Heavy snowfall on Saturday disrupted several activities at the 2024 Winter Youth Olympics in Gangwon Province, South Korea. The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) recorded more than 28 centimetres (11 inches) of snowfall in Gangneung province. 5,620 officials and 693 pieces of snow removal equipment were deployed to control the situation and continue the event.
The agency has issued a heavy snow advisory for mountainous regions of the province. Government officials have declared an emergency and implemented protocols to protect the players and residents in the province.
Choi Min-Jeong, a two-time Olympic champion in short-track speed skating, suffered the cancellation of her one-point lesson session in Gangneung, an area located 30 kilometres east of Pyeongchang. The clinic scheduled for Lee June-seo, the silver medalist in the men’s relay in 2022, was also cancelled. In addition, every outdoor activity, performance, and skate session in Gangneung was cancelled.
The fourth edition of the Winter Youth Olympics began on Friday, January 19, and will conclude on February 1. A quadrennial youth winter sports event is held in Gangwon Province for the first time in Asian history.
