New report reveals how Gangwon 2024 inspired athletes and fans alike

In a survey of participating athletes, the Gangwon 2024 experience was rated very positively, with 87 per cent of respondents highlighting staying in the Olympic Village and being around athletes from different sports and nations as significant factors in making their time at the YOG memorable.

The quality and location of the venues, the competition format and the overall atmosphere were also rated very positively, with almost nine out of 10 respondents stating that their experience had inspired them to aim for future Olympic Winter Games.

Reflecting on the unique opportunity that the YOG provide to young athletes, IOC President Thomas Bach said: “The YOG offer athletes a stepping stone to have an Olympic experience early in their career, so that when they come to the stage of participating in the Olympic Games, they are not overwhelmed by the Olympic atmosphere, by the Games, by meeting so many other athletes, and can prepare for future Olympic successes.”

Strong local interest as Games exceed spectators’ expectations

Throughout the YOG, the athletes were supported by enthusiastic crowds in every venue, with more than 270,000 spectators attending events during Gangwon 2024. And like the athletes, these fans also had a positive experience, with 86 per cent rating their enjoyment of live sports competitions and ceremonies as eight or higher out of 10. Almost three quarters of fans surveyed also revealed that their Gangwon 2024 experience was better than expected.

The strong local interest in the event was illustrated by a survey revealing that 81 per cent of Koreans were aware that the Winter YOG were taking place in Gangwon at the time, with almost seven out of 10 respondents saying they were following the event. Furthermore, of the Koreans who were following the YOG, 81 per cent revealed they had a positive opinion of the Games.

Visitors to Gangwon 2024 also praised the Play Winter Zone Festival Sites that provided a wide variety of free activities at various venues, including sports demonstrations, live music and interactive food and craft experiences. The festivals, organised by the PyeongChang 2018 Legacy Foundation in collaboration with the Gangwon 2024 Organising Committee, welcomed more than 110,000 visitors during the YOG, with 70 per cent of fans surveyed saying they strongly enjoyed the cultural and sporting activities on offer, ranking them eight or higher out of 10.

Paying tribute to the host nation following the success of the YOG, President Bach said: “All this would not have been possible without the great work from our Korean friends: the Organising Committee, the Korean people, the volunteers, the different levels of government. All of them were highly engaged to make these Winter Youth Olympic Games Gangwon 2024 a brilliant success.”

Record-breaking digital reach on Olympics digital platforms

In addition to its on-site success, Gangwon 2024 also achieved impressive digital engagement, surpassing previous YOG benchmarks on the Olympics digital platforms.

Overall, the YOG reached more than 810,000 users via the Olympics web and app platforms, representing a 26 per cent increase compared with the Winter YOG Lausanne 2020. Meanwhile, on Olympics social media, the YOG generated 313 million engagements across the official @Olympics channels, making Gangwon 2024 the most successful social media campaign for the IOC since the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, with President Bach calling this an “unprecedented result for a junior event – an overwhelming success that we greatly appreciate”.

Broadcast coverage of Gangwon 2024 also reached an estimated 137 million unique viewers globally. The shift towards digital platforms resulted in a significant increase in digital consumption, with a 336 per cent rise in minutes viewed compared to the previous YOG, highlighting the evolving landscape of sports media consumption and the growing importance of digital streaming.

Presenting the report to the EB, IOC Member Hong Zhang, Chair of the Coordination Commission for Gangwon 2024, said: “The Winter Youth Olympic Games Gangwon 2024 have truly set a new benchmark for youth sports events. Our athletes and spectators experienced the magic of the Olympic spirit firsthand, and the record digital engagement has shown the global reach and impact of these Games. We are proud of the positive feedback and the overwhelming support from our local and international audiences. This success would not have been possible without the dedication and hard work of everyone involved.”