The inaugural 2012 event in Innsbruck showcased events, including slopestyle snowboard, which have gone on to make a debut appearance at the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi.

Holmestad highlighted how in Lillehammer, where a total of 70 gold medals will be on offer, there will be "traditional sports but with innovative elements".

Because he is a fan of the sport, cross-country cross was selected as a particular highlight.

Although broadly similar to the sprint event, small jumps and bumps are added to create more of a spectacle and atmosphere - thus creating a "perfect example of what the Youth Olympics can bring to the Olympic Movement". 

He also looks forward to the mass start events in long track speed skating - also "an important step for our sport," - while the parallel team relay in Alpine skiing also stands out along with mixed team events across a spectrum of sports.

But Holmestad also insisted that it remains "important to recreate the traditional sports to be attractive for a new generation".

Slopestyle is an event which has gone from the Youth Olympics to a thrilling debut this week on the Winter Olympic programme ©AFP/Getty Images


Raising the profile of winter disciplines, along with sport in general, was described as a particular aim of the Games and Holmestad cited the example of volunteers to illustrate this.

"We did a study which showed that most volunteers at the World Cup event in Lillehammer this winter were also there in 1994," he told insidethegames.

"This means that the volunteer population is ageing.

"So it is about inspiring the next generation and we see that as a big ambition.

"We want to take some of the enjoyment of winter sports as well as the pride of the Olympic Flame and Olympic values in order to be able to inspire not only the young people locally, but to spread that pride and excitement around the rest of the world."

Although he admitted "that they were still working hard to spread the message in Norway and internationally", he cited the 2016 Games slogan "Go beyond. Create tomorrow" and the celebrations to mark the 20 year anniversary of the Lillehammer 1994 Olympics as examples of this. 

"We want to see the youth welcoming Lillehammer to the world," he said.

It is hoped that the Winter Youth Olympics will inspire a new generation who do not remember Lillehammer 1994 ©Getty Images



As well as "raising the joy of winter sports", Holmestad also highlighted two other ways in which Lillehammer 2016 will create a positive legacy.

These relate to building peace and the environmental promotion of sustainability. 

Due to all these areas where he hopes the Games will bring benefits, Holmestad also quelled the notion, considered in an insidethegames blog last year, that the sports world does not need the Winter Youth Olympics. 

"I think the Winter Youth Olympics is a great story and is very well positioned," he said.

"It is just about getting it out there because it is a young project.

"We have a big story to tell."