Organisers claimed last month that they had received a total of 91,656 applications from 145 countries, asserting that the number showed "high local and international interest".

Female candidates vastly outnumbered male applicants, accounting for 78 per cent of the total, while 14 per cent were from overseas.

Of these, 2,890 are from Russia, 1,345 are from China and 1,158 are from the United States.

The number is now due to be whittled down to 22,400 by South Korean organisers.

According to the Korea Times, Pyeongchang 2018 have chosen 43,918 people to advance to the next phase of the selection process.

"Though we are unable to accept every applicant, we are planning to invite them to the tests through April of next year and to the various events related to the Pyeongchang Games," Pyeongchang 2018 President Lee Hee-beom said.

Those chosen will serve across the seven areas of Games information, operational support, media, sport, protocol and languages, medical services and technology.

Interviews and language tests are now expected to take place in December.

After the screening process, selected volunteers will be required to go through field training sessions and classes designed to offer the best possible service during the Games.

Uniforms, accommodation, meals, insurance coverage and other benefits will be provided to all volunteers.

A total of 25,000 volunteers worked at Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics.