2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games Open Today... '14 Days of Competition'

Live Broadcast of Gangneung and Pyeongchang Dual Opening Ceremony
Participants: 1,803 Athletes from 79 Countries
Utilizing 2018 Pyeongchang Olympic Facilities

The '2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games' (hereinafter Gangwon2024), the world's first sports festival for promising youth athletes held in Asia, lights the torch today (19th), beginning a 14-day journey of dreams and challenges.

On the afternoon of the 18th, one day before the opening ceremony of the 2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games, the official mascot of the event, 'Mungcho,' was installed at Gangneung Olympic Park in Gangwon Province.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Gangwon2024 will officially open at 8 p.m. on the 19th with a dual live broadcast from the Gangneung Speed Skating Oval and the Pyeongchang Dome. Approximately 9,000 spectators in Gangneung and 4,000 in Pyeongchang will attend to celebrate the opening of the Games.

Gangwon2024 brings together about 1,800 athletes from 79 countries to share friendship and harmony. Following the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, this event is expected to showcase South Korea's cultural assets to the world once again.

At the opening ceremony, held simultaneously at the Gangneung Speed Skating Oval and Pyeongchang Dome, the production team led by Opening Ceremony Director Yang Jeong-ung will present an imaginative journey featuring a Gangwon-do girl named 'Uri' who embarks on a dream-seeking voyage into space, inspired by the Games' slogan, "Shining Together."

Additionally, aligned with the opening ceremony theme "Let us Shine," various performances will depict youth discovering the shining stars within themselves?their own "microcosm"?and growing within "The Universe."

On the 18th, one day before the opening of the 2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games, the Brazilian youth curling team is smiling brightly at the Gangneung Curling Center.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

This global youth sports festival will be held over 14 days from the opening ceremony until July 1st across four cities and counties: Gangneung, Pyeongchang, Jeongseon, and Hoengseong. This marks the first time the Winter Youth Olympic Games are held outside Europe. Since the inaugural Games in 2012, the three editions up to 2020 were hosted by European cities: Innsbruck, Austria; Lillehammer, Norway; and Lausanne, Switzerland.

The Youth Olympic Games, designed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to discover future Olympic stars and spread the Olympic spirit among youth worldwide, are held every four years with both summer and winter editions, similar to the traditional Olympics.

Thomas Bach, President of the IOC, stated, "I am very satisfied with the athlete village and other facilities. I have heard that athletes are pleased with the well-prepared accommodations and meals. I myself am deeply impressed by the preparations and am confident in the successful hosting of the Games."

This edition is the largest Winter Youth Olympic Games ever held, promising not only thrilling competitions but also a variety of attractions on-site. Notably, the Games utilize venues constructed for the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, adding special significance.

Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and Choi Jong-gu, Chairperson of the 2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games Organizing Committee, visited the athletes' village set up at Gangneung-Wonju National University on the 17th and took commemorative photos with the athletes.
[Photo by 2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games Organizing Committee]

South Korea will field the largest team with 102 athletes competing in 14 events. Winter sports prospects such as Shin Ji-a, a female figure skater spotlighted as the "post-Kim Yuna," snowboarder Lee Chae-woon, the first Korean to win a world championship gold medal in snow sports, and "snowboard prodigy" Choi Ga-on will all compete for gold medals. The youngest member of the national bobsleigh team, So Jae-hwan, will participate alongside his classmates, creating special memories.

As the Youth Olympic Games focus more on youth participation and cultural exchange rather than national competition, Gangwon2024 will offer visitors from home and abroad the charm and beauty of "K-Culture" through various cultural events held in the four host cities and counties during the Games.

During the Games, national and public arts organizations such as the National Contemporary Dance Company, National Symphony Orchestra, National Ballet Company, and Gangwon Provincial Dance Company will present cultural and artistic performances. Additionally, five festivals across the four host regions will offer diverse performances, exhibitions, and experiential events for youth participation.

Yoo In-chon, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said, "The youth participating in Gangwon2024 will have unforgettable memories as they interact with young people from various countries and ethnicities here in South Korea."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.