Lausanne 2020: Preparation Events to Take Place This Winter in Most Competition Sites

Press release

Lausanne, 16th August, 2018 - This week, The Lausanne 2020 Organising Committee held a meeting

with representatives from all the host competition sites to do a full overview of the progress made by the

organisation as of today. Pleasingly, preparations are on track and even ahead of schedule in many areas.

The Lausanne 2020 Organising Committee announced in April that it had entered a more concrete

organisational phase, with more detailed and complex planning. This week, 17 months before the opening

ceremony, all the competition sites’ representatives met in the resort of Champéry, host of the Curling

competitions in 2020, for a full debrief on ongoing projects. The meeting included the President of the

Organising Committee, Patrick Baumann, the Vice-President and State Councillor Philippe Leuba, the

Member of the Board and Lausanne Municipal Councillor Oscar Tosato, and Ian Logan, CEO.

The Lausanne 2020 organising committee with representatives of its host sites in Champéry (SUI), Aug. 15, 2018

Following the meeting, it is clear that the organizational phase is progressing very well with competition

sites working on detailed plans, by day and by discipline. Moreover, some competition sites are adding up

their own projects aimed at upgrading their infrastructures, including the remodelling of a key ski-lift at the

Vaud Alps resort of Les Diablerets. This accelerated refurbishment will have a strong positive impact the

economic development of the resort, and is progressing at a fast pace.

In Leysin too, the halfpipe project is in full swing and continues to advance rapidly. Importantly, this project

will enable the Vaud Alps resort to strengthen its position as an important freestyle skiing centre in

Switzerland – leaving a lasting legacy. In Lausanne, Vortex, which will serve as the Olympic Village during

the event, and the new ice rink in Malley, are also on track. Preparation competitions are planned to be

launched this winter in most competition sites, including the FIS Women's European Ski Cup in Les

Diablerets, providing an important landmark in their development.

The Lausanne 2020 organising committee with representatives of its host sites in Champéry (SUI), Aug. 15, 2018

After the meeting, Patrick Baumann, IOC Member and President of the Lausanne 2020 Organising

Committee, commented: "The Olympic Games can be used as a tool for sustainable development. With

Lausanne 2020, we are seeing a united team of regions, municipalities and volunteers striving to achieve a

common goal, accelerating their decision making processes and preparing the slopes and venues in

Lausanne and in the mountains at the required standards. We are extremely proud of what they have

achieved so far. With the magnificent Swiss Alps as our natural backdrop and the heart of the Olympic

Movement at its centre, we will have memorable Youth Olympic Games."

Ian Logan, CEO of the Lausanne 2020 Organising Committee, added: "I am pleased to note the excellent

collaboration between the host competition sites, which are all clearly working towards the same objective:

to organise an event that will enable young athletes to shine in the best possible conditions, here in 2020.

We all look forward to seeing all our sites promote themselves in the best possible way to the sporting

youth of the world in just 17 months."

Contact:

Olivier Delapierre, Lausanne 2020 Organising Committee

T: +41 (0) 78 802 6349

E : olivier.delapierre@lausanne2020.com

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