(ATR) The first big event on the calendar for 2016 should get the new year off to a good start for the Olympics.
The Lillehammer Youth Olympic Gamesare number 25 in the Around the Rings Golden 25 for 2016. Now in its 20th year, the survey ranks 25 individuals or events expected to have a major influence on the Olympics in the year ahead.
Preparations for the 2016 Lillehammer Youth Olympic Games have progressed smoothly over the past three years in the capable hands of the Norwegian organizers.
This second edition of the Winter YOG appears to be on track to deliver an experience to 1100 athletes from 70 nations that sticks to the objective of balancing cultural and education activities with competition.
As host of the acclaimed host of the 1994 Winter Games, Lillehammer offered all the venues needed for the event except for thenew YOG Village, which will become legacy housing post-Games.
Ownership of the event is shared by the Norwegian Culture Ministry (51 percent) and the Lillehammer municipality and Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sports with equal shares of 24.5 percent.
After Norway rejected a try for 2022 from Oslo over a variety of concerns, an absence of controversy and modest plans for the YOG may help convince the powers that be that the country can hold a full-scale Winter Games again.
The Lillehammer Youth Olympic Games run from Feb 12-21.
Written by Ed Hula.