Here is all you need to know about Moongcho, the Gangwon 2024 Winter Youth Olympics mascot
A record 1,803 young athletes from 79 different countries will compete in the Gangwon 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games, which will get underway on this month in Gangwon Province, in the eastern part of the Korean Peninsula.
Who is Moongcho the Gangwon name of the Winter Youth Olympics 2024 Gangwon mascot and its meaning explained
With more competitors and participating nations than any previous Winter Youth Olympic, this event will be the largest to date. With 1,788 competitors from 76 countries, the 2020 competition in Lausanne, Switzerland, set the previous record.
The Republic of Korea’s Gangwon will host the 4th Winter YOG Games from January 19–February 1, 2024. Young athletes will have an opportunity to compete internationally against their peers and display their skills at the first Winter YOG in Asia. By utilising many of the same venues for the YOG, Gangwon 2024 will profit from the legacy of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics.
“Moongcho” the Gangwon 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games official Mascot
Inspired by the Olympic and Paralympic mascots of Pyeongchang 2018, the official mascot of the Gangwon 2024 Youth Olympic Games has been unveiled. Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), stated, as per Inside The Games, outlet:
The unveiling of the mascot is always an important milestone, and with just one year to go today, we can be confident that the youth of the world will have an outstanding experience during their time in Gangwon.”
Moongcho is shown with a scarlet scarf around its neck and sky-blue goggles on.
Introducing #Moongcho! 😍❄️
With just one year to go until the Winter Youth Olympic Games in Gangwon, Republic of Korea, say hi to the #Gangwon2024 mascot!@gangwon2024 | #1YearToGo pic.twitter.com/DY8e7NMAz7
— The Olympic Games (@Olympics) January 19, 2023
On Monday, on the campus of Gangneung-Wonju National University, which is hosting the Olympic Village, visitors pose for pictures with “Moongcho,” the official mascot of the Gangwon 2024 Winter Youth Olympics. The term “mungchida,” which in Korean means “to gather as one,” is the source of the mascot’s name, moongcho.
As shown by Moongcho’s face, Gangwon 2024’s mascot was inspired by snow. It is a flying snowball that represents one of the most important elements of sport: speed. His symbolic position features the mascot grinning and waving to visitors at the Games with a raised hand, signifying Moongcho’s joy about competing in Gangwon 2024 alongside everyone else on the planet.
The mascots are enjoying a holiday together! 🏖️
Moongcho from #Gangwon2024 is exploring the #OlympicQualifiers venue cities with Phyrge, the mascot representing #Paris2024! 🌴☀️#YouthOlympics | @gangwon2024 pic.twitter.com/zGuUwVSPTr
— The Olympic Games (@Olympics) August 22, 2023