PyeongChang 2018 chief says S. Korea ready to welcome world

ATHENS, Oct. 30 (Yonhap) -- The chief of the PyeongChang Winter Games said Monday that South Korea is ready to welcome everyone from around the globe as the country awaits the arrival of the Olympic flame to start the torch relay. Lee Hee-beom, who heads the PyeongChang Organizing Committee for the 2018 Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games (POCOG), landed in the Greek capital on Sunday to receive the Olympic fire. He leads the 16-member delegation, including sports minister Do Jong-hwan and former Olympic figure skating champion Kim Yu-na, that has the task of delivering the Olympic flame from Greece to South Korea. Lee will take part in the Olympic flame handover ceremony at Panathenaic Stadium in Athens on Tuesday and officially accept the sacred fire from the Hellenic Olympic Committee President Spyros Capralos. "Taking the flame means that the Olympic Games have started," Lee said before the dress rehearsal of the Olympic flame handover ceremony at the stadium where the modern Olympics were staged in 1896. "We're perfectly ready to welcome the world." Lee said the Olympic flame symbolizes peace and the PyeongChang Games will spread that meaning with the torch relay. "What makes the Olympic Games different from other sports competitions is the presence of the flame," he said. "We'll promote peace and also create a celebrative atmosphere with the torch relay." The flame will be kept in a safety lamp to fly more than 8,500 kilometers east to South Korea. The chartered flight carrying the flame will land at Incheon International Airport on Wednesday, 100 days ahead of the opening of the PyeongChang Olympics. Once the flame arrives in South Korea, the torch relay will start with some 7,500 runners who will cover 2,018 kilometers across the nation. "The torch relay will show the culture and characteristics of each region using high technology and other means," he said. "South Korea's cultural excellency will be introduced to the world." When asked about North Korean participation at the PyeongChang Games, Lee said he is still optimistic. Despite growing tensions on the Korean Peninsula following the North's nuclear test and missile provocations, the South Korean government and local organizers have said sports and politics are separate and they want the communist state to send its athletes south of the border next year for the Winter Games. "As I said the Olympics are the symbol of peace, and North Korea is no exception to this," he said. "It's too early to confirm whether the North is going to send its athletes, but we believe they will compete at PyeongChang Games." Lee said South Korea is eager to make the PyeongChang Games successful because it kicks off the hosting of a series of Olympics in East Asia. Following PyeongChang, Tokyo is the host of the 2020 Summer Games, while Beijing will stage the 2022 Winter Olympics. "As the Olympic Games come to East Asia, we need to make a good start," he said. "Our preparations for the venues are complete and we just need few touches on boosting the atmosphere for the Games." kdon@yna.co.kr (END)