Official Mascot and Theme Song of the Youth Olympic Games Unveiled
[Pyeongchang, Gangwon = Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] "The 2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games are just one year away. Today, I am pleased to introduce the mascot Mungcho to you for the first time here." (Kim Yuna, Ambassador for the Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games)
The Organizing Committee for the 2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games (hereinafter referred to as the Organizing Committee) held the 2023 Winter Korea Festival Day, unveiling the emblem for the '2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games' (hereinafter Gangwon 2024), which is one year away, on the 19th at Yongpyong Resort in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province. [Photo by All That Sports]
The Organizing Committee for the 2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games (hereafter the Organizing Committee) held the 2023 Winter Korea Festival Day in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province (Yongpyong Resort) on the 19th to unveil the symbols of the '2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games' (hereafter Gangwon 2024), which is just one year away.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Korea Tourism Organization, and Gangwon Province used this event to promote the '2023-2024 Visit Korea Year' and to pray for the successful hosting of Gangwon 2024, marking the official start of their efforts.
In the first part of the event, a welcome performance was held for visiting tourists featuring Cheongsachorong (traditional Korean lanterns) and torch skiing events. At Yongpyong Ski Resort, where the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics were held, a ski team carrying torches formed a giant 'K' on the slope to wish for the successful hosting of the 2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games and to promote the 2023-2024 Visit Korea Year, creating a spectacular scene as they skied down the slope with torches.
At the event, the official mascot of the Games, ‘Mungcho,’ was unveiled for the first time. The Organizing Committee held a symbol contest for Gangwon 2024 last year targeting youth aged 14 to 24 to embody the meaning of the Games as an 'Olympics with youth.' The mascot ‘Mungcho’ is the winning work of Park Suyeon (a university student) from that contest.
Kim Jang-sil, President of the Korea Tourism Organization, is giving a greeting at the 2023 Winter Korea Festival Day event. [Photo by Korea Tourism Organization]
The official mascot ‘Mungcho’ carries the story that it was born anew as ‘Mungcho’ when the snowball that the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics mascots Soohorang and Bandabi used to play snowball fights with approached the 2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games.
The theme song of Gangwon 2024, ‘We go high,’ which was also unveiled that day, was selected through the contest. The composer of the theme song, Kim Geunhak (a university student), introduced it as "‘We go high’ is a song themed on the sweat and passion of athletes who train themselves inside and outside the stadium and always prepare to be in their best condition." Along with the theme song, an official choreography performance was presented by about 60 youth from home and abroad, including 15 overseas youths participating in the Dream Program hosted by the 2018 Pyeongchang Foundation, adding significance to the event.
Kim Yuna, the Gangwon 2024 ambassador who appeared on stage to introduce Mungcho, said, "Since the 2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games is a Games created together with youth, I hope many young people will continue to participate and that the Games will be successfully held." The Organizing Committee appointed B-Girl Kim Yeri, a national breaking athlete, as a new ambassador that day.
Kim Yeri said, "I am honored to be able to serve as the new ambassador for Gangwon 2024. Based on my experience participating in the 2018 Buenos Aires Youth Olympic Games, I will do my best to promote the 2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games worldwide."
Kim Cheolmin, Secretary General of the Organizing Committee, said, "It is very meaningful that the symbol unveiling event for the Games is held here in Pyeongchang, where the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics were successfully held, exactly one year before the event." He added, "We will cooperate with local residents and make every effort to prepare so that Gangwon 2024 can also be successfully hosted."
The '2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games' is the first Winter Youth Olympic Games to be held in Asia. It will take place from January 19 to February 1, 2024, across Gangneung City, Pyeongchang County, Jeongseon County, and Hoengseong County in Gangwon Province.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
