No Failure Three Times. The party and government have vowed to fully prepare for the 2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games with just over a month to go.
The National People’s Power, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Organizing Committee, and Gangwon Province held the 2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games Party and Government Inspection and Consultation Meeting at the National Assembly on Monday morning. Senior officials from the ruling party, central government agencies, and the Winter Games organizing committee gathered together to review preparations for the Winter Youth Games, which kick off next month.
Yoon Jae-ok, the acting leader of the Nationalist Party of Korea, said, “We need to prepare meticulously. We must prepare with a sense of mission. I hope you will do your best without letting go of the tension until the end of the Games.” Policy Chairman Kim Yoo-dong also said, “First, second, and third is safety. We will make every effort to ensure that no safety accidents occur during the event.”
The ruling party’s popularity has dipped this year following the Saemangeum World Scout Jamboree debacle and the failure of the Busan Expo bid. Kukhim vowed to prepare for the event with the determination not to fail a third time.
Kwon Sung-dong, a member of parliament from Gangneung, Gangwon-do, said, “The last Jamboree received a lot of public criticism due to insufficient preparation by the organizing committee and Jeollanam-do, and an international sporting event should not be subject to such a fiasco.” Yoo Sang-beom, a member of parliament from Hongcheon, Heungseong, Yeongwol, and Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do, also said, “This summer’s Jamboree was a major public disappointment and received global criticism. In the end, only thorough preparation can guarantee a successful event.”
Governor Kim Jin-tae of Gangwon Province emphasized, “We’re doing inspection after inspection, and we’ve even created a joint task force for bedbugs.” “We are also planning for transportation, snow removal, and cold weather. We will not neglect even the smallest details,” he said, adding that he will check every last detail to ensure the Games are a success.
Minister Yoo In-chon of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said, “The IOC told us not to spend a lot of money, but the small budget is unfortunate from the point of view of preparation. Although we will be holding a frugal event compared to the adult Olympics, we will make sure to prepare thoroughly.”
The Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games 2024 will open on Jan. 19 and conclude on Feb. 1 after two weeks of competition and unity among the world’s youth athletes at the same stadium that hosted the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics.