Countdown on as final Coordination Commission visit concludes in Innsbruck The International Olympic Committee (IOC)s Coordination Commission for the 1st Winter Youth Olympic Games in Innsbruck in 2012 concluded its fourth and final visit to the Austrian host city. The Coordination Commission visit took place after three successful days of Chefs de Mission meetings with all 65 nations that will compete in Innsbruck. With just over 120 days to go until the Opening Ceremony, the Innsbruck Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee (IYOGOC) remains on track as it enters the operational readiness phase in its planning. The Youth Olympic Village is progressing well. The YOV will accommodate approximately 1,660 athletes and officials during Games time, and, as a legacy of the Youth Olympic Games, will be used as affordable housing once the Games have concluded. The Innsbruck Organising Committee is heading into the final few months of preparation to ensure an unforgettable elite sporting event for the worlds best young winter athletes. This unique host city has a rich Olympic history, and today we can feel the excitement building as it makes history again with the 1st Winter Youth Olympic Games. At Innsbruck 2012, several new disciplines will be seen for the first time at an Olympic event, such as snowboard slopestype, ski half pipe and ice hockey skills challenge. Also integrated into the sports programme for the first time is womens ski jumping, the winner of which will be awarded the first Winter Youth Olympic Games medal. The Coordination Commission was also pleased to note the full integration of the unique Culture and Education Programme (CEP) into the overall schedule for athletes, spectators and local schools. The Programme 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. The CEP was successfully tested this week during a seminar involving the 33 Young Ambassadors chosen by National Olympic Committees. This group will then guide the athletes through the programme during Games time. The volunteer programme, launched earlier this year, has attracted almost 2,500 applications from 40 countries double the amount of volunteers actually required. In addition, partnerships with 12 international universities have also been secured. In one months time, Innsbruck 2012 will celebrate its 100-day countdown, and will take the opportunity to present a number of engaging initiatives and events to mark the milestone.
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