The team will be led by Anne O’Connor of Snowsports Ireland. Anne has been Chef de Mission at the last 3 Winter European Youth Olympic Festivals and has built up a wealth of experience and contacts at this multi sport event.
The Silesia region has also got a huge sports potential – it has got a lot of excellent sport facilities for many sport disciplines. The vicinity of the Beskidy Mountains creates additional opportunities for skiing in all forms.
The town of Szczyrk will be the main host town of the Festival. The majority of the Festival participants will be accommodated there. Main race offices and press centre will be located in Szczyrk as well.
Szczyrk will host ski jumping, Nordic combined, cross country, Alpine and snowboard competitions. Szczyrk became a popular tourist destination in the 1920’s. Thanks to its attractive location and favourable micro climate many hotels and guest houses were built then, which made the town main holiday and recreational area for the inhabitants of Bielsko – Biala. After the World War II the surroundings of Szczyrk became widely known and very popular with other inhabitants of Silesia and also Poland. Many skiing facilities were built then: 60 km of skiing pists, chair lift to Mount Skrzyczne, numerous tow lifts (currently 32), and three ski jumping hills.
The actual Alpine Skiing events will be hld on Mount Skrzyczne which is 1.5 km or 5 minutes from the Olympic Village.
According to the approved festivals’ programme the 9th Winter EYOF opening ceremony will be held on February, 15th in Szczyrk Skalite. This is going to be light and sound event where all the entered competitions will take part.
