Reuters spoils PyeongChang's Olympic flame secret

PyeongChang Olympic Plaza on Oct. 31, 2017, with a sculpture repsenting the PyeongChang Olympic torch with its top section covered, wait to be lit during the opening ceremony on Feb. 9. / Korea Times file

By Ko Dong-hwan

The sculpture's veiled section is shaped like a cauldron, where the Olympics flame torch will be lighted. / Yonhap

Global news agency Reuters mistakenly leaked photos of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics flame being tested during a rehearsal Sunday, spoiling the event's signature moment.

Between midnight and 1 a.m. Monday, the agency wired nine high-definition photos of the flame being lit in a cauldron-shaped sculpture. The rehearsal was for the Feb. 9 opening ceremony.

The photos show the flame dramatically spreading up an elevated rod inside the cauldron that sits several meters high on a five-pronged foundation. The sculpture represents a moon pot held by five fingers, meaning traditional Korean beauty, participation and partnership, according to the Pyeongchang Olympics Committee.

The Olympic flame is the emblematic symbol signifying that the global sports event has begun.

The ceremony has conventionally been kept secret until the very last moment. The Olympics committee has said it intends to put on a show that "will surprise the world."

Following the leak, the British agency notified its affiliates Monday morning that the photos "were sent in error." Reuters asked them to "remove the images from your systems" and apologized for "any inconvenience caused."

Before the agency tried to withdraw the images, South Korean news media, including Chosun Ilbo and TV Chosun, reported them.

The daily said, "The Olympic Flame rehearsal, which has been sealed from the public eyes, appears to have been leaked unintentionally by the agency."

TV Chosun said the leak had "likely tarnished public anticipation for the opening ceremony's highlight."

The committee did not respond to The Korea Times' calls to ask what their response to Reuters will be.

The International Olympic Committee banned Reuters from covering the opening ceremony and confiscated the photographer's AD card that allows him to cover the event.

The PyeongChang Olympic Committee warned Monday any media outlets and reporters who don't comply with the request for non-coverage will be severely penalized.

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