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History

Youth Olympic Games History

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) created the Youth Olympic Games with the vision of an event designed to inspire young people all around the world to do sport and adopt and live by the Olympic Values of Excellence, Respect and Friendship. Team USA most recently won gold in the 2024 games in Gangwon, South Korea and before that earned silver in the 2020 Games in Lausanne, Switzerland, and first won gold in 2016 in Lillehammer, Norway. They finished fourth in the inaugural event in Innsbruck and Seefeld, Austria.

Following the inaugural Summer Youth Olympic Games, held in Singapore in 2010, Innsbruck and Seefeld, Austria, welcomed the first Winter Youth Olympic Games from January 13-22, 2012. The second Winter Youth Olympic Games took place in Lillehammer, Norway, from February 12-21, 2016.

The event brought together top athletes between the ages of 14 and 18 from over 60 nations to compete in the seven sports which were also represented at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi. The athletes also had the chance to participate in a Culture and Education Program designed to raise participants’ awareness of the Olympic Values and address topics including Olympism, skills development, well-being, healthy living, social responsibility and expression through digital media.

2020 Youth Olympic Games

2016 Youth Olympic Games

2012 Youth Olympic Games

All-Time Roster


Youth Olympic Games News

Youth Olympic Games athletes stand poised to drop the puck at a San Joes Sharks Game. San Jose Sharks and Anaheim Ducks captains are ready to take the face-off.