Oslo 2022 Learning from Nanjing YOG

(ATR) Oslo 2022 could offer a "sports lab" as part of its Olympic program.

Bid leader Eli Grimsby was part of a delegation touring venues on Monday including the Sports Lab where athletes from four sports – sport climbing, roller skating, wushu and skateboarding – stage daily displays and coaching sessions. The sports aim to entertain fans and showcase their credentials as potential future Olympic sports.

"I was so impressed by the feeling out there even though it was raining," Grimsby told ATR. "The arena was full of people… they had this joy watching the new sports. I was impressed by way they have arranged different sports together."

Grimsby said Oslo would consider copying the concept in Norway. "The Sports Lab could be developed further… for cities in Norway, how to showcase winter sports in the middle of a city."

The 2022 Olympic candidate cities were invited to an IOC dinner on Sunday night. Representatives from Beijing and Oslo attended. Almaty bid officials have faced visa problems and were not present although they are expected in Nanjing.

The Oslo 2022 CEO said it was useful to meet with the IOC experts and Beijing bid officials, as she and her delegation attempted to draw inspiration to further develop their bid dossiers.

Asked what the winter Olympic candidate cities could learn from the YOG host, she noted the massive volunteering effort – some 25,000 volunteers are involved in the Nanjing Games.

"It’s more about what the youth is focusing on and getting some new ideas, how they are presenting the athletes and involving and engaging young people to make their own videos… how they are experimenting in putting on new sports," Grimsbysaid.

"Our vision is to do the Olympics together with a new generation and not just for a new generation. I think we need to involve and engage a new generation in planning and making the Games in Norway. What I have seen is inspiring when it comes to that," she added.

Oslo 2022 is working with city planners to develop its bid book concepts. She said discussions were taking place on what would be built first, legacy and culture programs if the Norwegian capital wins the Games.

As the bid seeks to win government and parliamentary support for the bid – a vote in the coming months will determine if Oslo can continue in the 2022 race – work goes on to develop venue and infrastructure projects that would transform the eastt side of Oslo. This is the site of the main Olympics hub, with the Olympic stadium and new arenas for speed skating and ice hockey among those planned.

Without revealing the name, Grimsby said the IOC HQ for a possible Oslo Games would be an existing hotel.

Also monitoring the Nanjing YOG with great interest are officials from Lillehammer’s 2016 YOG team.

Grimsby said awareness of the winter YOG in Norway was on the rise because Lillehammer 2016 had been spending a lot of time raising awareness of the Games. Oslo’s Winter Olympic bid was also helping.

"People are talking about the Olympics again… it’s more easy to get attention. I think it’s going to be a wonderful Games for the youth in Lillehammer but quite different from here," she said.

Reported by Mark Bisson and Brian Pinelli.

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