Lausanne 2020: the story so far
As a new wave of young athletes are welcomed to the Winter Youth Olympic Games (YOG) Lausanne 2020, we look back on a hugely successful first week at the YOG.
The Winter YOG have reached the half-way mark. As the first set of young athletes begin to head home, what better time to evaluate the success of the Games so far, as a new wave of passionate and motivated young women and men enter the Youth Olympic Village ready for an unforgettable week in the home town of the Olympic Movement.
From day one, strong collaboration between the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Organising Committee and stakeholders has helped create Games that are run by young people, for young people. The YOG have given these athletes the platform not only to shine on the sporting stage, but also to have a voice through the various educational events held in the Village.
One such event is the popular Chat with Champions series, which this year has seen the likes of IOC President Thomas Bach, Canadian figure skating Olympic champion Patrick Chan and athletics world champion Dina Asher-Smith share their wisdom with the young athletes on a variety of important topics from global issues to sporting advice.
The Athlete Role Models (ARMs) have also been on hand to guide and inspire the young athletes – many of whom are competing at their first major international event – in whatever way they can, ensuring that the Olympic values are passed on to the next generation.
From media and medals to athletes and attendance, here are the key takeaways from the first week of the YOG.