Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (Minister Park Yang-woo) and Gangwon Province (Governor Choi Moon-soon), the Korean Sport and Olympic Committee (President Lee Ki-hong) at 4:30pm on Friday, January 24, will host ‘Welcoming Ceremony for 2020 Lausanne Winter Youth Olympic Games’ and ‘Flag Acquisition Event for 2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games’ at Terminal 2 at Incheon International Airport.

Welcoming National Teams of Athletes of 2020 Lausanne Winter Youth Olympic Games

The total number of 66 athletes from Korean National Team participated in 7 games and 13 games in detail, and will return home as soon as the schedule is over. At the Games the National Team won 5 gold medals and 3 silver medals, thanks to Athlete Yoo Young who participated in Figure Skating as an female individual event and Short-Track Team of Athlete Seo Whimin, Jang Seong-woo, Lee Jung-min and Kim Chan-seo.

Youth Olympic Games does not usually count medals by nation but rather follows a system of ‘Mixed NOC’, where athletes with different nationalities are grouped in one team. Shine Seo-yon, an ice hockey player, has won gold medals in Mixed Competitions (Mixed NOC 3 vs 3) as a member of the team with players from various countries including Germany, Belgium, Switzerland and France.

The 2nd Vice Minister Choi Yoon-hee cited “I watched the games feeling same as you did along with my old memories and experiences as an athlete. I am sure you have spent a precious time performing, sharing friendships and building fellowships with athletes from all around the world. This memory will draw a vivid picture in your entire life for the future and encourage you as an athlete.

The flag for 2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games will arrive in Korea on January 24. Deputy Governor of Administration Kim Sung-ho of Gangwon Province who received the flag from Lausanne Mayor Gregory Juno at the Closing Ceremony of 2020 Lausanne Winter Youth Olympic Games is expected to deliver the flag to Governor Choi Moon-soon of Gangwon at the Arrival Hall of Terminal 2 at Inchon International Airport.

Since the 2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games is the very first event that takes place in Asia outside Europe in the history of the Winter Youth Olympics, the flag has also arrived in Asia for the first time in its history. The event is expected to expand the scope of winter sports in the Asian region as well as strengthen the position of Gangwon Province as the center of winter sports.

In regards to the flag acquisition the government and Gangwon Province are now preparing for the 2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games. As it is only four year away from the event date, the government plans to establish ‘The Organizing Committee for 2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games’ as soon as possible. It also aims to efficiently organize by utilizing tangible and intangible heritage, such as stadiums for 2018 Pyongyang Winter Olympics and Paralympics without having to invest excessively.

Governor Choi Moon-soon of Gangwon Province said “I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the government and the members from KSOC for their active support. I will thoroughly prepare for the event under the goal of raising the status and potential of Gangwon Province as well as the Republic of Korea”. The 2nd Vice Minister Choi Yoon-hee said that the government will do its best to help more athletes and young adults to experience the Games in Korea four years from now and provide an opportunity to share valuable and joyful memories with the fellow citizens in Korean.