A flame-lighting ceremony took place in ancient Olympia for next February's Pyeongchang Winter Olympics on Tuesday, as dignitaries like International Olympic Committee chief Thomas Bach and games organizing chief Lee Hee Beom looked on.

As the flame could not be kindled from the sun's rays during the event due to rain, the fire lit at the previous day's rehearsal was used.

In accordance with custom that a Greek runner carries the flame on the first leg of the torch relay, cross-country skier Apostolos Angelis served the role before handing the torch to former South Korean soccer star Park Ji Sung.

"It is such an honor to be the first Korean torch bearer and it was my dream since (I was a) kid," said Park, who played for clubs including Manchester United in the Premier League and Kyoto Sanga in the J-League, after running a segment of about 200 meters.

"I know how important and how pleasing it is to be involved in the Olympic Games so I am happy to be here," said the 36-year-old who retired as a soccer player three years ago. Park helped Guus Hiddink's South Korea reach the semifinals of the 2002 World Cup.

The flame will travel around Greece before arriving in South Korea on Nov. 1, 100 days before the opening of the 17-day Olympics on Feb. 9.

Kim Yu Na, the 2010 Vancouver Olympic champion in women's figure skating, will bring the flame from Greece to Incheon airport on the outskirts of Seoul.

A total of 7,500 people will run a combined 2,018 kilometers in the host country, amid heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula over North Korea's missile and nuclear threats. The route includes a portion close to the military demarcation line between the two Koreas.

Scheduled runners include Lee Bong Ju, silver medalist in men's marathon at the 1996 Atlanta Summer Games, and former soccer international Cha Du Ri.