Besides World Cups, World Championships and Olympic
Games there are now numerous international events
within a short period of time. Young athletes have
the chance to participate in the Universiade and,
since 2012, also in the Youth Olympic Winter Games.
In addition there is also the European Youth Olympic
Festival. Here's more information about the EYOF.
ROCK THE ALPS – EYOF 2015: European Youth Olympic
Festival 2015
The fight for results, wins and medals in on in
Vorarlberg and Liechtenstein next winter.
"This festival motivates young European athletes
and gives their career a meaning right from the
start." Jacques Rogge, former president of
the IOC, knows what he's talking about. He initiated
the European Olympic Youth Festival 1991 in order
to give young athletes the chance to compete internationally
under Olympic conditions as early as possible. In
addition the Olympic values like respect, friendship
and the pursuit of excellence shall be promoted.
"For young athletes the EYOF's in summer and
winter are just as important as the Olympic Games
for adults", says Milan Jirasek, member of
the EOC Executive Committee.
The EYOF, the European Youth Olympic Festival, is
organized by the European Olympic Committee under
the patronage of the International Olympic Committee.
It is held every two years, in summer and winter.
Valuable experience for the young athletes
With the introduction of this important sports event
Europe keeps up with the tradition of other continents
- for example the Asian and the Pan American Games.
The Winter and Summer Festival also include an opening
and closing ceremony, the Olympic flame is burning
during the whole festival, athletes, referees and
coaches take their oath. At the victory ceremony
the national anthem is played in honor of the winner,
the flags of the medalists are raised. The European
Youth Olympic Festival offers European cities the
opportunity to motivate their youth and communities
to more sports and a healthier lifestyle.
Premiere for Vorarlberg & Liechtenstein
After the first edition of the Youth Olympic Winter
Games 2012 in Innsbruck, yet another Olympic event
for young athletes is now held in Austria with the
European Youth Olympic Festival in Vorarlberg and
Liechtenstein from January 25th to January 30th,
2015. This is also a worldwide premiere. The EYOF
2015 is the first festival that is held in two countries.
Up to 49 nations and about 1500 athletes between
ages 14 and 18 will be participating in this European
sports event. Four of the international winter sports
federations, which are also active at Olympic Games,
will be represented in Vorarlberg and Liechtenstein:
the International Ski Federation (FIS), the International
Biathlon Union (IBU), the International Ice Hockey
Federation (IIHF) and the International Skating
Union (ISU). On the six days of the festival, events
in eight sports will be held at nine different venues:
biathlon, ice hockey, figure skating, cross country
skiing, nordic combined, alpine skiing, ski jumping
and snowboarding. Patrick Hickey, president of the
EOC, praised the event in 2011: "There is something
magical about youth competitions. And it's also
a chance to watch talented athletes compete before
they are getting famous."
Ski jumping is included in the program of the Winter
EYOF since 1999, but ski jumping competitions were
not held in Monthey (SUI) 2005 and Jaca (ESP) 2007
because it is one of the sports that organizers
can choose from. From 2009 ski jumpers were able
to compete again in Wisla, Liberec and Brasov. The
ski jumping competitions of the European Youth Olympic
Festival 2015 will be held in Tschagguns, Vorarlberg
on the HS 108 and the HS 66.
Sustainable structures, likeable hosts
"It is a beautiful region, lots of nature,
high mountains, fantastic", EOC EYOF manager
Katerina Nycova said during her first visit. "Both
countries have a huge potential, excellent venues
and the necessary knowledge to carry out such big
events."
The organizing committee in Schruns paid special
attention to the cooperation with the local schools
and clubs in Vorarlberg and Liechtenstein. The goal
was to preserve resources and create and support
a sustainable infrastructure in order to enthuse
as many young people as possible for winter sports
over the next years. In addition the regions in
Vorarlberg and Liechtenstein have the chance to
present themselves as likeable and capable hosts
with organizational skills and a huge passion for
sports. Today's top athletes like Janica Kostelic
(CRO), Anja Paerson (SWE), Yevgeniy Plyushenko (RUS),
Peter Prevc (SLO), Jason Lamy Chappuis (FRA), Daniela
Iraschko-Stolz (AUT), Martin Koch (AUT), Vincent
Descombes Sevoie (FRA) and 4-Hills-Tournament winner
Thomas Diethart (AUT) showed their talent at the
Winter EYOF. The list of successful young athletes
who made their way to the world's elite is long.
For them this sports event was a valuable experience.
Christina AGER (Alpine Skiing - Austria):
„The Olympic Spirit at the EYOF is magical. You
experience so much, you get to know different cultures
and many people from all over the world. Friendships
are made. The event is a formative experience for
every young athlete."
Tina WEIRATHER (Alpine Skiing - Liechtenstein):
„What I like most about the EYOF is that young athletes
get the chance to experience such a big event with
a unique atmosphere. They learn to show their best
performance under pressure."
For more information about the European Youth Olympic
Festival 2015 in Vorarlberg and Liechtenstein visit:
www.eyof2015.org
Official website of the European Olympic Committee:
www.eurolympic.org
