IOC

11 Aug 2023 – Youth engagement will be at the centre of the upcoming Winter Youth Olympic Games Gangwon 2024. The Games are set to leave a lasting legacy for Korean youth through their engagement in various aspects of the event, the IOC emphasised ahead of International Youth Day.

Gangwon 2024 has integrated young people into the planning and promotion for the YOG from start to finish. By doing so, Gangwon 2024 ensures that the YOG are not solely a sporting event for young people, but also a platform for youth empowerment, with young people playing an active role in the planning, execution and celebration of the Games.

Here is how:

Young people driving engagement

The Gangwon 2024 Organising Committee launched the Youth Supporters initiative in 2021.

The programme saw 30 young people selected to become Youth Supporters, working with the Organising Committee to shape strategies, gather creative ideas and communicate about the Youth Olympic Games via digital channels.

The Youth Supporters have also participated in numerous events linked to the promotion of the YOG, such as the unveiling of the official slogan, and recently took to the historic Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul to engage with members of the public and give them a chance to try biathlon.

Cho Yunwon, a Youth Supporter engaged in this event, and also a member of the jury of the medal design competition, shared her Gwanghwamun Square experience: “Taking part in this event was a great experience as it allowed me to try biathlon and cross-country skiing, while also creating social media content to share tips and interesting facts about these sports.”

As the countdown to Gangwon 2024 continues, they will play a leading role in spreading the message of the YOG and promoting the event by producing content on social media.

Developing the next generation of sports journalists

The IOC Young Reporters programme has been giving aspiring journalists the chance to develop and hone their skills at the YOG since the inaugural edition in Singapore in 2010 – and Gangwon 2024 will be no exception.

During the Games, 14 budding sports reporters from around the world will come together to receive training and mentoring from seasoned Olympic media professionals, with class- and field-based tuition giving them all the tools they need to work in today’s modern newsrooms.

All aged from 18 to 24, the IOC Young Reporters for Gangwon 2024 will include eight Koreans and six participants from the host countries of future Olympic Games and Youth Olympic Games (Paris 2024, Milano Cortina 2026 and Dakar 2026).

Creative collaboration with young people

The creative elements of Gangwon 2024, including the medals, official mascot, song and choreography, have all been developed through extensive collaboration with young people. The design for the obverse of the medals was chosen through an extensive worldwide competition, with 27-year-old Brazilian Dante Akira Uwai’s “A Sparkling Future” revealed as the winner, while the reverse was a result of an interactive workshop with local art students.

The official mascot and song were also the result of nationwide public contests, open to young people aged between 14 and 24.

The official mascot, “Moongcho”, is symbolic of the legacy of the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 and was created by Korean college student Park Soo-Yeon; while the official song, “We Go High”, was composed by local music student Kim Keun Hak.

The song expresses the growth of young people as they chase their dreams at the YOG and is performed by Kim Keun Hak, young artist Choi Seo-yeon and the ChunCheon City Youth Choir.

Hong Zhang, an IOC Member and Chair of the IOC Coordination Commission for Gangwon 2024, explained earlier this year: “The engagement and mobilisation of local youth is a top priority. Young people hold the power to shape and transform our society in ways that are both significant and meaningful. By providing opportunities for them to engage in sport and Olympic values education, we can empower them to become role models in their communities. Gangwon 2024 is not just about competition, it’s also about creating opportunities for local youth to reach their full potential and contribute to building a better future for all.”

Multiple Olympic gold medallists and Co-Presidents of the Gangwon 2024 Organising Committee, Lee Sang-hwa and Jin Jong-oh, both talk about the YOG. “The Winter YOG Gangwon 2024 are more than just a showcase of young sporting talent; they’re a testament to the power of youth in shaping the future,” says Lee. “Our aim is to celebrate not just young athletes, but also the vision, dedication and innovation of all young people. By placing them at the heart of our planning and promotion, we aim to ensure these Games resonate with the aspirations of young people and become a beacon for youth empowerment globally. We are immensely proud to pave the way for the next generation to shine,” says Jin.

International Youth Day, celebrated every year on 12 August, emphasises the importance of investing in young people and providing them with opportunities for education, employment and engagement.

The 4th Winter YOG taking place in Gangwon, Republic of Korea, will be held between 19 January and 1 February 2024. The first Winter YOG to be held in Asia will provide a platform for young athletes to showcase their skills and compete against their peers on the international stage. Gangwon 2024 will benefit from PyeongChang’s 2018 Olympic Winter Games’ legacy by using several of the same facilities for the YOG. Approximately 1,900 athletes from around 81 National Olympic Committees are expected to take part.