Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hwang Hee on Feb. 7 proposed the holding of "cultural Olympics" to International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on Feb. 7 said the minister in Beijing, China, suggested "Culturlympic" as a new field in the Olympics to Bach while discussing the preparation of the 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games in Korea's Gangwon-do Province.
"Three straight Olympics in Korea, Japan and China will serve as an opportunity for world peace and harmony," Minister Hwang said. "We will organize the 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games as a peace Olympics and competition that offers winter sports opportunities to young people in countries where winter sports remain underdeveloped."
He stressed the importance of Culturlympic as a new field in the Olympics by saying, "Sportspeople gather at the Olympics to pursue peace and harmony among people of the world. Likewise, there is a need to extend the Olympic spirit to the cultural realm."
"Culture is a means through which the entire world can harmonize and unite," he added, "If the IOC promotes Culturlympic, it will enhance cultural diversity and contribute to human harmony."
"We will forward later a proposal with more specific details."
Bach said he expects a successful hosting of the Gangwon-do event given the success of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics.
He said he agrees in principle with Culturlympic's purpose and that connecting sports and culture is a duty the IOC must fulfill.
To spread the legacy and values of the Olympics, Minister Hwang announced plans to host in October the first international forum on the Olympic legacy with the Association of National Olympic Committees.
Bach pledged his support for and participation in this event.
