Winter Youth Olympics to be held in S. Korea's eastern province

[YONHAP PHOTO]

SEOUL -- The Winter Youth Olympic Games will take place in South Korea's eastern province of Gangwon, well known for its mountainous and forested landscapes, on January 19, 2024. South Korea is the first Asian country to host the multi-sport event, drawing 1,803 athletes from 79 nations.

The Winter Youth Olympic Games (WYOG), designed for young athletes aged between 15 and 18, is held every four years. The global event organized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) encompasses a range of winter sports such as alpine skiing, Ice hockey, and speed skating. Previously, the WYOG was held in three European regions -- Lausanne in Switzerland, Norway's Lillehammer, and Innsbruck in Austria.

The fourth WYOG will be held in four areas in Gangwon starting January 19 -- the ski resort of Pyeongchang, the port city of Gangneung, Jeongseon County, and Hoengseong County. During the 14-day competition, athletes will strive to win medals in 15 disciplines. Facilities used during the 2018 Winter Olympics held in Pyeongchang will be provided.

The opening ceremony will simultaneously take place at 8 p.m. (1100 GMT) in Pyeongchang and Gangneung. "Six years after the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018, the venues from those Games are not just a great legacy but also the perfect backdrop for all participating athletes," IOC's commission head Zhang Hong said in a statement.

Before the event, South Korean volleyball star Kim Yeon-koung and Girl band (G)I-DLE's Shuhua gained attention for appearing in promotional content for the WYOG. Of 1,803 athletes participating in this year's WYOG, 102 of them are South Korean.