Gangwon Province to Host Winter Youth Olympic Games in 2024

Published on 2020/01/19 | Source

South Korean sports officials and athletes pose with International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach (center) after an IOC session in Switzerland on Friday. /Yonhap

South Korea will host the 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games.

At a meeting in Switzerland on Friday, the International Olympic Committee overwhelmingly approved South Korea's bid to hold the event in Gangwon Province in a 79-2 vote, making South Korea the first country outside Europe to host the games.

The IOC's Future Host Commissions received interest from Russia, Bulgaria and Romania but chose South Korea citing the huge success of the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang located in the eastern province, where organizers will be able to make use of existing facilities.

IOC President Thomas Bach said, "The [games] concept would be open to take North Korea on board in the [organization] if the circumstances allow".