The PyeongChang 2018 Olympic & Paralympic Games organisers have announced the 41 nominees for the Torch Relay idea contest, ‘OPEN! Mission Relay’, as voting began worldwide on Monday.

Anyone interested in the upcoming Games can cast a vote for the on the PyeongChang 2018 website at http://missionrelay.pyeongchang2018.com and win a prize. Online voting polls will be open until September 18 for two weeks.

41 out of 2,665 ideas – which include potential torch relay routes, torchbearers, mode of transportation, and creative contents in promoting PyeongChang 2018 – were narrowed down and nominated for sports fans around the world to select online for the actual torch relay.

Twenty-one ideas were submitted by the general public and 20 by students are displayed on the PyeongChang 2018 website for voters to select one of each category.

Popular and jury votes will determine who wins the prize to join the PyeongChang 2018 delegation at the Flame Lighting Ceremony in Greece or become a torchbearer.

POCOG President Lee Hee-beom commented, “The torch relay is a big event that brings global attention to PyeongChang. …… I hope many people from around the world vote online to find the best and brightest idea for the 2018 Olympic Torch Relay.”

The XXIII edition of the Olympic Winter Games will take place on 9-25 February 2018. Approximately 95 countries and 3,000 athletes are expected to take part in the first Olympic Winter Games to be held in Asia in 20 years. Seven sports comprising 15 disciplines will be on the official program.