The Winter Youth Olympic Games (WYOG), designed for young athletes aged between 15 and 18, is held every four years. The multi-sport event organized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) features various winter sports such as alpine skiing, ice hockey, and speed skating. Previously, the WYOG was held in three 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.
The opening ceremony will take place in Pyeongchang and Gangneung at the same time. Before the event, K-pop artists, including girl band (G)I-DLE's Shuhua, and South Korean volleyball star Kim Yeon-koung will engage in promotional content for the WYOG.
"The Gangwon 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games organizers are aiming to leave a lasting legacy for young people in the Republic of Korea," the Olympics operator said in a statement on December 19. "Youthful creativity will be at the forefront of the Games, with the medals, mascot, song, and choreography all having been developed through extensive collaboration with young people."
