“Innsbruck, you have done it again,” added Rogge, as the host city geared up for the main events that began from Saturday after having organized two previous Winter Olympics.[break]
Over 1,000 athletes performed march-past during the two-hour long grand opening ceremony as the organizers showed the videos of the Winter Olympics held here in 1964 and 1976. However, this is a historic first in the youth category.
Athletes aged 14 to 18 from 70 countries are taking part in these games. They will compete in 63 events until January 22. The first Youth Games was held in Singapore in 2010 as a summer event.
AIPS Congress
Meanwhile, Austrian president Heinz Fischer inaugurated the 75th Congress of International Sports Press Association (AIPS) at Innsbruck. President Fischer attended the Fair Play and Power of Sport during the opening ceremony.
Prince Albert II of Monaco and Prince Feisal Al Hussein of Jordan received Power of Sport Awards for being adjudged as the champion of the cause of peace and social development through sport. Italian Paralympic athlete Fabrizio Macchi also received Power of Sport.
Kenya women’s marathon team and Junior Barcelona Football Club team received Fair Play Award along with Patrice Tondela, former French football referee, and Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Tondela had stopped a match following racists slurs while Dhoni received the award for his decision to recall England batsman Ian Bell following a contentious run out.
In a four-day congress, 104 nations are participating including Nepal. Hemanta Kafle and Prakash Timilsina are representing Nepal Sports Journalist Forum during the congress.
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