SEOUL, South Korea (Reuters) — South Korea unveiled the bronze, silver and gold medals that the world’s top athletes will compete for in Pyeongchang 2018.
Located in the mountainous Gangwon Province, some 180 kilometres east of Seoul, Pyeongchang will host Asia’s first Winter Games outside Japan and kick off an Asian Olympic cycle that reflects the region’s growing influence on world sport.
Head of the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics Organizing Committee (POCOG), Lee Hee-beom, said designs of the medals were inspired by Korean alphabet called “Hangeul.”
Taking place 30 years after Seoul claimed its place on the global sporting stage with the 1988 Summer Games, the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics will see South Korea join an elite group of countries to complete the ‘hosting grand slam’.
The Games are scheduled for Feb. 9-25 next year.