Lausanne, 11 February 2016 – 2016 has kicked off to quite a start for the Lausanne 2020 winter YOG, the third to date, with the 2nd YOG, Lillehammer 2016, about to start.

 First of all because they have just welcomed new director general Ian Logan, who, out 56 excellent applicants, was the one who got the job. With an exemplary military career behind him, and a great deal of experience in organising a wide variety of events, Ian Logan will be part of the delegation Lausanne 2020 will be sending to Lillehammer 2016, after which he will dedicate himself fulltime to preparations for the Lausanne event.

Lausanne will indeed be sending a 20 strong team for the joint IOC/Lillehammer 2016 Observer Programme, from 12 to 21 February,  so as to be able to witness how the event is staged.

The delegation is very heterogeneous, so that each part of the project can have all the necessary tools to plan and invest in the best way for 2020. It will, among others, count on the participation of representatives from the world of politics, high schools, selected host ski resorts, and also the transport sector.

The aim is clear: learn as much as possible, and come back with bags full of ideas and ambitions for the success of the 2020 winter Youth Olympic Games. During these two weeks, the delegation will be closely assisted by the Lillehammer 2016 Organising Committee, and will make the best of this opportunity to consolidate relations also with the IOC; as said by Lausanne 2020 chair Patrick Baumann, delegation members and staff will work hand in hand to ensure the games achieve their purpose of communicating Olympic values.