Asia's first Winter Youth Olympics kick off in Gangwon

The fourth Winter Youth Olympic Games kicked off its opening ceremony in South Korea's eastern Gangwon province on Friday.  

South Korea became the first host of the winter youth Olympics outside Europe.

A total of 15 disciplines across seven sports will be on display during the two-week sports event that will run till February 1 in the four host cities of Gangwon province - Gangneung, Pyeongchang, Jeongseon and Hoengseong.

Under the slogan of "Grow together. Shine forever," around 1,900 athletes aged 14 to 18 from some 80 countries and regions will compete in the Games.

Ice hockey player Zhang Jingyue was the flag bearer for the Chinese delegation which features 20 male and 36 female athletes.

Double Olympic champion Eileen Gu, who clinched gold medals in big air and halfpipe as well as silver in slopestyle during the Lausanne 2020 Winter Youth Olympics, acted as Gangwon 2024 Global Ambassador.

"It is an honor to be named Global Ambassador for YOG Gangwon 2024, as this event and the values it champions align perfectly with the message, I hope to spread to young people worldwide: Sport is for everyone, regardless of gender, age, ability, geographic location, and religion," Gu told Olympics.com when her role was announced. "It has the capacity to unite people and serve as an avenue for communication, empathy, and friendship."

The number of young athletes participating in the Winter Olympics hit a record high as Algeria, Nigeria, Puerto Rico, Tunisia and the United Arab Emirates are scheduled to make their winter youth Olympics debut.

The majority of the venues from the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games will be used to provide the young athletes with an opportunity to compete in the same sites as Olympians did six years earlier.

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Zhang Jingyue named China's flag bearer at Gangwon 2024 opening ceremony

(With input from Xinhua)