Olympic ceremony to feature peace
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Song Seung-whan, executive creative director of Olympic ceremonies, left and Lee Hee-beom, president of the PyeongChang Organizing Committee for the 2018 Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games attend the media conference in PyeongChang, Tuesday. / Yonhap
By Baek Byung-yeul
PYEONGCHANG -- Harmony and convergence are two main themes for the opening and closing ceremonies of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, organizers announced Tuesday.
At the Media Press Centre in PyeongChang, the PyeongChang Organizing Committee for the 2018 Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games (POCOG) announced details and operation plans for the ceremonies.
“We found harmony as one of the main themes of the ceremonies as the word represents the nature of traditional Korean culture,” said Song Seung-whan, executive creative director of Olympic ceremonies. “Also, the word convergence defines modern Korean culture well. It is true the modern culture of Korea has been affected by cultures of the world, but it is not subordinated to them. Rather than being subordinated to them, it has converged with them to create its own culture.”
With these two themes, the director wants to express passion and peace at the ceremonies.
“Many people in the world say Koreans are passionate. Despite many national crises, Koreans have overcome hardships with their passion. I would like to infuse that passion into the ceremonies,” Song said.
“And the most important value we want to deliver through the ceremonies is peace. With North Korea’s participation in the PyeongChang, there have been a lot of expectations for peace Olympics. We would like to deliver the message of peace through the ceremonies.”
Though North Korea decided to take part in the PyeongChang, Song added there will be no changes in concept or scenario of the ceremonies. But, Song also mentioned North Korea’s taekwondo performance team may perform prior to the opening ceremony.
The ceremonies will be staged at the Olympic Stadium, an open-air pentagonal arena that can accommodate 35,000 people.
The opening ceremony will depict a journey of five children living in Gangwon Province with a theme of “peace in motion.”
“We have five protagonists for the opening ceremony. They are children living in Gangwon Province. The ceremony revolves around their journey,” said Yang Jung-ung, director of the opening ceremony.
“Those five children will experience time travel to find peace.”
Yang added the ceremony will be a Korean version of a winter fairy tale.
POCOG also announced its measures to keep visitors warm during the outdoor ceremonies.
“The average temperature of Feb. 9 evening is about minus four degrees Celsius, but we’ve fully prepared for the cold weather,” POCOG President Lee Hee-beom said. "I heard some people aren't coming here because of the cold weather, but I want to tell you we've prepared thoroughly for that. So don't worry."
During the ceremonies, spectators will be provided six heating items including a raincoat, a small blanket, a winter hat, heating packs for hands and feet, and a heating pad that visitors can sit on.
They also installed windscreens around the stadium to block the biting winds. Forty portable gas heaters will be placed among the seating and there will be 18 heating rest areas as well.
However, POCOG said it is important for spectators to be fully prepared for the cold weather.
“We have prepared the measures for the cold weather on the condition that spectators are aware of the bitter cold here,” the official said. “So we urge visitors to be ready for the cold weather before showing up.”