First qualifying event for the Youth Games in Innsbruck
Park City (pps) The young on the go: Even before the start of the Viessmann Luge World Cup the young luge talents will launch the new luge season. The first qualifying events for the première of the Youth Olympic Games in Innsbruck (January 13-22, 2012) will be carried out on the luge track of the 2002 Olympic Games in Park City on November 19-20, 2011 – one week before the Viessmann Luge World Cup series will take off in Igls on November 26-27.
In accordance with the International Olympic Committee, IOC, the International Luge Federation, FIL, has scheduled a total of four qualifying events for the 2011-2012 season. In the previous season, young athletes born in 1994 or 1995 could already gather YOG qualification points at the FIL Youth World Cups.
Park City will also host the second qualifying event on November 22-23. Further venues are Calgary (December 1-2) in Canada and Innsbruck-Igls (December 10-11) in Austria.
A total of 70 young lugers of the age group 1994-1995 are eligible (20 girls, 20 boys, 15 doubles) to compete in the Youth Olympic Games. A maximum of six young talents (two girls, two boys, one doubles) per federation are allowed to compete.
The Winter Youth Olympic Games introduce a new concept within the spirit of Olympic Games. They are intended for young athletes aged 14 to 18 and shall thus complement the Olympic Winter Games by this age group.
