The International Olympic Committee (IOC)’s Coordination Commission for the 1st Winter Youth Olympic Games in Innsbruck in 2012 ended its third inspection following three days of meetings.
The IOC said that with a little over a year to go until the Games, the organizing committee remains on track as it makes the transition from strategic planning to the operational phase of it preparations.
The IOC said it was particularly impressed with the progress made on the Youth Olympic Village, which it said was well ahead of schedule. The Village will accommodate about 1,660 athletes and officials from January 13 to 22, 2012.
The commission also noted that all permanent construction work is well on schedule for completion, including the new ski jump platform and biathlon facilities that are already conmpleted.
The commission validated Innsbruck’s proposed Culture and Education Programme (CEP) which will feature interactive initiatives for all participants of the Games. The program will enable athletes to learn new skills, experience different cultures, and cover key topics such as the benefits of healthy lifestyles, the dangers of doping, and the values of friendship, solidarity and fair play.
Commission Chairman Gian-Franco Kasper said, “the commission continues to be impressed by the creativity and energy from this small dynamic team and is confident that the hard work will continue in the crucial year ahead to deliver a successful first Winter Youth Olympic Games”.
Meanwhile the volunteer programme launched by Innsbruck 2012 two months ago has attracted hundreds of applications, two thirds of which have come from outside Austria.
