Swiss President Talks Up Winter Youth Games Bid

July 12, 2013

The President of Switzerland has spoken of his excitement at the prospect of his country hosting the 2020 Winter Youth Olympic Games.

President Ueli Maurer said he was ‘very excited’ about the ‘positive impact’ the Games would have on Switzerland’s young people after Lausanne officially launched its application.

Maurer met members of the bid committee at an event for Jacques Rogge, allergy | the International Olympic Committee (IOC) President who will step down after 12 years in charge.

A statement read: “If designed intelligently, (the Winter Youth Olympic Games) can actually have a significant weight on the development of the next generation in Switzerland.

Switzerland has not hosted any version of the Olympic Games since the Winter Games in 1924, seeing six bids since then prove unsuccessful.

Reports suggest that Lausanne could be up against Sofia, Bulgaria and Lake Place in the United States.

Applications are due by November 28 with the host city elected in May/June 2015.