IOC opens bidding for 2012 Winter Youth Olympics

The IOC opened the bidding process Wednesday for the inaugural Winter Youth Olympic Games in 2012.

LAUSANNE, Switzerland — The IOC opened the bidding process Wednesday for the inaugural Winter Youth Olympic Games in 2012.
    Letters were sent to all national Olympic committees inviting them to consider entering a candidate for the event, which will feature about 1,000 athletes aged 14-18.
    National bodies must inform the International Olympic Committee of candidate cities by March 6, with bid files to be submitted by June 19.
    A panel of experts will propose a short list of candidates in August, and the IOC will vote on the host city by postal ballot in November. The winner will be announced in December.
    The games will feature the seven sports on the Winter Olympic program, including a limited number of events and disciplines ''which are of particular interest to the younger generation,'' the IOC said.
    On Monday, the IOC chose Moscow and Singapore as the finalists to hold the inaugural Summer Youth Olympics in 2010. The winner, picked by postal vote, will be announced Feb. 21.
    The summer and winter Youth Olympics are designed to encourage youngsters to get involved in sports and spend less time in front of computer and television screens.

    — The Associated Press