The opening ceremony of the “Winter Youth Olympic Games Gangwon 2024” (Gangwon 2024) will illuminate the night sky simultaneously at the Gangneung Oval and the Pyeongchang Dome in Gangwon State at 8:00 p.m. on January 19 (Fri). Approximately 9,000 spectators in Gangneung and 4,000 in Pyeongchang will join the event. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) Minister YU In Chon and Second Vice Minister JANG Mi Ran will attend the ceremony in Gangneung, while First Vice Minister JEON Byung Geuk will be in Pyeongchang to support young athletes from around the globe.

The global youth sports festival, “Gangwon 2024,” will be held for 14 days from January 19 (Fri) to February 1 (Thur), in four municipalities of Gangwon State: Gangneung, Pyeongchang, Jeongseon, and Hoengseong. Notably, this is the first Winter Youth Olympic Games in Asia and the second Olympic event to be hosted in Gangwon, utilizing the facilities of “PyeongChang 2018.” A total of 1,803 athletes from 79 countries will participate.    

Before the official events, the opening ceremony will feature cultural performances aligning with the theme, “Let Us Shine.”  It will feature dance teams “TURNS” and “Ambiguous Dance Company,” presenting a narrative of discovery and growth as they find the shining stars within themselves in a school classroom setting. The official events will follow, which include the entry and raising of the South Korean and the Olympic flags and the oath-taking ceremony of the athletes, referees, and coaches. Then, various cultural events will delight the audience, featuring a cutting-edge LED cube-based “Digital Torch Ignition Performance.”

Korean winter sports legends YUN Sung Bin and PARK Seung Hi and next generation athletes PARK Ha Eun, PARK Ga Eun, and LEE Jeong Min light the “Gangwon 2024” torch.

The “Gangwon 2024” torch will be lit and carried by Korean winter sports legends and aspiring talents, which will start the 14-day sporting spectacle. PyeongChang 2018’s skeleton champion YUN Sung Bin will be the first torchbearer, followed by short-track speed skating sisters and prodigies with intellectual disabilities PARK Ha Eun and PARK Ga Eun, and PARK Seung Hi, a gold medalist from the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics. The final torchbearer is LEE Jeong Min, competing in freestyle skiing at “Gangwon 2024.”

A variety of cultural events will be held in the four host cities and counties, offering local and global visitors the essence and joy of K-Culture to complement the athletic events. Performances by national cultural institutions such as the Korea National Contemporary Dance Company, Korean National Symphony Orchestra, Korean National Ballet, and Gangwon Provincial Dance Company will take place. Simultaneously, five festival sites across the host cities and counties feature a diverse array of performances, exhibitions, and interactive events for young people to participate in.   

Throughout the Games, MCST will work closely with the “Gangwon 2024” Organizing Committee to ensure that athletes from all countries and the public can safely and comfortably enjoy the events, paying close attention to and supporting all aspects of the competition, including operation, guidance systems, transportation, and spectator convenience.

Minister YU In Chon said, “‘Gangwon 2024” presents a unique opportunity for young athletes to forge lasting memories by engaging with peers from diverse nationalities and backgrounds.” He added, “MCST has prepared with the organizing committee and Gangwon State to make Gangwon 2024 a sports festival where the world’s youth can learn about and enjoy K-Culture. We hope that all attendees will enjoy the festivities of the Youth Olympics.”