With the ‘2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games’ just 300 days away, figure skating legend Kim Yuna (32), speed skating icon Lee Sang-hwa (34), and short track star Choi Min-jung (24) have joined forces to ensure a successful event.
The Organizing Committee for the 2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games held a D-300 commemorative event on the 24th at the Olympic Parktel in Songpa-gu, Seoul, where the Olympic opening and closing ceremony directors, advisory panel, and ambassadors were appointed.
On the afternoon of the 24th, at the appointment ceremony for the ambassadors and cultural event directors and advisory group of the 2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games held at Olympic Parktel in Songpa-gu, Seoul, Park Bo-gyun, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism (from left), Kim Yuna, Ambassador, Jin Jong-oh, Organizing Committee Chairman, Lee Sang-hwa, Organizing Committee Chairman, Kim Hyun-ji, Supporter, Song Seung-hwan, Advisory Chairman, and Lee Ki-heung, President of the Korean Sports Council, are performing a success pledge performance. [Photo by 2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games Organizing Committee]
The cultural event director team includes Yang Jung-woong, the general director who led the 2018 PyeongChang opening ceremony, and Oh Jang-hwan, the executive producer who worked with the PyeongChang Olympic Organizing Committee.
The advisory panel consists of Song Seung-hwan, director of the Center for Culture, Arts, and Media Convergence at Sungkyunkwan University; Kang Soo-jin, director of the National Ballet Company; Lee Do-hoon, professor at Hongik University Graduate School of Video Communication; Lee Yu-ri, chairperson of the Seoul Arts Troupe; and Kim Ki-hong, vice president of the Korea Football Association.
On the afternoon of the 24th, at the 2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games Ambassador and Cultural Event Director and Advisory Group Appointment Ceremony held at Olympic Parktel in Songpa-gu, Seoul, Ambassador Kim Yuna is speaking at a talk show. [Photo by 2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games Organizing Committee]
In addition to existing ambassadors Kim Yuna and Kim Ye-ri, new ambassadors appointed include ballerina Kim Joo-won, former snowboarder and current winter sports commentator Park Jae-min, pianist Sunwoo Yekwon, skeleton gold medalist Yun Sung-bin, and short track gold medalist Choi Min-jung.
The appointment certificates were presented by Park Bo-gyun, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism; Lee Ki-heung, President of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee; Jin Jong-oh, shooting medalist and organizing committee chairman; and Lee Sang-hwa, speed skating medalist.
From the top left clockwise: Ambassador Jae-min Park, Advisory Members Ki-hong Kim and Do-hoon Lee, Executive Producer Jang-hwan Oh, Ambassadors Seong-bin Yoon, Min-jung Choi, and Ye-gwon Sunwoo, Advisory Member Yu-ri Lee, President Ki-heung Lee of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee, Advisory Chairman Seung-hwan Song, Organizing Chairmen Sang-hwa Lee and Jong-oh Jin, Ambassador Ye-na Kim, Minister Bo-gyun Park of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Ambassador Joo-won Kim. [Photo by 2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games Organizing Committee]
Minister Park said, “We have gathered many individuals worthy of being called legends. With the power of these legends, we foresee the success of the ‘2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games.’ This Olympics will showcase a new paradigm where sports are a festival. Welcoming over 3,000 athletes from more than 70 countries, it will deliver a powerful impression to the world,” he stated in his congratulatory speech.
A talk show wishing for the success of the Games was also held. Minister Park Bo-gyun, Korean Sport & Olympic Committee President Lee Ki-heung, Organizing Committee Chairman Jin Jong-oh, Ambassador Kim Yuna, Advisory Chairman Song Seung-hwan, Organizing Committee Chairman and Ambassador Lee Sang-hwa, as well as ambassadors Kim Joo-won, Sunwoo Yekwon, Yun Sung-bin, and Choi Min-jung took the stage to offer encouragement and advice to the youth athletes.
On the afternoon of the 24th, at the 2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games Ambassador and Cultural Event Director and Advisory Group Appointment Ceremony held at Olympic Parktel in Songpa-gu, Seoul, Lee Sang-hwa, the organizing committee chairman, is speaking at a talk show. [Photo by 2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games Organizing Committee]
The athlete ambassadors consistently emphasized the importance of enjoying the experience to the participating athletes. Ambassador Yun Sung-bin said, “If you aim for too high a dream, you may miss something important. It’s crucial to tackle the tasks in front of you one by one.” Ambassador Choi Min-jung also encouraged, “If you overdo it, you’re likely to get injured. If you work steadily and diligently, great results will follow.” Ballerina Ambassador Kim Joo-won shared, “I like the saying, ‘If it was good, it’s a memory; if not, it’s an experience.’ I hope this Olympics will be a beautiful memory for the athletes.” Chairman Lee Sang-hwa advised, “Although it’s titled the Olympics, I think of it as a global festival. I hope everyone prepares comfortably and, above all, enjoys the process.”
The Winter Youth Olympic Games is an international youth multi-sport event held every four years under the auspices of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The 2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games will take place over 14 days from January 19 to February 1, 2024, across four cities in Gangwon Province?Pyeongchang-gun, Gangneung-si, Jeongseon-gun, and Hoengseong-gun. Approximately 1,900 athletes from over 70 countries will compete in 7 sports, 15 disciplines, and 81 events.
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