There is just 70 days to go before young New Zealand athletes will be competing in the first ever Winter Youth Olympic Games in Innsbruck. International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge has said he is pleased with how things are going for Innsbruck to be ready for the Games. My team tell me that preparations in Innsbruck are going perfectly, said Rogge. After all, it is no coincidence that we chose a city which has twice already hosted Olympic Games. This is the first edition of the Winter Youth Olympic Games, so nothing can or should go wrong. We can guarantee that in Innsbruck. The Winter Youth Olympic Games provides an opportunity for talented young New Zealand athletes to develop their skills and work towards competing at future Winter Olympics. Rogge highlighted the importance of Youth Olympic Games saying The first Summer Youth Olympic Games showed how well the concept works. All of the competitions, including new events and mixed-gender teams, are at the very highest sporting level. At the same time, the Culture & Education Programme is a key element of the Games we want to train the young athletes for life and share with them the Olympic Values. If we manage to do that, then we will be very pleased indeed. Thirteen of New Zealands best young winter athletes have been chosen for the Team so far. Olivia Thomson (biathlon), David Weyer (curling), Eleanor Adviento (curling), Kelsi Heath (curling), Luke Steele (curling), Callum Burns (ice hockey), Libby-Jean Hay (ice hockey), Beau-James Wells (freeski), Hamish Bagley (snowboard), Harry Izard-Price (alpine), Piera Hudson (alpine), Samantha Poots (freeski) and Tim Herbert (snowboard). Two more are expected to join the Team as qualifications continue until mid-December.
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