All venues completed for Pyeongchang 2018 - Games chief

Olympics - Dress Rehearsal - Lighting Ceremony of the Olympic Flame Pyeongchang 2018 - Ancient Olympia, Olympia, Greece - October 23, 2017. Lee Hee-beom, president and CEO of the Pyeongchang Organizing Committee for the 2018 Winter Olympic Games, speaks during a news conference following the dress rehearsal for the Olympic flame lighting ceremony at the site of ancient Olympia in Greece. REUTERS/Costas Baltas

ANCIENT OLYMPIA, Greece (Reuters) - Organisers of the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics have completed construction of all competition and non-competition venues, Games chief Lee Hee-beom said on Monday ahead of the start of the Olympic torch relay.

Pyeongchang had been rushing to finish work on a number of projects including hotels and event venues after falling behind in the first few years of preparations.

Olympics - Dress Rehearsal - Lighting Ceremony of the Olympic Flame Pyeongchang 2018 - Ancient Olympia, Olympia, Greece - October 23, 2017 Greek actress Katerina Lehou, playing the role of High Priestess, lights a torch from the sun's rays reflected in a parabolic mirror during the dress rehearsal for the Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at the site of ancient Olympia in Greece REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis

Lee said the completion of work was good news for organisers who can now focus on the delivery of what he said were going to be the biggest Winter Olympics in history.

Lee is in ancient Olympia for the lighting of the Olympic torch at the site of the ancient Olympics which will kick off the countdown to the Games.

The flame will arrive in Seoul on Nov. 1 for the start of a three-month journey across the country.

Olympics - Dress Rehearsal - Lighting Ceremony of the Olympic Flame Pyeongchang 2018 - Ancient Olympia, Olympia, Greece - October 23, 2017 Greek actress Katerina Lehou, playing the role of High Priestess, lights a torch from the sun's rays reflected in a parabolic mirror during the dress rehearsal for the Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at the site of ancient Olympia in Greece REUTERS/Costas Baltas

"I can announce that as of today all competition and non-comp venues are complete," Lee told reporters a day before the torch lighting ceremony.

"We want to ensure they (athletes) have their time of their life with the best facilities possible. We are well on the road to achieving that."

"Infrastructure including the high-speed rail (connecting Pyeongchang with Incheon airport) and highways are already done. We will be the biggest winter Games ever and we aim to be the most athlete-focused."

Olympics - Dress Rehearsal - Lighting Ceremony of the Olympic Flame Pyeongchang 2018 - Ancient Olympia, Olympia, Greece - October 23, 2017 Actresses during the dress rehearsal for the Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at the site of ancient Olympia in Greece REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis

The Feb. 9-25 Winter Games are the first to be staged in Asia outside Japan and the first of three consecutive Olympics on the continent, with the Tokyo 2020 Summer Games and the 2022 Beijing Winter Games to follow.

But organisers are struggling to sell tickets with only about a third of those available having been bought.

The run-up to the world's biggest winter sports event has also been overshadowed by an escalating crisis on the Korean peninsula.

Olympics - Dress Rehearsal - Lighting Ceremony of the Olympic Flame Pyeongchang 2018 - Ancient Olympia, Olympia, Greece - October 23, 2017 Greek actress Katerina Lehou, playing the role of High Priestess, carries the Olympic Flame during the dress rehearsal for the Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at the site of ancient Olympia in Greece REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis

North Korea is working to develop a nuclear-tipped missile capable of striking the U.S. mainland and has ignored all calls, even from its lone major ally China, to rein in its weapons programmes which it conducts in defiance of U.N. Security Council resolutions.

"We know the world is watching the current geopolitical situation," Lee said. "We continue to work very closely with all relevant authorities of stakeholders to deliver safe and secure Games for everyone involved."

"The Olympic Games transcends political tension. The Olympic Games are a symbol of hope and peace."

Olympics - Dress Rehearsal - Lighting Ceremony of the Olympic Flame Pyeongchang 2018 - Ancient Olympia, Olympia, Greece - October 23, 2017 Greek actress Katerina Lehou, playing the role of High Priestess, lights a torch from the sun's rays reflected in a parabolic mirror during the dress rehearsal for the Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at the site of ancient Olympia in Greece REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis

(Reporting by Karolos Grohmann, editing by Ed Osmond)

Olympics - Dress Rehearsal - Lighting Ceremony of the Olympic Flame Pyeongchang 2018 - Ancient Olympia, Olympia, Greece - October 23, 2017 Actresses with the flame during the dress rehearsal for the Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at the site of ancient Olympia in Greece REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis

Olympics - Dress Rehearsal - Lighting Ceremony of the Olympic Flame Pyeongchang 2018 - Ancient Olympia, Olympia, Greece - October 23, 2017 Actresses with the flame during the dress rehearsal for the Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at the site of ancient Olympia in Greece REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis

Olympics - Dress Rehearsal - Lighting Ceremony of the Olympic Flame Pyeongchang 2018 - Ancient Olympia, Olympia, Greece - October 23, 2017 Greek actress Katerina Lehou, playing the role of High Priestess, holds a torch during the dress rehearsal for the Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at the site of ancient Olympia in Greece REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis

Olympics - Dress Rehearsal - Lighting Ceremony of the Olympic Flame Pyeongchang 2018 - Ancient Olympia, Olympia, Greece - October 23, 2017 Actresses during the dress rehearsal for the Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at the site of ancient Olympia in Greece REUTERS/Costas Baltas

Olympics - Dress Rehearsal - Lighting Ceremony of the Olympic Flame Pyeongchang 2018 - Ancient Olympia, Olympia, Greece - October 23, 2017 Actors perform during the dress rehearsal for the Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at the site of ancient Olympia in Greece REUTERS/Costas Baltas

Olympics - Dress Rehearsal - Lighting Ceremony of the Olympic Flame Pyeongchang 2018 - Ancient Olympia, Olympia, Greece - October 23, 2017 Spectators during the dress rehearsal for the Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at the site of ancient Olympia in Greece REUTERS/Costas Baltas

Olympics - Dress Rehearsal - Lighting Ceremony of the Olympic Flame Pyeongchang 2018 - Ancient Olympia, Olympia, Greece - October 23, 2017 Actors perform during the dress rehearsal for the Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at the site of ancient Olympia in Greece REUTERS/Costas Baltas

Olympics - Dress Rehearsal - Lighting Ceremony of the Olympic Flame Pyeongchang 2018 - Ancient Olympia, Olympia, Greece - October 23, 2017 Actors perform during the dress rehearsal for the Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at the site of ancient Olympia in Greece REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis

Olympics - Dress Rehearsal - Lighting Ceremony of the Olympic Flame Pyeongchang 2018 - Ancient Olympia, Olympia, Greece - October 23, 2017 First torchbearer Greek cross country skiing athlete Apostolos Aggelis holds the Olympic Flame and an olive branch during the dress rehearsal for the Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at the site of ancient Olympia in Greece REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis

Olympics - Dress Rehearsal - Lighting Ceremony of the Olympic Flame Pyeongchang 2018 - Ancient Olympia, Olympia, Greece - October 23, 2017 Greek actress Katerina Lehou, playing the role of High Priestess, passes an olive branch to the first torchbearer, Greek cross country skiing athlete Apostolos Aggelis, during the dress rehearsal for the Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at the site of ancient Olympia in Greece REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis

Olympics - Dress Rehearsal - Lighting Ceremony of the Olympic Flame Pyeongchang 2018 - Ancient Olympia, Olympia, Greece - October 23, 2017 Greek actress Katerina Lehou, playing the role of High Priestess, passes the flame to the first torchbearer, Greek cross country skiing athlete Apostolos Aggelis, during the dress rehearsal for the Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at the site of ancient Olympia in Greece REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis

Olympics - Dress Rehearsal - Lighting Ceremony of the Olympic Flame Pyeongchang 2018 - Ancient Olympia, Olympia, Greece - October 23, 2017 Actors perform during the dress rehearsal for the Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at the site of ancient Olympia in Greece REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis

Olympics - Dress Rehearsal - Lighting Ceremony of the Olympic Flame Pyeongchang 2018 - Ancient Olympia, Olympia, Greece - October 23, 2017 Actors perform during the dress rehearsal for the Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at the site of ancient Olympia in Greece REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis