The 2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Organizing Committee (hereafter referred to as the Gangwon Organizing Committee) has completed its last meeting with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and is gearing up for preparations for the 11 months ahead.
The Gangwon Organizing Committee held a joint press conference with the IOC Coordination Committee at the Skybay Hotel in Gangneung, Gangwon-do on the 9th and was proud of the successful hosting of the Games.
The IOC Coordination Committee is an organization that inspects and supervises the preparations for the Olympics together with the organizing committee of the host city.
In the aftermath of the spread of the new coronavirus infection (Corona 19), the Gangwon Organizing Committee and the IOC’s 1st (March 2021) and 2nd (May 2022) coordination committees were held non-face-to-face, but this third coordination committee meeting was the first face-to-face meeting. opened with
On the 7th and 8th, IOC officials, including Chairman Jang Hong, visited the Gangneung-Wonju University dormitory, Gangneung Olympic Park, and Pyeongchang Alpensia Stadium, which will be used as an athlete’s village, toured the facilities and discussed ways to utilize the legacy of the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.
In addition, the Gangwon Organizing Committee’s comprehensive service preparations covering finance, marketing, human resources, transportation, accommodation, and food and beverage, and cultural event programs in which local youth participate were also reviewed
Chairman Jang Hong gave generous marks to the Gangwon Organizing Committee, saying, “I am happy to have the opportunity to return to Gangneung after my last run as an athlete in the PyeongChang Winter Olympics. I believe it will be a fantastic event.”
Chairman Zhang Hong, a Chinese national, was a speed skating women’s 1,000m gold medalist at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, entered 스포츠토토the IOC in 2018 as an athlete member, and took on an important role as the coordinating chairman of the 2020 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympics.
“The Gangwon Winter Youth Olympics is the first event to be held in Asia as well as in Korea,” said Chairman Jang.
“I have already visited Gangwon-do 30 times, and I am delighted to be back,” said IOC chief director Chrysotov Douby, who carefully checked the preparations for the PyeongChang Winter Olympics five years ago.
“(The Organizing Committee) has maintained the amazing stadium facilities well, and I am very satisfied after the due diligence,” he said. “Next year’s Winter Youth Olympics will be a great event full of energy.”
At the same time, he also gave ‘homework’, saying, “Now everyone, including the media, should actively publicize this contest and encourage young people to participate.”
“Unlike the PyeongChang Games five years ago, this time the games will be held at two new locations, Jeongseon High1 and Hoengseong Welli Hill,” said Dooby. Next year’s event is important in that it can contribute to the growth of winter sports in Asia.”
Director Dubi also highly praised the power of ‘K-culture’ that commands the world, and predicted that the Gangwon Winter Youth Olympics will become a cultural Olympics in which K-culture is harmonized.
He said, “Athletes who win medals for the first time in next year’s competitions may become public relations ambassadors promoting Korean culture.”
Cheol-Min Kim, secretary general of the Gangwon Organizing Committee, said, “We are preparing a competition that will continue the legacy of Pyeongchang and help young people grow into global adults through sports.” ” he introduced.
He also added, “We will prepare it as a competition that can be the cornerstone of carbon neutrality.”