'Shining Together: The World's Youth' 2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games Opening Ceremony

1,802 Youth Participants from 78 Countries
Stage of Friendship and Harmony Until February 1

The opening ceremony of the 2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games reached its climax as 'Uri,' a girl from Gangwon-do wearing a school uniform, pushed off the floor of the Gangneung Speed Skating Stadium and soared into the sky. The Gangneung Speed Skating Stadium instantly transformed into a space of infinite possibilities?the universe?and we floated through space in search of our dreams. We finally found our own universe, and then the Olympic flame brightly illuminated the Gangneung Speed Skating Stadium, announcing the grand opening of the 2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games.

The 2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games, which inherited the legacy of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, officially opened on the afternoon of the 19th. The opening ceremony, held under the theme "Shine Together," took place simultaneously at the Gangneung Speed Skating Stadium and the PyeongChang Dome. Attendees included President Yoon Suk-yeol, International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Yoo In-chon, and Choi Jong-gu, Co-Chairman of the Gangwon 2024 Organizing Committee.

The ceremony began with a countdown followed by a performance titled "The Beginning of Passion," depicting the morning scenes of high school students who love Korean culture. This was followed by the introduction of guests, and the entrance and raising of the Taegeukgi (Korean national flag).

[Image source=Yonhap News]

During the Taegeukgi entrance, six current and former Korean winter sports athletes participated, adding significance to the moment. Active athletes included short track skater Seo Hwi-min (Korea University), figure skater Lee Hae-in (Sehwa Girls' High School), and biathlete Kim Yong-gyu (Pocheon City Hall). They were joined by Lee Kang-seok, bronze medalist in the men's 500m speed skating at the 2006 Torino Winter Olympics; Jeon Jeong-rin, silver medalist in the men's four-man bobsleigh at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics; and An Geun-young, former national women's ice hockey team player.

Next, during the athletes' parade, unlike typical Olympics, the participating athletes had already entered before the ceremony began. One or two flag bearers (one male and one female) from each country entered waving their national flags.

Following President Yoon Suk-yeol's declaration of the opening, the raising of the Olympic flag, and the playing of the Olympic anthem, the oath-taking by representatives of athletes, referees, and coaches took place. Then, celebratory performances resumed. Groups Lun8ate, TripleS, Ash Island, and rapper Changmo delivered lively performances, and the Olympic flame was lit.

Yoon Sung-bin, gold medalist in skeleton at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, was the first torchbearer. He was followed by Park Ha-eun and Park Ga-eun, sisters and gold medalists in short track at last year's National Disabled Winter Sports Competition; Park Seung-hee, two-time short track gold medalist at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics; and finally, Lee Jeong-min, a national representative competing in freestyle skiing at the Gangwon Winter Youth Olympics, who lit the flame. For the first time in history, the flame for this event is a digital flame. It operates without consuming gas or fuel, thus not impacting the environment, and reflects external weather conditions digitally. The flame will burn throughout the duration of the Games.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The finale was marked by performances from the band Day6 and Ambiguous Dance Company. Day6 performed their new song "Hee Hee Ha Ha" followed by their hit "The Tiger is Coming," concluding the opening ceremony. Notably, during "The Tiger is Coming," all the youth athletes participating in the Games joined on stage, sharing the moment together.

A total of 1,802 athletes from 78 countries will compete for 81 gold medals across 15 events in 7 sports until February 1. Competitions will be held in four cities and counties: Gangneung, PyeongChang, Jeongseon, and Hoengseong. Ice skating, short track, and curling events will take place in PyeongChang; cross-country skiing, biathlon, and sledding events in Gangneung; and alpine skiing and snowboarding events will be held in Jeongseon and Hoengseong, respectively.

Except for the opening ceremony held in Gangneung, all events of the 2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games will be open to the public free of charge. Various cultural and artistic performances featuring national and public art groups such as the National Contemporary Dance Company, National Symphony Orchestra, National Ballet Company, and Gangwon Provincial Dance Company will also be held.

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