Following the launch of a Metaverse at the third European Games Krakow-Malopolska 2023, the International Olympic Committees (IOC) has announced that Winter Youth Olympic Games (YOG) Gangwon 2024 will follow suit this month.

The European Olympic Committees (EOC), in partnership with IT partners Atos, provided an immersive fan experience last summer to increase engagement with younger audiences alongside the fantastic sporting action in Poland. Fans were able to view highlights, explore the venues, chat to other fans and much more throughout the European Games.

It was the first of its kind in the Olympic Movement and now the IOC and Gangwon 2024 Organising Committee will follow the EOC’s innovative lead during the YOG between 19 January and 1 February, where more than 1,900 athletes from 81 different countries will compete in winter sports.

Users in South Korea will be able to stream events live, while there will be virtual tours of the venues, games and challenges where fans can compete against other users and opportunity to meet and interact with other fans around the world as well as inspiring visitors to try new winter sports and learn about the Olympic values.

The Gangwon 2024 Metaverse has been launched in conjunction with Gangwon-do Province and the Ministry of Science and Information and Communication Technology (MSIT) and will be an extension of the Province’s platform.

EOC President Spyros Capralos said: “The European Games Metaverse, developed by Atos, showed that the EOC are committed to innovating and placing ourselves at the forefront of technology in the Olympic Movement.

“This approach has been justified by the success of the Games and the engagement of such a wide audience during the competition.

“We believe that the IOC and Gangwon 2024’s development and launch of a Metaverse for the Winter Youth Olympic Games in South Korea further justifies our innovations in Krakow.”

Image: “Gangwon 2024 has launched the metaverse experience for Youth Olympic fans” by International Olympic Committee, from [Olimpics.com](https://olympics.com/ioc/news/gangwon-2024-has-launched-the-first-ever-metaverse-experience-for-youth-olympic-fans), accessed on January 15, 2024.