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| / Graphic by Cho Sang-won |
By Chyung Eun-ju
The 2018 PyeongChang Olympics has reached an important milestone ― it is only 100 days away. And the countdown has started with a torch relay that began following the arrival of the Olympic flame from Greece on Wednesday.
Here are the significant numbers that represent the relay:
100: Torchbearers will run for 100 days until Feb. 9, 2018, the opening ceremony date.
7,500: The number of torchbearers who will take the flame across the country, promoting the Olympics and fueling the festive mood. Among torchbearers are famous athletes and celebrities, including two-time speed skating champ Lee Sang-hwa, the 1996 Olympic marathon silver medalist Lee Bong-ju and K-pop star Suzy.
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Singer-actress Suzy and comedian Park Myung-soo with the torch at Incheon Bridge on Wednesday. Both will run the relay. / Yonhap |
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Comedian and television personality Yoo Jae-suk, the second relay runner, carries the torch at Incheon Bridge on Wednesday. / Yonhap |
2,018: The relay will cover a 2,018-kilometer route that represents the year in which the Olympics will take place. Also, 2,018 supporting runners will accompany torchbearers.
17: Torchbearers will run through 17 major cities or provinces and 151 counties and districts. The relay started in Incheon and will make its way south to Jeju, back to Busan, on to Tongyeong, then to Jinhae and Yeosu ― and several other locations ― before heading to the final destination, PyeongChang.
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The first relay runner Yoo Young with Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon after the torch handover ceremony at Incheon Bridge on Wednesday. / Yonhap |
200: Each torchbearer will carry the flame for 200 meters. Teenage figure skater You Young, who was the first torchbearer, ran 200 meters on Incheon Bridge on Wednesday.
700: The torch is 700-millimeters tall, which represents the altitude of PyeongChang, 700 meters above sea level.
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Korean sports minister Do Jong-hwan and the honorary ambassador for the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Games Kim Yuna carry the Olympic flame in a special lantern off a Korean Air flight from Greece. / Yonhap |
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Figure skater Kim Yuna and Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon light a cauldron with the Olympic flame. / Yonhap |
