Lausanne (RWH) Sandra Gasparini from Italy and Saskia Langer from Germany, both lugers, have just been appointed by their National Olympic Committees as Youth Ambassadors to represent their home nations at the second Youth Olympic Games in Lillehammer, Norway (12 to 21 February 2016). Their new roles were announced by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Lausanne. The Youth Ambassadors will pass on tips and advice accrued during their own careers to the national YOG teams, encourage them to participate in the countless activities on offer outside of the YOG competitions, and will also emphasise the importance of the IOC values. In preparation for the event, a joint camp was held in October for all YOG Ambassadors to get to know each other. It took place in Lillehammer, host city of the 1994 Olympics.

Sandra Gasparini won a silver medal at the Junior World Championships in 2010 and also took silver with the Italian quartet in the team event at the 2007 World Cup in Innsbruck-Igls. The South Tyrolean luger retired from the sport after finishing 14th in the individual competition and 5th with the mixed Italian relay team at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. Saskia Langer won silver behind Austrian luger Miriam Kastlunger at the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in Innsbruck in 2012. She has also retired from competition due to the high level of internal competition among the female German athletes.