Sanghwa Lee and Jong-oh Jin Appointed as Co-Chairmen of the Organizing Committee
Yuna Kim as Ambassador, Juwon Kim as Ballerina, and Others Appointed as Executive Committee Members
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] "I want to inspire dreams and hope in youth based on my experience on the world stage."
Lee Sang-hwa and Jin Jong-oh have been appointed as the chairpersons of the organizing committee for the ‘2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games,’ which is just over a year away.
Lee Sang-hwa and Jin Jong-oh have been appointed as the chairpersons of the organizing committee for the '2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games.' [Photo by Asia Economy DB]
At the launch ceremony of the 2nd organizing committee held at the Korea Press Center on the 21st, Park Bo-gyun, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, personally presented the appointment letters to co-chairpersons Lee Sang-hwa and Jin Jong-oh. Newly appointed executives (2 vice-chairpersons, 11 executive committee members, and 2 auditors) were also introduced on the same day.
Lee Sang-hwa, appointed as the organizing committee chairperson, is a gold medalist who became the first Asian athlete to achieve back-to-back Olympic gold medals in speed skating and is a legend in ice skating who also won a silver medal at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. Jin Jong-oh, also appointed as chairperson, is a legendary gold medalist who became the first Korean to win three consecutive Olympic gold medals in shooting and currently serves as a director of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee and as an athlete representative on the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF).
Both chairpersons are former young athletes representing winter and summer sports respectively, and are expected to actively communicate and connect with the youth athletes (aged 15-18), who are the main participants of this event. Based on their Olympic experience, they are anticipated to create the best competition where youth athletes can enjoy and challenge themselves from the athletes’ perspective.
Additionally, vice-chairpersons include Yoo Byung-jin, vice president of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee, and Yoo Seung-min, member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Eleven experts in winter sports (biathlon, skiing, ice skating, ice hockey), sports, youth, culture & arts, and tourism were appointed as executive committee members.
In particular, figure skater Kim Yuna, who has been actively promoting the 2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games as an ambassador, and ballerina Kim Juwon, who has supported youth growth through culture and arts by leading the ‘Dream Dance Team,’ were appointed as executive committee members to raise interest in the event and add new perspectives for its successful hosting. Legal and accounting auditors were also appointed, launching the 2nd organizing committee with a total of 43 members.
Due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, youth sports activities and exchanges have been limited worldwide, but with the 2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games, it is expected that about 2,000 youth athletes from over 70 countries will reunite and fully enjoy the charm of a sports festival infused with K-Culture.
Minister Park said, “Through the ‘2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games,’ we will showcase ‘a world united by K-Culture and sports,’ so that future generations of athletes will remember South Korea as a culturally attractive country.” He added, “Youth will experience the values and spirit of the Olympics at a sports festival infused with the charm of K-Culture and learn a message of solidarity that connects a divided world.”
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