Watching the athletes compete in person, sitting amid a raucous crowd, and experiencing the thrill in real time are all wonderful experiences that may come once in a lifetime.
But this year? The Winter Youth Olympic Games are offering these experiences for free.
In keeping with their mission this year to make the games as “accessible and inclusive” as possible, the tickets for this year’s Winter Youth Olympic Games will be free of charge, with the exception of the Opening Ceremony in Gangneung, which would cost 30,000 to 100,000 won ($22 to $74).
Free tickets?
However, even though admission is free, fans must still book tickets online (link here) or in person at the box office on the day of the events.
Asia, more specifically South Korea’s Gangwon province, will host the Youth Olympics for the first time ever.
The events are scheduled to begin with the Opening Ceremony on January 19, 2024, at the Gangneung Oval and PyeongChang Dome simultaneously. According to Olympics.com, in addition to witnessing the athletes from different countries march into the stadium, there will also be live performances from K-pop artists and other cultural artists.
Participating in 15 disciplines across seven sports, the event will witness an unprecedented 1,900 competitors (from 81 National Olympic Committees), which is an increase of 1,788 from the Lausanne 2020 Games.
The events will run through February 1, 2024.
Other activities
On their official website, the Olympics also revealed that, in addition to the free tickets, they have an additional treat for the spectators: “The Let’s Play Winter Festival.”
Fans and athletes alike are promised exciting off-field activities at the festival, where they can engage in winter sports and learn about Olympic culture. Examples of activities include skate nights, speed ski challenges, and snow tubing. In addition, ice hockey, skating, and interactive photo booths, as well as face painting, interactive crafts, and virtual reality experiences, will be available for festival goers to partake in.
Winter Youth Olympic Games "Gangwon 2024"
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Safe Games Environment for Both Athletes and Spectators! 🇰🇷 pic.twitter.com/Wdk0cYMjSQ— 문화체육관광부 (@mcstkorea) December 12, 2023
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