PyeongChang Olympics holds opening ceremony rehearsal

World
Europe

The final preparations for Friday's opening ceremony are continuing in PyeongChang, and that includes a key rehearsal that took place over the weekend.

The theme of the curtain raiser for these Winter Olympics is "Peace," and the gala will include a performance that spotlights five children playing out a nature adventure story. Augmented Reality and 5G technology will be incorporated but the primary focus is on the people.

About 2,000 participants made their way to the run-through, as the finishing touches were put on the itinerary ahead of the show at the ice and snow sports resort located 180 kilometers east of Seoul.

The Olympic Stadium in PyeongChang. /VCG Photo

The 2018 edition of the Winter Olympics is expected to be the biggest ever, with nearly 3,000 athletes from 92 nations and regions visiting South Korea. Officials say visitors should prepare for frigid weather, as the temperature is forecast to drop to minus 7 degrees Celsius on Friday.

The opening and closing ceremonies will both take place in the evening on Feb. 9 and Feb. 25 respectively. Spectators will stay outdoors on each occasion.

Meanwhile, the closing ceremony on Feb. 25 will tell the story of The Next Wave and will focus on the human spirit of perseverance. The program, which incorporates music, dance and art, will be interactive and allow spectators to be more involved. China, host of the next winter games in 2022, will also perform an eight-minute hand-over show to demonstrate a confident and modern China.