Lausanne (pps) Four cities apply to host the 2012 Winter Youth Olympic Games. Just before the expiration of the nomination deadline on March 6, Harbin (China), Innsbruck (Austria), Kuopio (Finland) and Lillehammer (Norway) manifested their interest to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Lausanne.

Bidding cities must submit their candidature files to the IOC by June 19. On August 4, the IOC will announce a shortlist of candidate cities, which it will then inspect. At the end of October, the IOC Evaluation Commission will deliver its written report. The Host City of the 1st Winter Youth Olympic Games will finally be announced in December 2008.

The Youth Olympic Games for athletes aged between 14 and 18 years is the core of the IOC’s active youth campaign. Its objective is to communicate the key Olympic values to young people as well as to promote sport and exercise in general.

The first Summer Youth Olympic Games will be held in Singapore in 2010.