S. Korea to celebrate 1st anniversary of PyeongChang Olympics with various events

SEOUL, Feb. 7 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will celebrate the first anniversary of the PyeongChang Winter Games with various events as local organizers on Thursday vowed to carry on the Olympic legacy. The 2018 Winter Olympics were held from Feb. 9 to 25 in PyeongChang, a resort town located 180 kilometers east of Seoul in Gangwon Province, as well as in the adjacent towns of Gangneung and Jeongseon. They hosted nearly 3,000 athletes from 92 nations, who competed for a record 102 gold medals. To commemorate the first Winter Olympic Games on South Korean soil, Gangwon Provincial Government introduced various events that will be held in its region from Thursday to Feb. 17 under the name of "Again PyeongChang!" The organizers said the theme of its anniversary events is "Passion. Peace & Prosperity!," which highlights the Games' legacy and achievements. "We know that the PyeongChang Olympic Games were successful," Gangwon Governor Choi Moon-soon said. "We've prepared these events to keep our Olympic legacy and spread the peaceful atmosphere that PyeongChang 2018 started." PyeongChang 2018 was praised for promoting peace on the divided Korean Peninsula thanks to North Korea's participation and the formation of a historic joint Korean team in women's hockey. South Korea and North Korea marched together behind the Korea Unification Flag at the opening ceremony, marking their first joint march at an international multisport event since 2007. In women's hockey, the combined squad of 23 South Koreans and 12 North Koreans was hailed as an inspirational symbol of peace. Building on that momentum, South and North Korea went on to thaw their strained relationship through sports. Their leaders held three summits last year. The official ceremony for the first anniversary of PyeongChang 2018 will be held on Saturday at the Olympic Stadium in PyeongChang, where opening and closing ceremonies of the Games were staged. It will be followed by a grand festival at Gangneung Ice Arena in Gangneung with K-pop concerts and other performances. To extend PyeongChang 2018's legacy of peace and reconciliation, Gangwon Province said it will also organize tours to the demilitarized zone and hold forums to discuss peace and human rights. The Peace Forum will feature former Polish president and Nobel Peace Prize winner Lech Walesa and Lee Hee-beom, chief organizer of PyeongChang 2018. During the anniversary week, there will be cultural events and exhibitions for foreign tourists, free music concerts and Korean food festivals. kdon@yna.co.kr (END)