Lausanne 2020 Gearing Up For Nationwide Youth Olympic Sport Celebration

The IOC Coordination Commission concluded two days of meetings with the Lausanne 2020 Organising Committee on preparations for the third edition of the Winter Youth Olympic Games, which will ensure a celebration of sport in eight locations.

FIS was represented by its Secretary General Sarah Lewis who is a member of the Commission.

Strong relationships have been forged by Lausanne 2020 with the International Federations to integrate the sports and disciplines that will be included on the programme, such as Freestyle Ski and Snowboard big air, ladies’ Nordic Combined, Ski mountaineering, mixed NOC 3x3 Ice Hockey and ladies’ doubles in Luge.

As part of the two-day programme, the Commission members visited two venues in the Jura region. On the French side, Les Tuffes will host Ski Jumping, Nordic Combined and Biathlon, and in Switzerland the Vallée de Joux will host Cross-Country Skiing. The Commission members also visited Les Diablerets, host resort for Alpine Skiing, and one of the three sites in the Vaud Alps, together with Leysin and Villars. Meanwhile, St Moritz will re-use its Olympic legacy to host Luge, Bobsleigh and Skeleton, while its frozen lake will be used for Speed Skating.

The Commission heard very positive reports about the two main construction projects started since its last visit that are on track for the new student accommodation and the Malley ice centre in Lausanne. They will be used respectively for the Youth Olympic Village and the Ice Hockey, Figure Skating and Short-Track Speed Skating competitions and constitute key legacy projects for the region.

The Commission also welcomed the involvement of young people to support the Games organisation in areas such as digital strategy, brand design, food and beverage concept, and athletes' experience. Lausanne 2020 also enjoys close collaboration with the local university to develop some of the core educational activities for participating athletes. In addition, youth, innovation and athletes' councils have been appointed as consultative groups for the Organisers.

With public transport key to the movement of athletes, officials, members and spectators during the Games, Lausanne 2020 took the opportunity of the IOC Coordination Commission visit to inaugurate a Lausanne 2020-branded metro carriage.

Sarah Lewis commented: “The opportunity to visit the YOG Lausanne 2020 venues for half of the sports on the programme gave the IOC Coordination Commission an opportunity to experience the venues, locations and facilities. The collaboration and interaction with these experienced Organisers, who also feature regularly on the FIS international calender, and the Lausanne 2020 Organising Committee is apparent. With just over two years until the Winter Youth Olympic Games 2020 and the first test events during the current season, the Organisers are making good progress with the preparations.”