Olympic Torch Relay continues its northern tour

The PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Torch Relay is moving ever closer to its destination: the PyeongChang Olympic Stadium and the Opening Ceremony of the XXIII Olympic Winter Games on 9 February. The Olympic flame has spent the last ten days in the very north of the Republic of Korea, travelling from the cities of Yeoncheon to Chuncheon and revealing yet more of the past, present and future of this fascinating country. We bring you right up to date with its epic journey.

Our latest PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Torch Relay update begins on Saturday 20 January, with the Olympic flame leaving the northern city of Paju on bicycle, a form of transport being used to convey the flame for seven days between the Republic of Korea’s seven northernmost cities and to promote a message of peace.

PyeongChang 2018
PyeongChang 2018

The flame’s final destination for the day was the city of Yeoncheon, where a percussion group and a military band were on hand to extend it a musical welcome at the Jeongok-ri Prehistoric Site, the largest Stone Age site on the Korean peninsula and home to Palaeolithic remains from areas along the Hantan River.

PyeongChang 2018
PyeongChang 2018

The following day’s route took in Taebong Grand Bridge, with the mountains of Geumhaksan and Godaesan providing a spectacular backdrop as the Olympic Torch Relay made its way to Cheorwon, where the Taehoo Theatre Group greeted its arrival with a moving drama piece.

PyeongChang 2018
PyeongChang 2018

On Monday 22 January, the Olympic Torch Relay stopped off at the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival site, home to one of the country’s most popular festivals, which attracts over a million visitors every year from all over the world. The Olympic flame ended the day at the Hwacheon Youth Training Center, where it was treated to a performance of “nodongyo” (work songs) by local farmers.

PyeongChang 2018
PyeongChang 2018

The Yanggu Prehistory Museum was among the ports of call on Tuesday 23 January, a day that ended at the Yanggu Citizens Sports Center, where the Korean traditional percussion group Taegeuk welcomed the Olympic flame by playing percussion instruments made of Yanggu white porcelain.

After pausing for the 12th of the 13 Relay for Everyone events on Wednesday 24 January, the Olympic Torch Relay resumed the following day, taking in the Seohwa Life Sports Park, the Bupyeong-ri Mountain Ecovillage and the Inje Mountain Village Folk Museum. There were drums, martial arts and hip hop laid on for the Olympic flame when it arrived in Inje, its final destination for the day.

PyeongChang 2018
PyeongChang 2018

On Friday 26 January, the Olympic flame headed to Goseong for the last of its seven days on bicycle. The day came to a close at Goseong County Office, where a drums and fire show was laid on by the group Good Friends and operatic pop singer Jung Se-hun also performed.

Commenting on the Olympic Torch Relay’s week on two wheels, Lee Hee-beom, the president of the PyeongChang Organizing Committee for the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (POCOG), said: “The message of peace that has been carried with the torch in these seven northernmost cities has touched the hearts of many. We hope that the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 will spread that message of peace around the world in the coming weeks.”

PyeongChang 2018
PyeongChang 2018

The Olympic flame moved southwards on Saturday 27 January, towards the city of Sokcho and its Expo Tower, a high-tech observatory tower situated in a natural park. Among the celebrations held to mark its arrival was a performance entitled “Seven Fair Women’s Dance for Prayer” by the Sincheon Dance Troupe.

PyeongChang 2018
PyeongChang 2018

En route to Yangyang on Sunday 28 January, the Olympic Torch Relay stepped back in time once again at the Osan-ri Prehistoric Site, before ending the day at Yangyang Council Square, where the members of a local historical association sang farming songs and the 600-strong Yangyang Cultural Center Choir Group also performed.

PyeongChang 2018
PyeongChang 2018

Our update ends on Monday 29 January, with the Olympic flame travelling through Soyang Riverside Park and over Legoland Bridge on its way to Gangwon. The city’s main square provided the setting for a mime piece and a flashmob by local residents, while comedian Ryan Bang performed “PyeongChang Style”, his amusing take on the global hit song “Gangnam Style”.