We are just four hours away from the start of the 23rd Winter Olympics right here in
South Korea.
The opening ceremony in Pyeongchang starts at 8pm, Korea time -- that's 6 a.m. eastern
time in the U.S. and 11 a.m. in London.
This is the second time for the Olympic cauldron to be lit in South Korea -- the first being
30 years ago at the 1988 Summer Games.
Our Lee Ji-won is standing by for us in Pyongchang at the Olympic Plaza.
Jiwon, surely the anticipation is building over there at this point, though we've still
got some time to go.
How is it?
Devin, like you said, we still have about four hours to go till the Opening Ceremony
of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics,... but there are already quite a number of people
gathered around the venue, enjoying the Olympic vibe.
The city is really different.
It's a crazy day here with a lot of people and with a really good atmosphere.
it.s an amazing day.
It's nice to see so many peiple from so many countroes together
"We've been preparing for this Olympics for a really long time, and now the day is finally
here.
I'm really thrilled.
The weather's also improved a lot so I don't think it will be too cold for the spectators
either."
" My 7th Olympic opening ceremony and my 13th Olympic games.
For me it is always the beginning of the energy of the Olympics.
So im excited to see how Korea builds that excitement this evening and expressing its
culture, history as well as its future."
To tell you more about today's opening ceremony, it's going to unfold as the journey of five
children searching for answers to 'peace,'... featuring Korean legends and history as well
as a flurry of performances that will showcase South Korea's rich culture.
The two-hour ceremony will see all 92 participating nations walk into the stadium with their national
flags held high.
And as the host country, South Korea will march in last,... but together with the delegates
from North Korea, under the unification flag.
The Korean folk song Arirang will be played when they make their entrance.
And as it has always been for the previous joint entrances, there will be two torch bearers,
one from each side.
Gold medal hopeful, bobsledder Won Yun-jong will represent the South, and the women's
ice hockey player Hyong Chung-gum from the North.
The ceremony will also have a large VIP audience,... with President Moon Jae-in, U.S. Vice President
Mike Pence, and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in attendance, as well as North Korean
leader Kim Jong-un's sister, Kim Yo-jong.
And last but not the least, we will see the 2018 PyeongChang Olympic Cauldron lit with
the Olympic torch, that's been carried around the country for 101 days,... marking the start
of the Winter Games.
Well, one thing that's been a concern -- and this is getting a fair deal of coverage abroad
too -- is the weather.
It's been extremely cold here in Korea even by the standards we're used to.
So how's the weather looking today and more importantly tonight?
Devin, it's expected to be mostly cloudy during the opening ceremony.
The Korea Meteorological Administration forecasts the temperature to be on par with or even
slightly above, the seasonal average,... ranging between minus two to minus five degrees Celsius,
but the wind chill factor will make the "real feel" temperature more like minus 10 degrees.
That's pretty cold if you're sitting still for hours on end.
The organizing committee has prepared a winter gear pack, including blankets and raincoats,
for the spectators,... but anyone coming to watch the ceremony will need to bundle up,
wear plenty of layers and certainly bring a hat, scarf and gloves.
That's all from me for now, but I'll be back with more later.
Back to you Devin.