The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (Minister PARK Bo Gyoon, MCST), Gangwon Province (Governor CHOI Moon-soon), and the Pyeongchang 2018 Legacy Foundation (President RYU Seung Min) held inauguration ceremony on training winter sports to young athletes from snowless nations on May 30 (Mon) at the Pyeongchang Alpensia Convention Center.

Taking the opportunity of the Gangwon 2024 Youth Olympics which will be taking place in January 2024, MCST, Gangwon Province, and the Pyeongchang 2018 Legacy Foundation will invite youth athletes from snowless regions for training winter sports and participating in competitions during 2022 and 2023 season to promote the field training. This inauguration ceremony is the start of the project for providing training opportunities to young athletes from snowless regions. Those who will be taking part in the training will be able to practice in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province and also have the opportunity to participate in the Gangwon 2024 Youth Olympics as athletes.

The first session of field training is scheduled to be held in Pyeongchang from May 30 (Mon) to June 12 (Sun). In the first edition of the training, approximately 100 youth athletes from 14 countries will be taking part as trainees. Young athletes from 14 countries (four Asian countries, including Thailand and ten African countries, including Ethiopia) will be joining winter sports training program such as bobsleigh, ski jumping, and skeleton. In addition to the sports training, there will be other events where those invited athletes can enjoy Korean culture, including a visit to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), and enjoying Korean popular songs (K-pop), B-boy dance, and Taekwondo.