Jin Jongoh is the chair of the organizing committee for the Gangwon Winter Youth Olympics. (Gangwon 2024 organizing committee)
By Jung Joo-ri and Charles Audouin
Jin Jongoh, a four-time Olympic gold medalist in shooting and now chair of the organizing committee for next month's Winter Youth Olympics in Gangwon-do Province (Gangwon 2024), said, "Over our remaining period, we will focus on preparation so that Gangwon 2024 is held without a hitch."
In a written interview with Korea.net on Dec. 14, or just over a month before the opening ceremony of Gangwon 2024, he said, "In the case of event facilities, last-minute work is underway to clear snow and produce ice in time for the snow and ice competition schedules and create Olympic-level fields of play."
"Through regular conferences and inspections by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) leadership and each sport's global governing body, we're seamlessly preparing for overall operations of the competition."
The following are excerpts from the interview.
Jin Jongoh, chair of Gangwon 2024's organizing committee, on Nov. 28 carries the torch as part of the "Gangwon 2024 Torch Tour" at Yukminkwan High School in Wonju, Gangwon-do Province. (Yonhap News)
As the first former athlete to head the preparation of a global sports event in Korea, what are your aspirations as chair?
In February this year, I was appointed chair of the Gangwon 2024 organizing committee at the launching ceremony for the event's second organizing committee, or about a year before the tournament's opening.
First, to ensure that I fulfill the important tasks as the organizing committee chair without fail, I'm cooperating with all who are preparing for the competition.
Based on my experience as an athlete, I'm also striving to provide support to young athletes in needed sectors. Over our remaining period, we will focus on preparing so that Gangwon 2024 is held without a hitch.
How is preparation with about a month left before the opening ceremony?
In the case of event facilities, last-minute work is underway to clear snow and produce ice in time for the snow and ice competition schedules and create Olympic-level fields of play. The maintenance and refurbishment of old facilities in athletes' villages in Gangneung and Jeongseon-gun County have been completed in time for their opening in mid-January.
Because the competition is held in midwinter, overall tournament operation for safe operations is being smoothly prepared like management of extreme cold and large crowds; support for services like transportation, communications, accommodations, food and beverages, and departure and arrival of athletes, clients and operating personnel through regular conferences and inspections by the IOC leadership and each sport's world governing body. We've also prepared policies toward traffic safety.
The torch to start Gangwon 2024 lit on Oct. 3 at the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens, Greece, was brought to Incheon International Airport on Oct. 8. Jin Jongoh, chair of the Gangwon 2024 organizing committee (first from right in second row), takes a photo with those lighting the torch and youth supporters. (Yonhap News)
What is the significance of Gangwon-do hosting Asia's first Winter Youth Olympics?
The Winter Youth Olympics is the same as the regular Olympics in that it shares the values of the spirit of sports and beautiful competition, but the difference is that the emphasis is on the values of youth participation and educational and cultural activities.
Gangwon 2024 captures the meaning of the Winter Youth Olympics under its vision "Gangwon 2024 - Youth Celebrating Peaceful Coexistence and Unity through Sport to Create a Better Future Together." Through sports, we will provide opportunities for youth to inform and learn about the meaning of growth, an attitude of respecting and cooperating with others, and the meaning of global coexistence and harmony.
How can foreign visitors interested in Gangwon 2024 best enjoy the competition?
The Winter Youth Olympics is significant as a festival not only of sports but also an array of educational and cultural programs in which youth can directly participate and enjoy.
Around the event facilities in Gangwon 2024's hosting sites of Gangneung and the counties of Pyeongchang-gun, Jeongseon-gun and Hoengseong-gun will be interactive events for ice hockey, curling, figure skating and bobsleigh, as well as virtual reality booths, photo zones and experiential events featuring traditional games and food. Career education programs like interactive booths organized and run by youth clubs and job searches will also be held.
Over the event period, ballet and orchestral performances by national arts organizations will be held at the main theater of Gangneung Art Center, and K-pop concerts with famous domestic singers will be held at the hockey center of Catholic Kwangdong University and Pyeongchang Dome.
Do you have a concluding message for Korea.net readers?
The list of participants in Gangwon 2024 is not yet confirmed, but many promising athletes who will shine in the future are expected to compete. The results aren't important like in a regular Olympics, so please watch Gangwon 2024 leisurely and send support and encouragement to all competitors.
etoilejr@korea.kr