South Korea celebrates 3-year countdown to start of 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang

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Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics Organizing Committee President Cho-Yang-ho, left, South Korea\'s Culture, Sports and Tourism Vice Minister Kim Jong, second left, and Gangwon Province Gov. Choi Moon-soon, second right, run with mock Olympic torches during an event marking the three-year countdown to the start of the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, Monday, Feb. 9, 2015. The South Korean government recently rejected a proposal by the International Olympic Committee to halt construction on a new bobsled, luge and skeleton venue and relocate the events to an existing sliding center in another country. The IOC said the move would have saved 20 million in construction costs and .5 million in yearly maintenance fees. (AP Photo/Yonhap, Han Jong-chan) KOREA OUT

SEOUL, South Korea – South Korea is marking the three-year countdown to the start of the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang.

The organizing committee celebrated Monday’s milestone with an event at Pyeongchang’s ski jumping centre and Olympic stadium site.

Kim Jong, an official with South Korea’s sports ministry, said officials are “at a critical point” in preparations for the games, which will run from Feb. 9-25, 2018.

The South Korean government recently rejected a proposal by the International Olympic Committee to halt construction on a new bobsled, luge and skeleton venue and relocate the events to an existing sliding centre in another country. The IOC said the move would have saved $120 million in construction costs and $3.5 million in yearly maintenance fees.

The government also ruled out sharing events with rival North Korea.

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