, a roundup of video clips titled “PyeongChang 2018 — A magical experience” were released. Produced by the Korean Culture and Information Service to promote the upcoming Winter Olympics, the videos all star illusionist Yu Ho-jin who takes part in four major Winter Olympic sports — ski jumping, snowboarding, cross-country skilling and speed skating — using magic tricks and illusions in the middle of summer in downtown Seoul.
The official Korea Clickers Facebook profile (https://www.facebook.com/KoreaClickers/), too, is running two respective contests through to Aug. 4, inviting people to watch the promotional videos, share posts and answer a quiz. A set of prizes are ready to be given away to those who win the contests, including one grand prize of a round-trip flight to Korea.
Many more such “cultural” events will ensue. On July 26 and 28, classical musicians from Korea, China and Japan will collaborate in Pyeongchang in the hopes of holding a successful Winter Olympics.
On Aug. 1, a media art exhibit will appear on the facade of Seoul Square, across from Seoul Station, under the theme of “Youth, new future and PyeongChang.”
Finally, the “All. Connected” exhibition, set to be held in Sept. and Nov., will showcase 2,018 works of art. It will feature 2,018 messages of support for the Winter Games, with the number 2,018 representing the Olympic year. The exhibit will begin in Pyeongchang and Gangneung, both in Gangwon-do Province, and then continue near Seoul City Hall, in Gwanghwamun Square and along the Cheonggyecheon Stream, all in Seoul, at the Incheon International Airport, and on Jeju Island, too.
sofia2426@korea.kr
