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FOREWORD BY THOMAS BACHPRESIDENT, INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEEAt the second Winter Youth Olympic Games (YOG) 2016 that have just come to a close in Lillehammer, some 1,100 young athletes from around the globe shared their love for sport. The vision of the YOG is to inspire young people around the world to participate in sport and live by the Olympic values. That inspiration was shining through in every smile on the faces of the young athletes. In so many exciting moments, Lillehammer delivered a truly unforgettable experience for these young athletes. With the success of the YOG, the torch of the legacy of the Olympic Winter Games Lillehammer 1994 has passed to a new generation. Many venues used in 1994 – such as the iconic ski jumping arena that was used for the Opening Ceremonies in both 1994 and 2016 – have been modernised, giving them a second life 22 years later, to ensure that Lillehammer’s Olympic legacy can inspire a new generation of young athletes. In doing so, Lillehammer has laid the groundwork for the future. The success of Lillehammer should be an incentive for us to evaluate what we can do to improve on the YOG vision. Nothing is so successful that it cannot be improved even further. This is why the IOC Executive Board has set up a tripartite commission with the NOCs and IFs to review in depth the positioning of the YOG and to make recommendations for further improvements. This edition of Olympic Review examines the concept of Olympic legacy and what it means for different cities. There is a flashback to Innsbruck, which has the distinction of having hosted the Olympic Winter Games twice, first in 1964 and for a second time in 1976, and then of hosting the inaugural Winter YOG in 2012, making use of several existing venues and infrastructure. Olympic legacy, of course, will mean different things in different places. It includes a range of different tangible and intangible benefits for the people in the host cities. The different facets of Olympic legacy are explored, looking at the impact that improvements in public transportation, housing, education are having in cities, long after the Olympic Games have closed. Now, the IOC has its sights firmly fixed on Rio de Janeiro where in a few months the city will welcome thousands of athletes and spectators to South America’s first-ever Olympic Games for what promises to be a fantastic festival of sport, culture and fun. While excitement builds for the Opening Ceremony and the exploits of the sportswomen and men who will be taking part, planning for the long-term legacy after the close of these Games is already well in hand. The Rio de Janeiro Olympic project has helped further 27 government initiatives in the areas of infrastructure, the environment and social development. These projects range from sanitation improvements, anti-flood measures or the construction of education facilities. Many of the sporting venues that have been built will remain in use long after the Olympic Flame has been extinguished and the flag passed on to the next hosts. The Carioca Arena 3, for example, will become a school with space for 1,000 students, offering them facilities for numerous sports. Projects also include the revitalisation of Rio de Janeiro’s historic port area and improvements to public transport in the city centre. These Olympic Games will leave a legacy of new transport links that will benefit residents for generations to come. By 2016, the majority of Rio de Janeiro’s population will have access to high-capacity public transport. The numbers of people having access to good quality transport will have risen from just 16 per cent in 2009 to 63 per cent by the time those buses and metros are filled with Olympic fans heading for the Opening Ceremony. ■Above right Lillehammer 2016 was a memorable experience for athletes and fans OLYMPIC REVIEW 7PRESIDENT BACH FOREWORD