Winter Youth Olympic Games 19 Jan - 1 Feb, 2024
Winter Youth Olympic Games 19 Jan - 1 Feb, 2024
Gangwon 2024: Music-filled Closing Ceremony brings Youth Olympic Games to a close after 13 days of winter sports competition
Athlete performances were celebrated and volunteers thanked in the Republic of Korea following the end of competitions at the Youth Olympics.
3 minBy James Pratt
The Youth Winter Olympic Games, Gangwon 2024 came to a close on Thursday, 1 February, with a ceremony celebrating the performances of the athletes and those who helped make the games in the Republic of Korea an unforgettable experience.
The Closing Ceremony, held at the open plaza next to the Gangneung Hockey Centre amid light snowfall, saw many of the 1,801 athletes in attendance, along with some of the 1,984 volunteers who were praised for ensuring the fourth Winter Youth Olympics were a success.
The show included Korean rapper Lee Young-ji performing 'Fire', K-dance group 1Million, local DJ, K.hertz playing dance and K-pop hits, and the Gangneung youth choir, while the flags of all the 78 nations competing at the event were paraded.
IOC President Thomas Bach, himself an Olympic gold medallist, was among the crowd, before taking to the stage to thank those involved, and encourage them all to "enjoy the party."
The digital flame was extinguished by a group of volunteers and the mascot Moongcho throwing snow. Those in attendance also watched video montages including some of the top moments from the 13 days of competition.
Gangwon 2024 sporting highlights
Fans of the Republic of Korea ended the Games on a high, with the host nation winning two gold medals on the final day, to take their tally to seven titles.
Italy finished with the most golds overall (11), in a boost to Italian hopes for a successful sporting performance at the next Winter Olympics, Milano Cortina 2026. The USA had the most total medals (21).
A total of 30 nations won medals, with Brazil, Thailand, Turkiye, and Tunisia among those to reach a Winter Youth Olympic podium for the first time.
The first Winter Youth Olympics hosted in Asia was held across 12 venues in the Gangwon region, including seven legacy venues used at the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics.
The next Youth Olympic event will be the summer Games of Dakar 2026 in Senegal.
A full replay and highlights clips of the Closing Ceremony are available to watch on demand on Olympic Channel via Olympics.com and the official Olympics app.
Alpine Skiing, Curling, Cross-Country Skiing, Biathlon, Bobsleigh, Skeleton, Figure Skating, Freestyle Skiing, Ice Hockey, Luge, Nordic Combined, Ski Jumping, Snowboard, Short Track Speed Skating, Ski Mountaineering
19 Jan - 1 Feb
Gangwon 2024 | Winter Youth Olympic Games - Republic of Korea
How to watch a replay of the Closing Ceremony at the Gangwon 2024 Youth Olympic Games
The full replay of the Closing Ceremony is available on demand, for free, and without subscription on Olympic Channel via Olympics.com and the official Olympics app.
Full replays and highlights of the sporting action from Gangwon 2024 are also available, and you can catch reaction interview clips, news articles, and full results across the website and official Olympics social media accounts.
