By Lee Jihae
Jin Jong-oh, the first Korean winner of three consecutive gold medals for shooting at the Olympics, and Lee Sang-hwa, the first Asian to win two consecutive gold medals in speedskating, were appointed co-heads of the 2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympics.
Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Park Bo Gyoon gave letters of appointment to the new co-heads and members of the second organizing committee for the Winter Youth Olympics at the committee's inauguration ceremony on Feb. 21.
The event was held at Korea Press Center in Seoul's Jung-gu District.
Lee won gold medals in the 500m women speedskating at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada in 2010; Sochi, Russia in 2014; and a silver medal in the event at Pyeongchang in 2018.
Jin won his gold in the men's 50m at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, 2012 London Olympics and 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
He is currently a director at the Korea Sport and Olympic Committee and a member of the International Shooting Sport Federation.
Lee said, "It is all the more meaningful as I can contribute to where I ended my athletic career (Pyeongchang)."
"I will do my best we can host the (2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympics) as successfully as the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics."
Jin said, "There is not that much time left until the games."
"We will work with everyone to become one team and strive to make the best competition."
Minister Park congratulated the launch of the committee and said, "Through the 2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games, we will show a world that can unite K-culture and sports and make future-generation athletes remember Korea as a country of cultural appeal."
The 2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympics is the first Youth Winter Olympics to be held in Asia. It will be held for 14 days from Jan. 19 to Feb. 1 in the counties of Gangneung, Pyeongchang, Jeongseon and Hwaengseong-gun in Gangwon-do Province.
jihlee08@korea.kr
