(ATR) Organizers of the inaugural Winter Youth Olympic Games in Innsbruck say the construction of the Youth Olympic Village the biggest challenge in staging the Games.
Every venue except for the Youth Olympic Village is built and "internationally tested, year by year" according to Peter Bayer, Innsbruck 2012 CEO. After the Games, the 444-unit apartment complex will be converted into public housing.
Bayer calls the YOV "one of our greatest legacies".
"That’s something where we got to learn the power of the Olympic Games. This project was only possible because of the Youth Olympic Games. The military wanted to sell it on the free market and basically everyone started to pull on one string and said ‘no, it’s a great project - it’s a great chance and we have to use it for these Youth Olympic Games.’ We are now two months in advance of our construction schedule, if we don’t have an earthquake which we usually don’t have, we will be ready in 2012."
Bayer said the Youth Olympic Village is also one of the greatest environmental legacies of the Games. The construction system employed to erect the village uses less energy than needed to complete the job.
"It’s a very impressive project actually" Bayer said.
The ski jumping venue is the only venue needing renovation before the Games.
"We are sure that we will have great Games on our venues and the people of Innsbruck are very much looking forward to it."
The other challenge for Innsbruck was securing funds to stage the Games.
"It’s not really easy to get the money for such a project, secure it within a very short periodof time.
"And obviously during the bid phase you calculate with a certain number and once you start evaluating what you want to do, what you promise, what the expectations could be, and the level of service you want to offer, and get everyone to agree that that’s the budget we want to spend, that that’s secured, that’s definitely a challenge from an operational point of view."
He said success of the Singapore YOG eased the pressure on Innsbruck.
"Now we know its working. So we just have to really focus on what we can do best, organizing great winter sport events in our perfect venues."
Medals will be awarded in 63 events, including several disciplines making their Olympic debut, such as women’s ski jump, ski halfpipe, and snowboard slopestyle. Other international federations are determining how and if they can introduce new disciplines to the Games, Bayer said.
Ice hockey is introducing a so-called skills challenge at the YOG. The challenge is specifically designed for young athletes coming from countries that aren't traditional powerhouses in the sport.
He also said "it is a very big honor for us, to host the Olympic Flame for the third time". Innsbruck has hosted the Winter Olympics twice, in 1964 and 1976.
Austrian Olympic Committee secretary general Peter Mennel said he hopes "we will be represented in all sports competition, and continue our past successes."
The YOG is scheduled for Jan. 13 – 22.
A total of 1,058 athletes from about 70 countries will compete in the Games.
Innsbruck was selected as host city in 2008.
Written by Ed Hula III.
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