Gangneung, Korea, January 19, 2024: The President of the Republic of Korea, Yoon Suk Yeol, declared the fourth Winter Youth Olympic Games Gangwon 2024 open at the Gangneung Oval on Friday night.
The opening ceremony was a high-energy affair, highlighting the explosion of Korean culture and popular music around the world, and was the perfect welcome for the 1,802 athletes from 78 National Olympic Committees.
IOC President Thomas Bach earned loud cheers around the speed skating oval by greeting the spectators in Korean.
Addressing the athletes, the IOC President said: “This is your moment. You are following in the footsteps of sporting icons who made history here at the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games.
“Now it is your turn. Give it your best. Make new friends,” he urged.
With the YOG trying to create a spirit of unity among the young athletes, there was no Olympic Games-style parade, nation by nation. Instead, the athletes walked into the stadium without official fanfare, and the entrance of the flags came much later in groups of three.
Also, there was no designated seating for the teams in the centre of the oval, as the athletes were encouraged to sit where they liked to highlight this unity.
The athletes were all seated before the opening ceremony began at 8pm, when the spectators welcomed the two chief guests, President Yoon and IOC President Bach. The President of the organising committee, Choi Jong-ku, spoke on behalf of the Korean hosts.
Korean winter sports stars brought in the national flag and later the torch, while the Olympic flag was carried by six members of the Dream Program of Gangwon province aimed at promoting winter sports around the world.
Once the formalities had been completed, the athletes and audience were treated to a slick K-Pop performance by boy band LUN8, girl band Triple S, rappers Ash Island and Changmo, dancers Ambiguous Dance Company and traditional band Lennalchi.
Over at PyeongChang Dome, meanwhile, Kim Taeyeon was among the headline acts along with singer Hwasa and rapper BewhY, dancers 1 Million Dance Studio and the Philippines boy band Hori7on, who are based in Korea.
The opening ceremony revolved around the theme of “The Universe”. The cosmos theme symbolized the infinite possibilities for youth, from the imaginative “ice planet” playground to the gravity-defying freedom of outer space.
Gangwon 2024 will be the fourth edition of the IOC’s Winter Youth Olympic Games but the first Asian host, with a slogan of “Grow Together, Shine Forever.” The action will run from January 19 to February 1.
