PyeongChang 2018 Winter Games organisers hold a promotional event in Copacabana attended by IOC president Thomas Bach (9th August) and he describes a photograph taken by two smiling gymnasts from North and South Korea in Rio as "a great gesture of Olympic spirit".

The Winter Games are not often seen on a sun-drenched beach, but that's what happened in Copacabana on Tuesday.
Organisers of the 2018 Winter Games staged a promotional event on the world famous beach during the Rio Olympics, and IOC president Thomas Bach even tried his hand at 'virtual ski jumping'.

SOUNDBITE: (English) Thomas Bach, IOC President:

It is very impressive to see the high technology, it is impressive to see the model with the toys, the VR (virtual reality), but in the end in the Olympic games, and I think in life, it is always down to people.

The Winter Olympics in two years' time takes place at the South Korean resort of PyenongChang.

And although there remains a state of high tension between North and South Korea, that didn't stop two gymnasts from the two countries - Hong Un Jong and Lee Eun-ju, respectively - shaking hands and smiling together for photographers during the women's artistic gymnastics qualification on Sunday.

Bach commented on the images, which have been seen around the world.

SOUNDBITE: (English) Thomas Bach, IOC President:

It was a great gesture of Olympic spirit, of fair play and fortunately we see quite a few of these gestures here during the Olympic games.

Lee Hee-Beom, the Winter Olympics Organising Committee President also spoke at the event adding that he is doing all he can to deliver a memorable winter games in 2018.

SOUNDBITE (English) Lee Hee-Beom, PyeongChang Organising Committee President for the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games:

The eyes of the world will very soon be up on us, on our preparations, on our culture, on our technology and on our success. You can be assured that we will do our best to give you a memorable Olympic Winter games in 2018.