In 1927, Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympic Games, visited Ancient Olympia for the unveiling of a monument in his honour.

He wandered through the ruins in pursuit of romantic visions of Ancient Greece. In a letter to the &ldquo;youth of the world,&rdquo; he declared the Olympics were not revived &ldquo;in order to be a subject for film or an object in a museum,&rdquo; but to be the emblem of a &ldquo;religion of sport.&rdquo;

Coubertin felt Olympia and the Olympics were not relics to be studied or read about in textbooks, but the living salvation of the modern world.

The adaptable Olympics

While the current Winter Olympics may be embroiled in scandals &mdash; as modern Olympics often are &mdash; Coubertin&rsquo;s vision remains relevant more than 80 years after his death.

Commentators may point to declining interest and other problems facing the Winter Games, but the International Olympic Committee&rsquo;s recent reiteration of the connection between sport and peace (Sports for Hope), <a href="https://www.olympic.org/news/refugee-olympic-team">the 2016 Refugee Team</a> and the possibility of these Games helping ease tensions on the Korean peninsula, if only in a small way, makes Coubertin, perhaps, look less naive and more visionary.

Coubertin&rsquo;s reputation rests on the Olympic movement. His ideal of sports as a tool for peace and his faith in youth and education bear remembering in uncertain times

&nbsp;

<figure class="align-left zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/204742/original/file-20180204-19933-tc2wyw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/204742/original/file-20180204-19933-tc2wyw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=237&amp;fit=clip" /></a>

<figcaption>Pierre de Coubertin (1925) [CC], via Wikimedia Commons</figcaption>
</figure>

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

As the Olympic movement contemplates change, Coubertin&rsquo;s legacy requires sober assessment.

It&rsquo;s not clear Coubertin himself would recognize &mdash; much less approve of &mdash; the current incarnation of the Olympics. He feared the Games would become a spectacle and despaired that large stadiums and crowds would dull the moral quality of his international sports festival.

He would find female participation odd, to say the least, though it isn&rsquo;t clear he wouldn&rsquo;t support the IOC&rsquo;s Women in Sport initiatives. Coubertin thought the Olympics were adaptable to present conditions &mdash; whether in 1896 or 2018. To him, the Olympics were a means to an end.

Olympic salvation

Coubertin&rsquo;s original interest was the educational potential of sport. Even as the Olympic Games became successful, the moral aspects of sport were central to him.

He saw a historic moment for sport in the 19th century, which began what he called &ldquo;the physical renaissance.&rdquo; (Olympism: 283) His was a messianic mission: &ldquo;It is only in certain historical epochs that physical exercise is called upon by general consent to accomplish a task of renewal, or restoration, or general rigour. We are living in such an epoch.&rdquo; (Olympism: 221)

In the midst of this mission, Coubertin recognized what to him were the signs of imminent decline: Ambition, money and specialization. He decided the way to prevent what he saw as sport&rsquo;s corruption was to place athletics under &ldquo;the patronage of Classical Antiquity!&rdquo; (Olympism: 309).

Coubertin did not intend to recreate the ancient Olympics, but he was inspired by them. His aim was to promote what he thought was ancient sport&rsquo;s true virtue, &ldquo;the merit of seeking effort only in the effort itself&hellip; to worship effort in a disinterested way and to love difficult things simply because they are difficult.&rdquo; (Olmypism: 295)

Whether the IOC has carefully managed this legacy or not, Coubertin&rsquo;s vision remains.

Antiquity and modernity

Coubertin&rsquo;s understanding of sport was anything but antiquarian. He saw athletics as modern, especially in its democratic and international character. He believed that athletics would promote international co-operation and, in fact, peace.

Democracy, internationalism and peace were the benefits modern sport had to offer the world. These would be coupled with the moral benefits of the pursuit of effort for effort&rsquo;s sake. Sport was a fusing of old and new, tradition and innovation.

<figure class="align-center "><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/204985/original/file-20180206-14107-183j7kf.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" />
<figcaption>A priestess dances next to the Olympic flame during the lighting ceremony for the 2006 Turin Winter Games in the Pierre de Coubertin Grove in Ancient Olympia, Greece. (AP Photo/Dusan Vranic)</figcaption>
</figure>

&nbsp;

Ancient Greece was a model, equal parts inspiration and lustrous veneer. &ldquo;Hellenism again!&rdquo; cried Coubertin in one of his last publications in 1936, invoking the ancient Greek past. &ldquo;We used to believe that Hellenism was a thing of the past, a dead notion, impossible to revive and inapplicable to current conditions. This is wrong. Hellenism is part of the future.&rdquo;

The Olympic future

At the Panathenaic stadium at Athens, the venue for the first modern Olympics in 1896, Coubertin saw a manifestation of the merger of past and present in Olympic sport.

He received an inscribed seat at the stadium and watched a university team. He observed the novelties (&ldquo;cinder track, spiked shoes&rdquo;) but saw, reborn, an eternal athlete. &ldquo;Their souls were the same and their youth ringed around by the same youthful surge of muscular joy.&rdquo; (<a href="http://coubertin.org/docs/Olympism%20en.pdf">Olympism: 512</a>)

<figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/204991/original/file-20180206-14078-wbipiv.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/204991/original/file-20180206-14078-wbipiv.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" /></a>

<figcaption>The old Panathenaic Olympic Stadium of Athens, a marble reconstruction of the city&rsquo;s ancient stadium built for the first modern Olympics held in Athens in 1896. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)</figcaption>
</figure>

&nbsp;

Coubertin spied one of these student-athletes as he prepared to leave the stadium: &ldquo;The student [was] full of the joy of living, his body suffused with the voluptuous glow that comes only from healthy tiredness induced by sport&hellip; He was like a sculpture representing neo-Olympism, the symbol of future victories awaiting Hellenism&mdash;still very much alive, and eternally adapted to human circumstances.&rdquo;

Naive or visionary?

Coubertin&rsquo;s romantic vision for sport, young people and peace may seem naive. (Though others have put a similar vision into practice in the home of another ancient Greek athletic festival.) Or, considering the incredible number of corporate partners in the modern Olympics, we may choose to be cynics.

Nonetheless, it remains the case that 124 years after he fitted modern sport with an ancient pedigree, Coubertin&rsquo;s Games remain an icon, and an enduring reminder of the possibilities of internationalism &mdash; often in spite of themselves.

&nbsp;

This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/would-the-founder-of-the-olympics-approve-of-the-games-today-91212">original article</a>.

124 years after he fitted modern sport with an ancient pedigree, Coubertin’s Games remain an icon, and an enduring reminder of the possibilities of internationalism — often in spite of themselves.

In 1927, Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympic Games, visited Ancient Olympia for the unveiling of a monument in his honour. He wandered through the ruins in pursuit of romantic visions of Ancient Greece. In a letter to the “youth of the world,” he declared the Olympics were not revived “in order to be a subject for film or an object in a museum,” but to be the emblem of a “religion of sport.” Coubertin felt Olympia and the Olympics were not relics to be studied or read about in textbooks, but the living salvation of the modern world. The adaptable Olympics While the current Winter Olympics may be embroiled in scandals — as modern Olympics often are — Coubertin’s vision remains relevant more than 80 years after his death. Commentators may point to declining interest and other problems facing the Winter Games, but the International Olympic Committee’s recent reiteration of the connection between sport and peace (Sports for Hope), the 2016 Refugee Team and the possibility of these Games helping ease tensions on the Korean peninsula, if only in a small way, makes Coubertin, perhaps, look less naive and more visionary. Coubertin’s reputation rests on the Olympic movement. His ideal of sports as a tool for peace and his faith in youth and education bear remembering in uncertain times Pierre de Coubertin (1925) [CC], via Wikimedia Commons As the Olympic movement contemplates change, Coubertin’s legacy requires sober assessment. It’s not clear Coubertin himself would recognize — much less approve of — the current incarnation of the Olympics. He feared the Games would become a spectacle and despaired that large stadiums and crowds would dull the moral quality of his international sports festival. He would find female participation odd, to say the least, though it isn’t clear he wouldn’t support the IOC’s Women in Sport initiatives. Coubertin thought the Olympics were adaptable to present conditions — whether in 1896 or 2018. To him, the Olympics were a means to an end. Olympic salvation Coubertin’s original interest was the educational potential of sport. Even as the Olympic Games became successful, the moral aspects of sport were central to him. He saw a historic moment for sport in the 19th century, which began what he called “the physical renaissance.” (Olympism: 283) His was a messianic mission: “It is only in certain historical epochs that physical exercise is called upon by general consent to accomplish a task of renewal, or restoration, or general rigour. We are living in such an epoch.” (Olympism: 221) In the midst of this mission, Coubertin recognized what to him were the signs of imminent decline: Ambition, money and specialization. He decided the way to prevent what he saw as sport’s corruption was to place athletics under “the patronage of Classical Antiquity!” (Olympism: 309). Coubertin did not intend to recreate the ancient Olympics, but he was inspired by them. His aim was to promote what he thought was ancient sport’s true virtue, “the merit of seeking effort only in the effort itself… to worship effort in a disinterested way and to love difficult things simply because they are difficult.” (Olmypism: 295) Whether the IOC has carefully managed this legacy or not, Coubertin’s vision remains. Antiquity and modernity Coubertin’s understanding of sport was anything but antiquarian. He saw athletics as modern, especially in its democratic and international character. He believed that athletics would promote international co-operation and, in fact, peace. Democracy, internationalism and peace were the benefits modern sport had to offer the world. These would be coupled with the moral benefits of the pursuit of effort for effort’s sake. Sport was a fusing of old and new, tradition and innovation. A priestess dances next to the Olympic flame during the lighting ceremony for the 2006 Turin Winter Games in the Pierre de Coubertin Grove in Ancient Olympia, Greece. (AP Photo/Dusan Vranic) Ancient Greece was a model, equal parts inspiration and lustrous veneer. “Hellenism again!” cried Coubertin in one of his last publications in 1936, invoking the ancient Greek past. “We used to believe that Hellenism was a thing of the past, a dead notion, impossible to revive and inapplicable to current conditions. This is wrong. Hellenism is part of the future.” The Olympic future At the Panathenaic stadium at Athens, the venue for the first modern Olympics in 1896, Coubertin saw a manifestation of the merger of past and present in Olympic sport. He received an inscribed seat at the stadium and watched a university team. He observed the novelties (“cinder track, spiked shoes”) but saw, reborn, an eternal athlete. “Their souls were the same and their youth ringed around by the same youthful surge of muscular joy.” (Olympism: 512) The old Panathenaic Olympic Stadium of Athens, a marble reconstruction of the city’s ancient stadium built for the first modern Olympics held in Athens in 1896. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris) Coubertin spied one of these student-athletes as he prepared to leave the stadium: “The student [was] full of the joy of living, his body suffused with the voluptuous glow that comes only from healthy tiredness induced by sport… He was like a sculpture representing neo-Olympism, the symbol of future victories awaiting Hellenism—still very much alive, and eternally adapted to human circumstances.” Naive or visionary? Coubertin’s romantic vision for sport, young people and peace may seem naive. (Though others have put a similar vision into practice in the home of another ancient Greek athletic festival.) Or, considering the incredible number of corporate partners in the modern Olympics, we may choose to be cynics. Nonetheless, it remains the case that 124 years after he fitted modern sport with an ancient pedigree, Coubertin’s Games remain an icon, and an enduring reminder of the possibilities of internationalism — often in spite of themselves. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

Opinion: Would the founder of the Olympics approve of the Games today?

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/24-hours-later-gun-battle-continues-between-security-forces-terrorists-in-srinagar-32678">24 hours later, </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/24-hours-later-gun-battle-continues-between-security-forces-terrorists-in-srinagar-32678">gun</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/24-hours-later-gun-battle-continues-between-security-forces-terrorists-in-srinagar-32678"> battle continues between security forces, terrorists in Srinagar</a>

Heavy firing is still underway between terrorists and security forces in Srinagar&#39;s Karan Nagar area.

One soldier was killed after two terrorists tried to enter a CRPF camp on Monday. The security men immediately opened fire as the terrorists fled the area.

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After UN released a list of banned terrorist organisations, Pakistan authorities decided to extend the ban in the country.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/japanese-olympic-speed-skater-tests-positive-for-doping-report-32669">Japanese Olympic speed skater tests positive for doping: CAS</a>

Japanese short-track speed skater Kei Saito has tested positive for doping at the Pyeongchang Olympic Games, the first doping case of the Games, the Court of Arbitration for Sport said Tuesday.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/phillippines-president-orders-soldier-to-shoot-women-rebels-in-their-genitals-32673">Phillippines president Duterte orders soldiers to &#39;shoot women rebels&#39; in genitals: Report</a>

Already reputed for his inappropriate language, Phillippine&#39;s president Rodrigo Duterte has again come under fire for his recent comment about women.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-offers-putin-condolences-over-plane-crash-32668">Trump offers Putin condolences over plane crash</a>

US President Donald Trump called his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Monday to offer his condolences after a deadly plane crash near Moscow, a White House official said.

 
&nbsp;

24 hours later, gun battle continues between security forces, terrorists in Srinagar Heavy firing is still underway between terrorists and security forces in Srinagar's Karan Nagar area. One soldier was killed after two terrorists tried to enter a CRPF camp on Monday. The security men immediately opened fire as the terrorists fled the area. Pakistan extends ban on terror groups listed by UN After UN released a list of banned terrorist organisations, Pakistan authorities decided to extend the ban in the country. Japanese Olympic speed skater tests positive for doping: CAS Japanese short-track speed skater Kei Saito has tested positive for doping at the Pyeongchang Olympic Games, the first doping case of the Games, the Court of Arbitration for Sport said Tuesday. Phillippines president Duterte orders soldiers to 'shoot women rebels' in genitals: Report Already reputed for his inappropriate language, Phillippine's president Rodrigo Duterte has again come under fire for his recent comment about women. Trump offers Putin condolences over plane crash US President Donald Trump called his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Monday to offer his condolences after a deadly plane crash near Moscow, a White House official said.

WION Morning News Brief, February 13, 2018

Google Doodle celebrated Winter Olympics which kicked off in Pyeongchang, South Korea on Friday.

Saturday&#39;s doodle features&nbsp;a turtle winning race at number one spot; the turtle is considered to be a symbol of good luck and divinity in South Korean culture.

Turtle doodle is the second doodle of the series of 17 google doodles for each day of the Olympics.

Friday&#39;s doodle has magpie sitting on google logo covered in ice; the magpie bird also is a good luck symbol.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false"><img alt="" draggable="false" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/doodle-20180210034314.JPG" />
<div class="media-description">
The magpie bird is also a good luck symbol. (Others)
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="javascript:void(0)" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

These doodles will be running from February 9 to February 25.

The 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang officially commenced on Friday.

More than 2,000 athletes representing 92 counties are participating in the event.&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

Saturday's doodle features a turtle winning race at number one spot; the turtle is considered to be a symbol of good luck and divinity in South Korean culture

Google Doodle celebrated Winter Olympics which kicked off in Pyeongchang, South Korea on Friday. Saturday's doodle features a turtle winning race at number one spot; the turtle is considered to be a symbol of good luck and divinity in South Korean culture. Turtle doodle is the second doodle of the series of 17 google doodles for each day of the Olympics. Friday's doodle has magpie sitting on google logo covered in ice; the magpie bird also is a good luck symbol. The magpie bird is also a good luck symbol. (Others) × These doodles will be running from February 9 to February 25. The 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang officially commenced on Friday. More than 2,000 athletes representing 92 counties are participating in the event.

Google Doodle: Second-day doodle features another lucky symbol of Korea

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi&#39;s first engagement after arriving in Ramallah on Saturday morning will be to lay a wreath at the Mausoleum of Late President Yasser Arafat.

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US President Donald Trump on Friday blocked the release of a classified memo written by congressional Democrats to rebut a Republican document that he allowed to be made public last week that claimed FBI and Justice Department bias against him in the federal probe of Russia and the 2016 U.S. election.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/terrorist-attack-sunjwan-army-camp-in-jammu-and-kashmir-2-injured-32376">2 injured in </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/terrorist-attack-sunjwan-army-camp-in-jammu-and-kashmir-2-injured-32376">terrorist</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/terrorist-attack-sunjwan-army-camp-in-jammu-and-kashmir-2-injured-32376"> attack at Sunjwan Army camp in Jammu and Kashmir</a>

Terrorist attacked Sunjwan Army camp in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday morning. According to Army sources, gunshots were heard early in morning around 4:55 inside Army camp. Two people have sustained injuries in the ongoing operations, according to news agency ANI.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/olympics-awkward-diplomacy-on-show-as-peace-games-begin-32370">Olympics: Awkward diplomacy on show as &#39;peace&#39; Games begin</a>

The Winter Olympics sparked to life in a vivid, colourful ceremony of fire and ice in South Korea on Friday, though the diplomacy was tougher to choreograph in the stadium where leaders from nations that are sworn enemies sat close together.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-wishes-disgraced-aide-well-after-domestic-abuse-allegations-32378">Trump wishes disgraced aide well after domestic abuse allegations</a>

President Donald Trump on Friday praised White House aide Rob Porter, who resigned this week after allegations that he abused two former wives, and stressed that Porter has maintained his innocence.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Palestine: All you need to know Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first engagement after arriving in Ramallah on Saturday morning will be to lay a wreath at the Mausoleum of Late President Yasser Arafat. Trump blocks release of Russia memo drafted by Democrats US President Donald Trump on Friday blocked the release of a classified memo written by congressional Democrats to rebut a Republican document that he allowed to be made public last week that claimed FBI and Justice Department bias against him in the federal probe of Russia and the 2016 U.S. election. 2 injured in terrorist attack at Sunjwan Army camp in Jammu and Kashmir Terrorist attacked Sunjwan Army camp in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday morning. According to Army sources, gunshots were heard early in morning around 4:55 inside Army camp. Two people have sustained injuries in the ongoing operations, according to news agency ANI. Olympics: Awkward diplomacy on show as 'peace' Games begin The Winter Olympics sparked to life in a vivid, colourful ceremony of fire and ice in South Korea on Friday, though the diplomacy was tougher to choreograph in the stadium where leaders from nations that are sworn enemies sat close together. Trump wishes disgraced aide well after domestic abuse allegations President Donald Trump on Friday praised White House aide Rob Porter, who resigned this week after allegations that he abused two former wives, and stressed that Porter has maintained his innocence.

WION Morning News Brief, February 10, 2018

The Korean Tourism Organization (KTO) has decided not to provide any prayer rooms in&nbsp;Gangneung for the<a href="http://www.wionews.com/videos/pyeongchang-2018-winter-olympics-explained-8253"> 2018 Winter Olympics</a> after receiving threats by anti-muslim campaigners, the city&#39;s tourism department&#39;s chief said on Friday.&nbsp;

The KTO has refuted plans of organising mobile prayer rooms following strong opposition from some groups. Out of the total population of 51 million, Muslims account for&nbsp;a mere 0.2%, however, the KTO had earlier decided to build a prayer room to promote a &quot;Muslim-friendly Korea&quot; during the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/pyeongchang-winter-olympics-competition-begins-with-curling-32226">Winter Olympics</a> with the aim of increasing the number of Muslim tourists.

This goal came a step closer in early February with the opening of a cafeteria serving certified halal food to Muslim athletes competing at Pyeongchang.

Opposition from religious groups was shortly seen, who opposed the idea and threatened to carry out protests during the games which are set to begin on Friday.&nbsp;

Gangnueng city government tourism division chief Kang Suk-ho was quoted saying that he did not expect &quot;such an extreme backlash from the group&quot;.&nbsp;

In January, the Pyeongchang Olympics Gangwon Citizens&rsquo; Islam Countermeasure Association, a newly-formed civic group, began distributing a Google form titled &quot;Petition against the Installation of a Pyeongchang Winter Olympics Muslim Prayer Room.&rdquo;

The petition included various claims, including that the people of Gangwon province are collectively opposed to Islam, and that South Korea must be wary of the religion in its radical form. As of February 8, it had gathered more than 56,000 online signatures.

Also read:<a href="http://www.wionews.com/videos/north-korean-leaders-sister-kim-yo-jong-welcomed-by-south-korea-8276">&nbsp;North Korean leader&#39;s sister Kim Yo Jong welcomed by South Korea</a>

Winter Olympics is already underway, PyeongChang is hosting the 2018 XXIII Olympic Winter Games. It is a major international multi-sport event which is scheduled to take place from February 9 to 25.

The 23rd Winter Olympics will feature 102 events in 15 sports and athletes from all over the world.

Out of the total population of 51 million, Muslims account of a mere 0.2%, however, the KTO had earlier decided to build a prayer room to promote a 'Muslim-friendly Korea' during the Winter Olympics with the aim to increase the number of Muslim tourists

The Korean Tourism Organization (KTO) has decided not to provide any prayer rooms in Gangneung for the 2018 Winter Olympics after receiving threats by anti-muslim campaigners, the city's tourism department's chief said on Friday. The KTO has refuted plans of organising mobile prayer rooms following strong opposition from some groups. Out of the total population of 51 million, Muslims account for a mere 0.2%, however, the KTO had earlier decided to build a prayer room to promote a "Muslim-friendly Korea" during the Winter Olympics with the aim of increasing the number of Muslim tourists. This goal came a step closer in early February with the opening of a cafeteria serving certified halal food to Muslim athletes competing at Pyeongchang. Opposition from religious groups was shortly seen, who opposed the idea and threatened to carry out protests during the games which are set to begin on Friday. Gangnueng city government tourism division chief Kang Suk-ho was quoted saying that he did not expect "such an extreme backlash from the group". In January, the Pyeongchang Olympics Gangwon Citizens’ Islam Countermeasure Association, a newly-formed civic group, began distributing a Google form titled "Petition against the Installation of a Pyeongchang Winter Olympics Muslim Prayer Room.” The petition included various claims, including that the people of Gangwon province are collectively opposed to Islam, and that South Korea must be wary of the religion in its radical form. As of February 8, it had gathered more than 56,000 online signatures. Also read: North Korean leader's sister Kim Yo Jong welcomed by South Korea Winter Olympics is already underway, PyeongChang is hosting the 2018 XXIII Olympic Winter Games. It is a major international multi-sport event which is scheduled to take place from February 9 to 25. The 23rd Winter Olympics will feature 102 events in 15 sports and athletes from all over the world.

Prayer rooms dismissed at Olympics following threats by anti-Muslim groups

The 2018 Winter Olympics is a major international multi-sport event which is scheduled to take place from February 9 to 25.

The 23rd Winter Olympics will open in Pyeongchang, South Korea, on February 9, featuring 102 events in 15 sports and athletes from all over the world.

The Winter Olympic torch relay visited the South Korean city of Chuncheon on Monday.

With less than two weeks to go until the opening ceremony for the 2018 Pyeongchang Games, the excitement level is very high among the fans and spectators.

The Olympic torch survived a ride with one torchbearer in a hot air balloon over scenic lakes and mountains, while another torchbearer received the Olympic flame in front of the iconic Statue of Soyanggang Maid - a seven-metre tall bronze statue which was erected in 2005.

A further torchbearer carried the flame across the Soyanggang Skywalk - a transparent 156-metre glass walkway over a lake.

The torch relay kicked off under the slogan &#39;Let Everyone Shine&#39; on 1st November 2017.

As many as 7,500 torchbearers will cover a total distance of 2,018 kilometres through nine provinces and eight major cities across South Korea, before the torch arrives in Pyeongchang for the Winter Olympics opening ceremony on 9th February.

&nbsp;

The torch relay kicked off under the slogan 'Let Everyone Shine' on 1st November 2017

The 2018 Winter Olympics is a major international multi-sport event which is scheduled to take place from February 9 to 25. The 23rd Winter Olympics will open in Pyeongchang, South Korea, on February 9, featuring 102 events in 15 sports and athletes from all over the world. The Winter Olympic torch relay visited the South Korean city of Chuncheon on Monday. With less than two weeks to go until the opening ceremony for the 2018 Pyeongchang Games, the excitement level is very high among the fans and spectators. The Olympic torch survived a ride with one torchbearer in a hot air balloon over scenic lakes and mountains, while another torchbearer received the Olympic flame in front of the iconic Statue of Soyanggang Maid - a seven-metre tall bronze statue which was erected in 2005. A further torchbearer carried the flame across the Soyanggang Skywalk - a transparent 156-metre glass walkway over a lake. The torch relay kicked off under the slogan 'Let Everyone Shine' on 1st November 2017. As many as 7,500 torchbearers will cover a total distance of 2,018 kilometres through nine provinces and eight major cities across South Korea, before the torch arrives in Pyeongchang for the Winter Olympics opening ceremony on 9th February.

The Winter Olympic torch relay: From land to sky 'Let Everyone Shine'

US President Donald Trump today said that he would like to see North Korea get involved in the upcoming Winter Olympics in neighbouring South Korea and hoped that the two Koreas take it to the next level.

Trump was responding to a question on the move in this regard between the two Koreans, who are scheduled to hold their first talks on Tuesday. The president said he had some role in it as he took a strong stand against the North Koreans.

&quot;I&#39;d like to see them getting involved in the Olympics and maybe things go from there. So I&#39;m behind that 100 percent,&quot; Trump told reporters at a news conference in Camp David, the picturesque presidential resort in Maryland.

&quot;I spoke to the president, as you know, with President Moon Jae-in of South Korea. He thanked me very much for my tough stance and, you know, for 25 years they haven&#39;t been using a tough stance,&quot; Trump said.

Trump hoped that the two Koreans moved their relationship beyond just Olympics participation.

&quot;I hope they do. I would love to see them take it beyond the Olympics. We have a very good relationship with South Korea,&quot; he said.

&quot;I would love to see it go far beyond the Olympics, absolutely. And at the appropriate time, we&#39;ll get involved. I like the idea of their dealing with the Olympics. That should be between those two countries,&quot; Trump said.

Trump has adopted a tough approach against North Korea and has very often slammed its leader Kim Jong-un over tweeter. In a tweet this year he told the North Korean leader that he has a bigger nuclear button than his works and that his nuclear button works.

Responding to a question, Trump said he is open to the idea of talking with Kim Jong-un. &quot;Are you, willing to engage and phone talks with Kim Jong right now,&quot; he was asked.

&quot;Sure. I always believe in talking. Right now they&#39;re talking Olympics. It&#39;s a start. It&#39;s a big start. If we are not involved they wouldn&#39;t be talking about Olympics right now. They would be doing no talking.

He (Kim Jong Un) knows I&#39;m not messing around. I&#39;m not messing around. Not even a little bit. Not even one per cent. He understands that&quot; he said.

&quot;At the same time, if we can come up with a very peaceful and very good solution we&#39;re working on it with (Secretary of State) Rex (Tillerson). We&#39;re working on it with a lot of people. If something can happen and something can come out of those talks, that would be a great thing for all of humanity,&quot; he said.

&quot;That would be a great thing for the world. Very important,&quot; Trump said.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;

Donald Trump also said that he hopes that the two Koreas take it to the next level

US President Donald Trump today said that he would like to see North Korea get involved in the upcoming Winter Olympics in neighbouring South Korea and hoped that the two Koreas take it to the next level. Trump was responding to a question on the move in this regard between the two Koreans, who are scheduled to hold their first talks on Tuesday. The president said he had some role in it as he took a strong stand against the North Koreans. "I'd like to see them getting involved in the Olympics and maybe things go from there. So I'm behind that 100 percent," Trump told reporters at a news conference in Camp David, the picturesque presidential resort in Maryland. "I spoke to the president, as you know, with President Moon Jae-in of South Korea. He thanked me very much for my tough stance and, you know, for 25 years they haven't been using a tough stance," Trump said. Trump hoped that the two Koreans moved their relationship beyond just Olympics participation. "I hope they do. I would love to see them take it beyond the Olympics. We have a very good relationship with South Korea," he said. "I would love to see it go far beyond the Olympics, absolutely. And at the appropriate time, we'll get involved. I like the idea of their dealing with the Olympics. That should be between those two countries," Trump said. Trump has adopted a tough approach against North Korea and has very often slammed its leader Kim Jong-un over tweeter. In a tweet this year he told the North Korean leader that he has a bigger nuclear button than his works and that his nuclear button works. Responding to a question, Trump said he is open to the idea of talking with Kim Jong-un. "Are you, willing to engage and phone talks with Kim Jong right now," he was asked. "Sure. I always believe in talking. Right now they're talking Olympics. It's a start. It's a big start. If we are not involved they wouldn't be talking about Olympics right now. They would be doing no talking. He (Kim Jong Un) knows I'm not messing around. I'm not messing around. Not even a little bit. Not even one per cent. He understands that" he said. "At the same time, if we can come up with a very peaceful and very good solution we're working on it with (Secretary of State) Rex (Tillerson). We're working on it with a lot of people. If something can happen and something can come out of those talks, that would be a great thing for all of humanity," he said. "That would be a great thing for the world. Very important," Trump said.

Would like to see North Korea get involved in Winter Olympics: Trump

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