Lillehammer 2016 have held a Chef de Mission seminar ahead of next year's Winter Youth Olympic Games ©Lillehammer 2016

Lillehammer 2016 have held a Chefs de Mission seminar ahead of next year’s Winter Youth Olympic Games, which take place in the Norwegian town from February 12 to 21.

The seminar was attended by 67 National Olympic Committees, where they were given the details they need to prepare their respective teams for next year’s event.

As well as the meeting for Chefs de Mission, a Young Ambassador seminar was also staged, which saw 39 Youth Ambassadors test the Learn and Share scheme, a two-week long initiative which will take place alongside the Winter Youth Olympic Games.

It will give young athletes the opportunity to share experiences and develop skills to help mould them into future sporting champions, with healthy eating, careers in sport, injury prevention and media training set to be some of the main topic areas covered.

The Young Ambassadors were joined at the seminar by five Athlete Role Models and they will be tasked with ensuring the athletes who are due to compete in Lillehammer receive the best possible experience.

A seminar for Young Leaders was also staged and was attended by around 130 Norwegian youngsters who are set to volunteer their services for next year’s Games, the second edition of the Winter Youth Olympics following the inaugural edition in Innsbruck, Austria in 2012.

Seminars for Young Ambassadors and Young Leaders were also staged by Lillehammer 2016
Seminars for Young Ambassadors and Young Leaders were also staged by Lillehammer 2016 ©Lillehammer 2016

The participants took part in the meeting as well as a number of sporting activities including tug of war.

“It’s a big experience being here in Lillehammer,” American Kate Anderson, who is a Young Ambassador for Lillehammer 2016, said.

“Being a part of the Young Ambassador Team, this seminar, being active and having fun with other youths, really brings us closer as a team.

“This is so much fun and the guys get so competitive.”

The Games in Lillehammer are expected to attract around 1,100 athletes from 205 countries, participating in 70 events.



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