The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (Minister YU In Chon, MCST) is launching a joint preparation group (“Preparation Group”) to support Korean athletes and citizens for safe participation in the 2024 Paris Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games (“Paris 2024 Olympics”). The Preparation Group, spearheaded by the MCST, includes the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, the Ministry of Unification, Korea Sport & Olympic Council, Korea Paralympic Committee, Korea Tourism Organization, and Korea Creative Content Agency. The first meeting of the Preparation Group was held on May 20 (Mon), chaired by Second Vice Minister JANG Mi Ran.

The Preparation Group aims to ensure the safe participation of both athletes and visitors in the first Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games open to on-site spectators since the COVID-19 outbreak

The Paris 2024 Olympics will be the first Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games to welcome on-site spectators since the COVID-19 outbreak. Scheduled from July 26 to August 11, the Paris 2024 Olympics will feature approximately 10,500 athletes from 206 countries (competing in 32 sports across 329 events). Meanwhile, the Paris 2024 Paralympics, from August 28 to September 8, will host 4,400 athletes from 182 countries (competing in 22 sports across 539 events).

At the preparatory meeting, the group conducted a comprehensive review of the preparations to ensure Korean athletes to perform at their best and remain safe. The group also provided relevant information to associated organizations for cooperation. In addition, discussions included ways for Koreans to safely attend the games and the possibility of opening “Korea House” to showcase Korean culture to visitors from around the world.

Vice Minister JANG Mi Ran stated, “We will provide comprehensive and systematic support in cooperation with relevant organizations so that Korean athletes and coaches can perform without regrets and stay safe during the competition. We will also make thorough preparations so that our citizens visiting France can safely enjoy the Olympic and Paralympic Games, a festival and a large-scale sporting event for people from all over the world.”