The United States Olympic Committee launched a Korean youth mentorship program in partnership with the PyeongChang Organizing Committee for the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (POCOG) and Jinbu Middle School as part of the USOC’s “Thank you, PyeongChang” initiative, a goodwill campaign aimed to contribute to the positive legacy of the PyeongChang Games, to say thank you to the people of the Republic of Korea for hosting the world this February and March, and to make an impact on the global community through the spirit of Olympism.
Three-time world championship medalists (2011 bronze, 2016 silver, 2017 bronze) and 2014 Olympic figure skaters Maia and Alex Shibutani will mentor students of Jinbu Middle School through virtual lessons leading up to the Games, culminating in an on-site visit with students in February. In turn, Jinbu Middle School students will teach Maia and Alex about Korean culture and what athletes and supporters can expect when PyeongChang 2018 opens in February. Learnings that the students share will be incorporated into the Team USA Ambassador Program, athlete training sessions that all members of the 2018 U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Team will attend prior to the Games.