Page 37

AboveAn educational session at the HOEkons HallBelowYOG Ambassador Lindsey Vonn (left) talks to young athletes, who could try the ÒYour Body and MindÓ activity (right)When they weren’t wowing the Lillehammer crowds with their sporting prowess, the 1,100 young athletes at the YOG were busy taking part in a variety of fun and engaging educational activities as part of the innovative Learn & Share programme.This fundamental element of the YOG experience aims to equip the young athletes with valuable life skills, while also promoting the Olympic values and highlighting real world issues.ÒThe Learn & Share programme is the heart of the Games beyond the sport and competition,Ó explains Philippe Furrer, Head of YOG Engagement, Learn LEARN & SHARE: HELPING TO INSPIRE AND EMPOWERTHE YOUNG ATHLETES& Share at the IOC. ÒWe want to inspire and empower athletes with the tools and knowledge to be the best possible athletes on the field and beyond it.ÓThe Lillehammer 2016 Learn & Share programme featured 25 activities ranging from obstacle courses, interactive games and media training, to cooking workshops, performance clinics and excursions to the Norwegian Olympic Museum and a local ski factory. Among the most popular activities were the regular ÒChat with ChampionsÓ events, which saw 15 current and former Olympians Ð who had travelled to Lillehammer as Athlete Role Models, and included the likes of triple Olympic Nordic combined champion Felix Gottwald Ð offer their advice to young athletes during informal Q&A sessions. According to Furrer, giving the young athletes the chance to interact with Olympians and take part in educational activities will benefit them in their future lives Ð whether or not they continue to compete in sport.ÒWe can inspire them by showcasing champions and role models, who can have a direct impact on the young athletes,Ó he explains. ÒAnd we empower them by providing the tools for them to make good decisions. Hopefully they can then share that and give something back in different ways Ð either by being a great role model themselves in their local community, or becoming a coach or a volunteer in their local club.ÓCentral to the success of the programme were 39 Young Ambassadors Ð including Olympians, YOG alumni, sports coaches, students and young professionals, all aged between 18 and 28 Ð who helped the young athletes get the most out of their YOG experience by encouraging them to interact with athletes from different sports and backgrounds. And the young athletes who got involved were full of praise for everything on offer. ÒThe Learn & Share programme has definitely been my favourite part of the YOG,Ó says snowboard cross athlete Mollie Fernandez, of Australia. ÒThere’s always something to do and it’s been incredible.ÓOLYMPIC REVIEW 37