Four finalists vie to host 2012 Winter Youth Games

The executive board of the International Olympic Committee has chosen the four final candidate cities to host the inaugural Winter Youth Olympic Games in 2012. The four cities are Harbin, China; Innsbruck, Austria; Kuopio, Finland; and Lillehammer, Norway.
The executive board of the International Olympic Committee has chosen the four final candidate cities to host the inaugural Winter Youth Olympic Games in 2012. The four cities are Harbin, China; Innsbruck, Austria; Kuopio, Finland; and Lillehammer, Norway.
    The selection by the executive board was made on the basis of a study of the cities’ candidature files and related documents submitted to the IOC. The study and subsequent report were conducted by a panel of experts including FIS President Gian Franco Kasper. The panel assessed the risks and opportunities associated with each city’s project, including the candidate’s readiness to host in just 3 ½ years.  
    The host city for the first Winter Youth Olympic Games will be announced in December after a postal vote by all IOC members.