By Lee Dasom
Video = Gangwon 2024's official YouTube channel

The eastern province of Gangwon-do on Jan. 19 will open the Gangwon Winter Youth Olympics (Gangwon 2024).

The opening ceremony for Asia's first hosting of the competition starts at 8 p.m. at the Gangneung Oval in Gangneung and PyeongChang Dome in Pyeongchang-gun County. The event at the former facility will be livestreamed at the latter.

Approximately 9,000 people will be at the event in Gangneung including Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Yu In Chon and Second Vice Minister Jang Miran. In Pyeongchang-gun, First Vice Minister Chun Byong-keuk will participate at the ceremony there with about 4,000 in attendance.

The ceremony will feature a stage for youth, the protagonists of Gangwon 2024. The dance team Turns and Ambiguous Dance Company will perform with youngsters under the competition's theme "Let Us Shine," portraying a story where youth discover shining stars and a small universe within themselves to grow together.

  
The lighting of the Olympic torch, the highlight of the ceremony, is scheduled in Gangneung after making its final journey from the county. The carriers will be domestic stars of winter sports such as former skeleton champion Yoon Sungbin, who won the gold medal at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics.

"Youth participating in Gangwon 2024 can interact with their peers from many countries and races to create unforgettable memories," Minister Yu said. "I hope that everyone who visits the competition enjoy this festival called the youth Olympics."

To run through Feb. 1, Gangwon 2024 will be held in Gangwon-do in the city of Gangneung and counties of Pyeongchang-gun, Jeongseon-gun and Hoeseong-gun. A combined 1,803 athletes from 79 countries will compete.

dlektha0319@korea.kr