Lillehammer 2016 Torch Lit in Greece, Handed to Norway

(ATR) The Youth Olympic Flame was lit today in Panathenaic Stadium in Athens and the Lighting-Handover Ceremony for the Lillehammer 2016 Winter Youth Olympic Games ensued.

Following Olympic tradition, the ceremony was performed by a Greek priestess from the Temple of Hera, the flame lit by the sun’s rays with the help of a parabolic mirror.

The flame was then passed to the first of four young athletes from Norway and Greece as the Torch Relay began in the venerable stadium, which was home to the first modern Games in 1896.

During the ceremony, speeches were given by the president of Lillehammer 2016 Siri Hatlen and 17-year-old Runa Møller Tangstad, a participant in the Lillehammer 2016 Young Leader program.

"It is a true honor to actually be the one holding the flame and be a part of the team bringing it safe home to Norway," said Møller Tangstad.

"The lighting of the Youth Olympic flame is a major milestone for Lillehammer 2016," said Tomas Holmestad, CEO of Lillehammer 2016 and a member of the Norwegian delegation in Athens. "We’re getting so near the Games that we literally can feel the heat of it, and, with this flame being lit, we are ready to welcome the world to Norway."

Norwegian legend and three-time Olympic cross-country ski champion Vegard Ulvang is also among the delegation from Norway taking the flame back to Oslo tomorrow (Dec. 2).

Upon arrival at the airport, the journey continues by train to Oslo where a Torch welcoming event will be held. The flame will be handed over to young athletes – curler Michael Mellemseter and figure skater Juni Marie Benjaminsen.

The young athletes will parade the torch along Karl Johans Gate, the city’s main street towards the Norwegian Parliament, where it will be passed to Norwegian NOC president Tom Tvedt. Tvedt will then hand it to Olemic Thommesen, the president of Norway’s Parliament and the former head of ceremonies at the 1994 Games.

The flame will be kept inside the Parliament until it travels to Lillehammer for the national sports award show, Jan. 9.

On January 11, the Torch Tour will begin in the north of Norway and travel counter-clockwise around 21 Norwegian cities, where "flame events" will take place at every location. The relay will conclude in Hamar, site of figure skating and speed skating events on February 11, one day prior to Feb. 12 opening ceremony in Lillehammer.

The second edition of the Winter Youth Games in Lillehammer will involve some 1,100 young athletes from 70 countries between the ages of 15-18. Athletes will compete in all seven Winter Olympic sports – including a variety of new events – during the Games. Events will be staged in Lillehammer, Hamar, Gjovik and Oyer and Oslo from Feb. 12-21.

Big Weekend of Nordic World Cups in Lillehammer

It will be a busy weekend at the Lillehammer 1994 Olympic venues as International Ski Federation (FIS) World Cups will be contested in cross-country skiing, ski jumping and Nordic combined.

Men and women will take to the jump hills and trails in nine events total at the Lysgaardsbakken ski jumping hills and Birkebeineren Stadium, Dec. 4-6.

Norwegian fans will be cheering their cross-country skiing stars who fared well at last weekend’s opening event in Ruka, Finland. Norwegians stand first, second and third in the men’s overall World Cup standings led by Martin Johnsrud Sundby. On the ladies side, Norwegians are currently first and third with Therese Johaug leading the way.

Organizers will also be looking ahead and continuing preparations for YOG. For example, the 25-year-old assistant competition manager at the cross-country venue will gain valuable last minute experience as he will serve as the main competition manager during the Youth Olympic Games in two months time.

One of the primary goals for the immensely experienced Lillehammer organizers is to also provide opportunities for young organizers to gain valuable experience and be an integral part of the Winter YOG.

Written by Brian Pinelli

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