Two youthful athletes Young Chilumba from Athletics Association of Malawi (AAM) and Tayamika Changamuno of Malawi Aquatic Union (MAU) are in South Korea attending a Dream Programme for Winter Olympics.

The two athletes, who left on January 3, would finish the camp on January 18.

Malawi Olympic Committee president Oscar Kanjala said the programme was one of the initiatives taken by International Olympic Committee to promote winter Olympic games in countries they do not have snow.

"The IOIOC is trying to encourage countries which do not have winter Olympics programme to have experience of the games because not all countries affiliated to Winter Olympics have snow," Kanjala said.

Kanjala applauded South Korea for her commitment to give countries with no winter Olympics sporting activities.

"This is a solidarity gesture and it's a new dimension to promote the sport especially in African countries. South Africa and Namibia are already doing it."

Patrick Massah of Table Tennis and Chisomo Lumeta from Lawn Tennis were the first beneficiaries of the programme from Malawi.