Korean entertainment company HYBE is bringing K-pop culture to the Paris Olympics 2024 that will open on July 26.
HYBE, the parent agency of K-pop groups BTS, Seventeen, ENHYPEN and Tomorrow X Together, announced on July 9 that it will provide Team Korea cheering or light sticks for the Korean national team’s participation in the Paris Olympics.
The regular Team Korea light stick (HYBE)
The Team Korea light stick for athletes (HYBE)
A rendering of the Korea House in Paris (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism)
The company especially produced a cheering stick, a symbol of K-pop cheering culture, and will provide it through the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC).
In March, HYBE signed a business agreement with the KSOC to lead the Olympic cheering culture, and agreed to actively cooperate for innovation and leadership in domestic and international cheering culture and joint promotion of K-culture at the upcoming Paris Olympics.
As part of the agreement, HYBE will supply about 5,000 cheering sticks developed using its own technology.
The light stick is available in two types: for general use and for athletes.
The cheering sticks consist of 500 for the Korean athletes and approximately 4,500 basic cheering sticks that can be used by anyone cheering for the Korean athletes at the Korea House in Paris.
The cheering stick was designed based on the Olympic torch. The Team Korea logo was placed inside the transparent case at the top of the handle to give the identity of the Korean national team.
The light-emitting part below the logo is shaped like a circle inspired by the Olympic stadium, and the pattern is applied to give the impression that the audience seats are spreading out from the inside.
The “Taegeukgi” (Korean national flag) was added to the top of the cheering stick for athletes to differentiate it from the basic model.
The cheering stick for athletes will be revealed for the first time in person at the commemorative photo shoot for the Paris Olympics athletes’ decision ceremony on July 9.
On July 27, the day after the Paris Olympics opens, at the cheering event at the outdoor garden of the Korea House in Paris, the base for Team Korea, HYBE plans to provide cheering sticks to all attendees and present a cheering stick production in which the colors and lights will be adjusted rhythmically to the cheering chants.
K-pop boy band Seventeen’s BSS unit (Seungkwan, DK and Hoshi) will join the cheering for Team Korea.
BSS will be the first runner of the Team Korea Cheer Challenge using the mega hit song “Fighting” and will show their cheering choreography.
In addition, HYBE will broadcast music videos and original entertainment content from HYBE Labels artists at the Hallyu Promotion Hall established by the Korea Tourism Organization at the Korea House in Paris, and will also exhibit cheering sticks and official merchandise.
HYBE earlier announced that BTS member Jin will be participating as a torchbearer at the Paris Olympics.