Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Park Bo Gyoon (third from right in front row), promotional ambassador and 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics gold medalist Kim Yuna (third from left in front row), and other participants on July 6 pose for a photo at a ceremony marking the 200th day before the start of the Winter Youth Olympic Games next year in Gangwon-do Province held at the Olympic Parktel in Seoul's Songpa-gu District. (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism)

By Wu Jinhua

A ceremony has marked the countdown of 200 days before the start of next year's Winter Youth Olympic Games in Gangwon-do Province.

The event's organizing committee on July 6 hosted the event at the Olympic Parktel in Seoul's Songpa-gu District and unveiled the back side of the tournament's medal as well as its uniforms.

Leading figures attending the ceremony were Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Park Bo Gyoon, promotional ambassadors Kim Yuna and Yun Sung-bin, Gangwon-do Gov. Kim Jin-tae and PyeongChang 2018 Legacy Foundation Chairman Ryu Seungmin.

Unveiled by Kim Yuna, the back of a medal encapsulates the identity of Gangwon-do by reflecting the province's nature and snowflakes, which symbolize the games. The design on the front, "A Sparkling Future," was designed by Brazilian artist Dante Akira Uwai and announced in April after being selected by the committee in a design competition.

Short-track speed skater Kwak Yoon-gy, actor Park Sun-young and bobsleigh prospect So Jae-hwan unveiled the tournament's uniforms including ski jackets and pants. The outfits are made of warm and eco-friendly upcycled materials for a sustainable event. 

Organized by the International Olympic Committee, the tournament will run next year from Jan. 19 to Feb. 2. An estimated 2,600 people will take part including some 1,800 athletes ages 15-18 from 70 countries.

"(The Winter Youth Olympic Games) will be a platform where future generations around the world unite and cooperate for a better world," Minister Park said. "Let's get off to a strong start so that it will go beyond success and instead arise as the competition most cheered by the world."

This is the obverse of a medal for the Winter Youth Olympic Games next year in Gangwon-do Province. (Official Twitter of IOC)