Olympic Countdown

[Anchor Lead]

The Olympic flame finally arrived in Korea on Wednesday for the PyeongChang Winter Olympics. The winter games are now just 100 days away. Stadium facilities and connecting transportation networks are also swiftly being constructed for a successful Olympics.

[Pkg]

This is the site of the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics. There are hopes of repeating the success of the 1988 Seoul Summer Olympics 30 years ago. Come February 9th, the world's attention will be drawn to this pentagonal stage accommodating 35-thousand seats. 12 Olympic arenas have been completed and have been globally certified including 5 ice rinks and 7 snow venues.

[Soundbite] Son Chang-hwan(Olympics Organizing Committee) : "Arenas have been built according to standards issued by the IOC and other sporting bodies while the latest engineering methods have also been employed to assist athletes' best performances."

The Jeongseon Alpine Centre has consolidated the men's and women's skiing courses for the first time in Winter Olympic history in an aim to minimize environmental degradation. Ski jump towers have been improved with wind shielding equipment. The Alpensia Sliding Centre known for its amazing curves was completed early last winter and has already held successful global tournaments. Three ice arenas in Gangneung where speed skating, short track skating and ice hockey events will take place are also awaiting global athletes. They're equipped with state of the art ice manufacturing facilities. Following the opening of the Second Yeongdong Expressway, the high speed KTX train service will also connect Incheon International Airport all the way to the city of Gangneung starting later this year. Construction of transport networks is also coming together smoothly.