These games will take place just months before the regular Summer Olympic Games in London.
Young athletes from around the globe will compete for 64 medals, including 4 in figure skating, 6 in short track speed skating, and 8 in long track speed skating.
The International Skating Union recently posted rules and regulations for participation during the “XXX Olympiad” in the $22 million Youth Olympic Winter Games.
The qualification period officially begins this October. Visit ISU.org for specific information.
Skaters who are 15 & 16 years of age may qualify to compete at the 1st Youth Winter Games, if they were born between January 1, 1996 and December 31, 1997. Exception: Male pairs skaters and ice dancers can be 18 at the time of the games (born after January 1, 1994.)
Countries may enter two athletes if their skaters place in the top 3 of the final standings at Jr. Worlds.
Other countries may enter only a single skater or pair, to be determined by their placement in other competitions – although the host country gets to have an athlete compete in each discipline regardless of prior wins.
Figure Skating
Only 16 men and 16 young ladies will be able to compete in singles skating at the Winter Youth Olympic Games. 12 ice dance couples and 10 pairs skating teams will also compete.
Countries whose skaters place in the top 3 at Jr. Worlds during the previous year can enter two couples. All other countries are allowed to only enter a single competitor or team per skating discipline.
The remaining spots will be filled by the winners of the Jr. Grand Prix skating series, with four men and ladies, and 3 pairs and ice dance teams being placed according to their placements there.
If a skater places at Jr. Worlds and the Jr. Grand Prix, their country cannot then choose an alternate to replace that skater. ISU regulations are clear that no country can be represented by more than one skater, except for Junior World Championship medalists.
Short Track Speed Skating
16 young men, and the same number of young women will compete in the 500m, 1000m, and mixed team relay at the 2012 Junior Winter Olympic Games.
Countries whose skaters place 1st through 3rd at the Junior World Championships may enter 2 athletes.
Two men and two women will make up each of eight relay teams that will compete at the conclusion of the individual races.
Long Track Speed Skating
28 male and 28 female skaters will compete in the 500m, 1500m, 3000m, and “Mass Start” 8-lap stampede.
No country may enter more than 2 men and 2 women in the Junior Winter Olympic Games, and each athlete may compete in only two individual distances. All entrants can compete in the Mass Start.
Final standings at the ISU World Junior Championships and Junior World Cup competitions determine the line-up at the Junior Winter Olympics. The top 6 finishers in the 500, 1500, and All-Around automatically receive a spot at the Games. Remaining openings in the Junior Olympics will be filled based on individual World Cup points earned by each skater during the same season.
If the host country doesn’t have skater invited to the Olympics via his or her placing at prior competitions, that country still gets a spot for their chosen athlete who has achieved a qualifying time.
Eligibility is predicated upon skaters achieving qualifying times (which are not yet announced) prior to the specified deadline.
The ISU may consider for the competition athletes whose names have been submitted by their countries’ governing bodies, after all spots have been filled based on distance ranking, provided there are still spots open on each roster.
Because of the inclusion of the Youth Summer and Winter Olympic Games, every Olympic year from now on will include two Olympics, apparently always with a winter and a summer games together.
So now is the time to watch and support the up-and-coming athletes from your country. The 2012 Junior Winter Olympic Games may give young athletes an extra push to the top of their game.
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