Thank You PyeongChang
Building on the successful 2012 “Thank You Britain” and 2016 “#WeLoveRio” campaigns, the USOPC executed the “Thank You, PyeongChang” campaign in the lead-up to, during, and after, the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games to demonstrate Team USA’s support for South Korea, excitement leading into the Games, and gratitude towards the hosts. The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee worked with Team USA athletes on a multifaceted goodwill campaign aimed to:
- Contribute to the positive legacy of the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games
- Express thanks to the people of South Korea for hosting the world in February and March
- Make an impact on the global community through the spirit of Olympism
The program centered around a youth sports mentorship program between Team USA figure skaters Maia and Alex Shibutani and students at Jinbu Middle School in PyeongChang. The “Shib Sibs” hosted a series of monthly video chats beginning in August 2017 and culminating in an in-person visit with the students in South Korea during the Games. The mentorship program was supplemented by other activities, which began at the one-year to the start of the 2018 Games milestone in February 2017, and included Team USA athletes serving as Sport Envoys in South Korea, multiple community outreach visits in South Korea, and social postings and video messages from Team USA athletes thanking the Olympic and Paralympic host country.