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A giant EYOWF 2011 logo on ice in Tipsport Arena
Thursday February 10 2011 03:06 PM
The preparations for the European Youth Olympics EYOWF 2011 reach their climax in the Tipsport Arena, in the Olympic Village in Harcov and in the other sporting venues. The first delegations have already arrived in Liberec. The Russians, British and French were among the first.
The Tipsport Arena was transformed on Thursday into the technical and organisational centre of the Olympics. The place which is normally the territory of the White Tigers ice hockey team is now ruled by the Olympic spirit. During Wednesday night, the ice was coloured white with a special paint to cover all advertisements. The ice is now dominated by a giant EYOWF 2011 logo. Libor Stejskal, Production Manager of Tipsport Arena, confirmed: "The Olympic logo even replaced the ads on the video cube above the ice."
On Friday the ice will be covered with a special floor, on which all 1600 participant in EYOWF 2011 will parade during the Opening Ceremony on Sunday. "The floor is made of special hardened polystyrene, which does not break even under a lorry. It will definitely last even under the feet of all the Olympic delegations," explained Libor Stejskal and added that the technical team of the Tipsport Arena has experience with laying these floors. "Our record in laying the floor is 35 minutes."
The Arena is also being prepared from the security point of view. A special team has inspected the entire area where Jacques Rogge, President of the International Olympic Committee, will appear during the Opening Ceremony in Sunday.
The Olympic Village is already alive in Harcov. Kateřina Krausová from the Accreditation Department said: "Chefs de Mission from Russia, Great Britain and France have arrived in Liberec. They are here as vanguards and they will pick up accreditation for their athletes, who arrive on Saturday. The next national delegation to reach Liberec is Serbia."
On Thursday, starting at 13:00, the student's "S" club in Harcov saw the accreditation of volunteers and this went on until late Friday evening. A small number of volunteers will be accommodated in Harcov during the event, a greater part will stay in Vesec.
The first Czech Olympic athletes are already practising in and around Liberec. A group of Czech champions in Cross Country Skiing trained on Thursday in Bedřichov and will train directly on the racing track in Vesec on Friday. "It is a very difficult track with some steep hills. When you count the vertical distance, it is clear that the athletes are not facing an easy task. It will also be difficult for the technicians who are waxing," said Josef Kubice, personal trainer of Czech athletes David Nyč and Petra Hynčicová.
For Kubice, it is his second youth Olympics; two years ago he took care of the silver medallist Jakub Gräf. "It would be great if David or Petra repeated this success, but it is going to be very hard among the European elite," added Kubice. Among the Cross Country athletes competing for medals will also be Petra Nováková, who finished 15th in the Junior World Championship.
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