Lillehammer 2016 Youth Olympic Games

Lillehammer 2016

The 2016 Winter Youth Olympics, officially known as the II Winter Youth Olympic Games, took place in and around Lillehammer, Norway, between 12 February and 21 February 2016. It was the fourth Youth Olympic Games and the second winter edition. Lillehammer was awarded the games on 7 December 2011 as the only candidate. The games will reuse venues from the 1994 Winter Olympics. In addition to Lillehammer, sports contested in Hamar, Gjøvik and Øyer.

Nine competition and eleven non-competition venues was in use, with all except the Youth Olympic Village in Lillehammer being existing venues. The games was held in four municipalities: Lillehammer, Hamar, Gjøvik and Øyer. The former three are located nearby the lake of Mjøsa and each have about 27,000 residents, while Øyer has 5,000 residents and is located in the valley of Gudbrandsdalen. There will be five competition venues in Lillehammer, two in Hamar and one in Gjøvik and Øyer.

Lysgårdsbakken

In Lillehammer, the twin ski jumping hill of Lysgårdsbakken has a spectator capacity of 35,000. Lysgårdsbakken has a hill size of 138 and a K-point of 120, while the normal hill has a hill size of 100 and a K-point of 90. Birkebeineren Ski Stadium will host cross-country skiing, biathlon and Nordic combined, with the stadium itself having a capacity for 31,000 spectators during cross-country skiing and 13,500 during biathlon. In addition, spectators could watch from along the tracks. Kanthaugen Freestyle Arena has a capacity for 15,000 spectators and will host freestyle skiing and half-pipe snowboarding.

Lillehammer Olympic Bobsleigh and Luge Track

Lillehammer Olympic Bobsleigh and Luge Track is located at Hunderfossen and is the only bobsleigh, luge and skeleton track in the Nordic Countries. Kristins Hall will host both ice hockey and curling. Gjøvik Olympic Cavern Hall is located in a man-made cave and will feature the short track speed skating events.In Hamar, Vikingskipet will host long track speed skating and Hamar Olympic Amphitheatre will host figure skating Alpine skiing and slopestyle snowboarding will be undertaken at Hafjell in Øyer.

Stampesletta, a multi-sports complex next to Kristins Hall, will host the opening and closing ceremonies. The medal ceremonies will take place in the town plaza. Athlete and leader accommodation will be provided at two Olympic Villages, one in Lillehammer for the Lillehammer and Øyer-based events, and one in Hamar for the Hamar and Gjøvik-based events. The Lillehammer village consists of yet unbuilt student apartments in combination with an hotel and apartment resort. They will use Håkons Hall for dining. The Hamar village will be Hotel Scandic Hamar. In addition, there are five designated cultural venues in Lillehammer: Kulturhuset Banken, Lillehammer Art Museum, Lillehammer University College, Maihaugen and the Nansen Academy. The Main Media Centre will be located at Mesna Upper Secondary School, which is adjacent to Stampesletta.

The venues Youth Olympic Games

All the competition venues were built ahead of the 1994 Winter Olympics. Kristins Hall is the only venue not used during those Games,while Håkons Hall and Kvitfjell were used. During Lillehammer 2016 Youth Olympic Games, Håkonshall will be the venue for the Learn & Share program, whilst Kristins Hall will be the official venue for ice hockey and curling. Kvitfjell will not be used, but Hafjell will be the main venue for downhill skiing, snowboard, and friskiing.