[2024 Gangwon] Beyond the Emotion of Pyeongchang... 1,900 Youths Say "Let's Shine Together"

Opening on the 19th... Focus on Story and Detail
ISU Review and Verification of Oval Skating Rink
Rated Better Than Taereung Ice Rink
Hygiene Maintenance and Safety Management Priority
Olympics' First 'Digital Torch' Operation

From the golden sprint of skeleton athlete Yun Sung-bin to the beautiful finale of speed skating queen Lee Sang-hwa, the touching moments that moved the entire nation during the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics will be recreated once again in Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province. The opening of the 2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games (hereafter 2024 Gangwon) is fast approaching on the 19th. The 4th edition of the Winter Youth Olympics this year will be held until the 1st of next month across four cities and counties: Gangneung, PyeongChang, Jeongseon, and Hoengseong.

Gangneung Oval Skating Rink exterior view. [Photo by Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism]

The strength of this 2024 Gangwon lies in the 100% reuse of the venues and facilities used during the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics. Only some private facilities such as Alpensia, High1 Resort, and Welli Hilli Park ski resorts are rented, while the venues that are legacies of PyeongChang?from the speed skating rink to the ski jump?are fully reused. This makes the event stand out as an 'eco-friendly games' prepared without any new construction.

A representative legacy of the 2018 PyeongChang Games is the Gangneung Oval, built at a cost of 130 billion KRW. The Gangneung Oval, where the opening ceremony and speed skating events will be held, had not functioned as an ice rink for six years since 2018. Instead, it was used as a venue for events like the Gangneung Coffee Festival and, after 2020, as a set for films such as Hansan and Noryang, thus not fulfilling its original purpose.

Is there any problem in using it again as a skating rink after six years? During a visit to the Gangneung Oval on the 11th, preparations for the opening ceremony and competitions were in full swing. Lee Jun-gu, the manager in charge of the Gangneung Oval speed skating rink, explained, "Since the Oval will be used as the speed skating venue for the 2024 Gangwon, we have been preparing ice-making tests since March last year. The ice to be used in the competition has passed inspections and verifications by the International Skating Union (ISU) and other related organizations, and the current ice quality has even been evaluated as better than that of the Taereung Ice Rink." He added, "Following the opening ceremony on the 19th, we must immediately prepare for competitions starting on the morning of the 20th, and the ice-making process to accommodate this transition is proceeding smoothly according to the organizing committee’s plan."

Inside the Gangneung Oval Speed Skating Rink, bustling with preparations for the games.
Photo by Kim Heeyoon

The 2024 Gangwon will also begin at this Oval. The opening ceremony on the 19th will take place in Gangneung and will be broadcast live simultaneously from PyeongChang Alpensia. The theme of the opening ceremony is ‘Let us shine,’ with the concept centered on ‘space.’ To create a moment where everyone shines, the ice surface of the Oval was bustling with activity.

Yang Jeong-ung, the general director of the 2024 Gangwon opening and closing ceremonies, explained at a press conference held on the 11th at the Seamarq Hotel in Gangneung, "The opening ceremony applies the philosophical concept that all youth are a microcosm of the universe. The theme is that youth are the protagonists and shining beings in a vast universe where the light of the past, present, and future blend together."

On the afternoon of the 11th, at the Seamarq Hotel in Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do, Yang Jeong-ung, the opening ceremony director general, Oh Jang-hwan, the executive producer, and Hwang Ji-young, the directing director, are speaking at the press conference for the '2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games.'
Photo by Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism
Image source: Yonhap News

Yang, who also directed the opening ceremony of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics?drawing global attention with the Inmyeonjo (a mythical creature) performance and spectacular drone show?said that since this is a youth event, the focus was placed more on story than on spectacular performances, and on detail rather than scale. Regarding the opening ceremony theme, Yang said, "The main story follows ‘Uri,’ a mountain village girl born and raised in Gangwon, who dreams of becoming an astronaut and travels through an imaginary universe, eventually meeting her future self as an astronaut. We aim to portray the empty space of the universe poetically and beautifully through the fantasy sci-fi genre."

About 1,900 athletes from over 80 countries are expected to compete in four regions: Gangneung, Jeongseon, PyeongChang, and Hoengseong. Although there were concerns about low interest in the Youth Olympics compared to the adult Olympics, ticket sales have already surpassed 320,000, signaling strong public interest.

The athlete villages, equipped with lodging, medical support, and hygiene systems, opened on the 15th at Gangneung-Wonju National University and on the 18th at Jeongseon High1 Resort, welcoming athletes from 79 countries and marking the start of the games.

Yoo In-chon, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, visited Welli Hilli Park in Hoengseong-gun, Gangwon Province on the 12th to conduct an on-site inspection ahead of the opening of the 2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games. He rode a snowcat to personally check the course.
[Photo by Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism]

Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), is scheduled to visit the athlete villages in Gangneung and Jeongseon on the 17th to inspect facility operations and amenities. Prior to this, Minister Yoo In-chon of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism conducted a two-day inspection from the 12th to 13th, visiting the venues and athlete villages at Welli Hilli Ski Resort in Hoengseong, Alpensia in PyeongChang, and High1 Resort in Jeongseon to thoroughly check the preparations. Minister Yoo personally tested the slopes, inspected ice quality, and carefully examined all facilities including spectator rest areas, outdoor temporary restrooms, and staff dining halls.

Minister Yoo emphasized 'safety' as the top priority during the on-site inspection. At a meeting with reporters on the 12th, he said, "We continuously checked and prepared to ensure there are no inconveniences regarding the facilities and meals used by the athletes. Nevertheless, we stressed the utmost effort to maintain hygiene and safety until the very end to prevent any decline in athletes’ performance due to infectious diseases such as bedbugs, norovirus, COVID-19, or unforeseen safety accidents."

He added, "Gangwon Province has successfully hosted the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics and possesses world-class sports facilities. Based on this know-how and infrastructure, we have completed preparations in all areas including basic competition operations, cold weather and heavy snow countermeasures, smooth transportation of athletes, staff, and equipment, provision of high-quality and hygienic lodging and food services, infectious disease and healthcare systems to prevent norovirus and bedbugs, and crowd management. After on-site inspections, we are confident that we are fully prepared to welcome guests."

Furthermore, he said, "We want the youth athletes to have many cultural experiences and gain valuable memories beyond just competing for medals. The athlete villages will operate various programs including a games lounge and K-culture experiences, and national groups such as ballet and opera companies will perform at the Gangneung Arts Center."

Digital torch to be showcased at the '2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games'
[Image source=Yonhap News]

A first in Olympic history is expected to draw attention at the 2024 Gangwon. The flame that will burn throughout the games will be a digital flame. Instead of consuming gas or fuel and impacting the environment, the digital flame will reflect external weather conditions digitally and burn during the games. Regarding this, General Director Yang emphasized, "While the real flame is ignited, the digital flame will be displayed on an outdoor digital cauldron using LED (light-emitting diode) visuals. The digital flame will be lit for 14 days, presenting a new eco-friendly model."

Co-planned by Asia Economy, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and the 2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games Organizing Committee