VIENNA (AP) — An Olympic record will be set even before competition has started at the inaugural Winter Youth Olympics.
As soon as the 2,220-mile torch relay within Austria reaches its final destination on Friday to deliver the flame, Innsbruck will officially become the first city to welcome the Olympic family for a third time.
Innsbruck hosted the 1964 and 1976 Winter Olympics and, with virtually all required infrastructure in place, was an easy choice to stage the first junior edition for athletes aged 15-18.
To set up the event, organizers have spent $30 million — almost 10 times less than the costs for the 2010 Summer Youth Olympics in Singapore.
