HYBE, Seventeen's BSS to spread K-pop's lightstick culture at the Olympics

BTS agency HYBE and trio Seventeen BSS will spread K-pop's famed lightstick culture at the 2024 Paris Olympics with 5,000 special custom-made lightsticks.

Boy band Seventeen's subunit BSS [PLEDIS ENTERTAINMENT]

BTS agency HYBE and trio SeventeenBSS will spread K-pop's famed lightstick culture at the 2024 Paris Olympics with 5,000 special custom-made lightsticks.

HYBE will supply around 5,000 lightsticks to the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC), and collaborate with the committee for various supportive content and merchandise for Team Korea, the entertainment company said Tuesday.

The lightstick comes in two versions: the Team Korea Official Light Stick for general use and the Team Korea Official Digital Flag for athletes.

The lightstick's design was inspired by the Olympic torch, according to HYBE. The Team Korea logo is placed inside a transparent case at the top of the handle. Below the logo is a light-emitter featuring a circular pattern inspired by the Olympic Stadium. The athlete's lightstick includes an added Korean flag on top of the device.

The Team Korea Official Digital Flag for athletes, left, and the Team Korea Official Light Stick for general use. [HYBE]

The athlete's lightstick was revealed for the first time during a celebratory photo session at the send-off ceremony for the Paris Olympic team on Tuesday afternoon at Olympic Hall in Songpa District, southern Seoul.

There will be a group cheering event using the lightsticks at Team Korea House, the local support base in Paris. On July 27, the day after the Paris Olympics opening ceremony, hundreds of people, including the athletes' families and dignitaries from various countries, will gather in the outdoor garden of the Team Korea House to watch and cheer for Team Korea.

HYBE will provide lightsticks to all attendees and plans to program rhythmic color and lighting changes for the lightsticks in sync with cheering slogans, a common sight in K-pop concerts.

Boy band Seventeen's subunit BSS will also participate in supporting Team Korea. BSS will kick off the "Team Korea Support Challenge" using their song "Fighting" (2023), showcasing a cheer routine paired with choreography. The challenge video by BSS will be released on the KSOC Instagram account and other social media on July 10, followed by relay challenge videos from Korean national athletes.

"Spreading the lightstick concept, which started with K-pop, to the international sports stage and presenting a new cheering paradigm is very meaningful for HYBE as an entertainment company," HYBE said in a press release on Tuesday.

"The value of the lightstick, which connects many people with one light, resonates with the Olympic cheering culture of supporting athletes with one heart."

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BY KIM MIN-YOUNG [kim.minyoung5@joongang.co.kr]