16 Oct 2023 – With less than 100 days to go, excitement is building for the upcoming Winter Youth Olympic Games Gangwon 2024, and it was against this backdrop that the Gangwon 2024 Organising Committee presented its most recent developments and initiatives to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session on Monday.
Jin Jong-oh and Kim Chul-min, respectively Co-President and Secretary General of the Organising Committee, addressed the IOC membership and confirmed that Gangwon 2024 is ready to welcome the world for what they assured will be a memorable experience for athletes, volunteers and spectators alike.
Youth Olympic flame and Torch Tour
The Youth Olympic flame, which was lit on 3 October in Athens, Greece, is currently lighting up the Republic of Korea with an 80-day journey of solidarity. The flame, a symbol of unity and hope, is making its way across the country, engaging communities and igniting the YOG spirit.
Countdown to the YOG
On 11 October 2023, 100 days before the Winter Youth Olympic Games (YOG) Gangwon 2024 begin, the Organising Committee, led by its two Co-Presidents, Lee Sang-hwa and Jin Jong-oh, invited athletes, K-pop stars and the public to celebrate this key milestone in Seoul, Republic of Korea. This important event attracted approximately 7,000 people to celebrate the countdown to the Games.
Speaking at the IOC Session, Coordination Commission Chair Hong Zhang said: “Just a few days after we celebrated the 100 days-to-go mark, we can see that the excitement around the YOG is growing. Gangwon 2024 will aim to keep this momentum going with a number of major upcoming milestones, such as the Torch Tour, which will see the Olympic flame travel throughout the Republic of Korea; the launch of the Gangwon 2024 metaverse; and the opening of the ticketing platform.”
Volunteers
The Gangwon 2024 Organising Committee launched its recruitment programme for volunteers in April, inviting enthusiastic individuals to be part of the Games. Volunteers will play a crucial role in ensuring the smooth running of the Games, from assisting athletes to coordinating logistics.
Medal design
In February 2023, the IOC launched the Medal Design Competition, to select the design of the obverse of the medals. “A Sparkling Future”, designed by 27-year-old Brazilian Dante Akira Uwai, was announced as the winner. The Gangwon contest saw a record-breaking 3,000 proposals submitted.
For the reverse of the medal, local students from Gangwon-do Province took part in a workshop session to create the design.
PyeongChang 2018 legacy
The Games will benefit greatly from the legacy of the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018, and will take place in four locations: Gangneung (for ice sports), PyeongChang (for Nordic and sliding disciplines), Jeongseon High 1 (for Alpine skiing and dual moguls) and Hoengseong (for the remaining freestyle skiing and snowboard events).
