The One-Year-to-Go Countdown started today in Gangneung, where the ice sport competitions of the upcoming Olympic Winter Games will take place.

The highlight of the event was the unveiling of the Olympic Torch and torchbearer uniform. South Korean Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn and an International Olympic Committee delegation led by Gunilla Lindberg, who heads the IOC’s coordination commission for the games, attended the ceremony.

The torch was revealed by Yuna Kim, Olympic Figure Skating gold medallist, Magnus Kim, who won Korea’s first gold medal in the history of cross-country skiing at the 2016 Youth Olympic Games, and five young local students. Wearing the PyeongChang 2018 torchbearer uniform, they showed off the torch at the One-Year-to-Go Countdown Ceremony.

The 700 mm torch represents the altitude of PyeonChang which is 700 meters above sea level. The white and gold tones, which are the main colours of PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games Torch Relay, represent the Olympic Winter Games – a global festival that is held on white snow and ice – and torch relay.

The shape of the flame has five prongs which is the form of “ *  “– the symbol of PyeongChang. The symbol is also engraved around the bottom half and top of the torch.

The five-angled shape in the middle of the cap represents the spirit of sports, which connects races, nations, religions, genders, cultures, and the five continents around the world united with passion. The flame will spark passion throughout the globe and connect us together while demonstrating the power of sport to unite and inspire people in a way that little else does.

The torch was designed by Korean designer Young Se KIM who believes design is about making people happy and creating something that people want. It is also a local company who are producing the torch. The torches will be produced by PyeongChang 2018 Official Supplier, the Hanwha Corporation, who is very familiar with what is required, having also produced the Seoul 1988 Olympic Torch.

The torch is designed so that the flame will continue to burn in various weather conditions. It
will be carried by 7,500 torchbearers during the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Torch Relay.

The torchbearer uniform is produced by PyeongChang 2018 Official Partner The North Face. The design combined the colours of the white Olympic Torch and blue, yellow, black, green, and red from the Olympic Rings.

Today, tickets for the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 will also officially go on sale in the Republic of Korea to coincide with the one year to go milestone.