An actress performs with the torch during the opening ceremony of the 3rd Winter Youth Olympic Games held at Vaudoise Arena in Lausanne, Switzerland on Jan. 9, 2020. (Xinhua/Shan Yuqi)
The 3rd Winter Youth Olympic Games (YOG) kicks off with a spectacular opening ceremony at the Vaudoise Arena of Lausanne on Jan. 9.
LAUSANNE, Jan. 10, 2020 (Xinhua) -- With a motto of "Start now", the 3rd YOG kicked off in festive mood on Thursday in the Vaudoise Arena of the southwestern Swiss city of Lausanne, as 8,000 spectators enjoyed seven stories conveying the Olympic spirit and the theme of "home", all performed by local young people in spectacular style.
The Games will run through to January 22. A total of 1,872 athletes are involved in the 14-day competition featuring 81 events across eight sports.
China dispatches 53 athletes to attend 57 events at the Lausanne 2020, more than doubling its representation at the previous two editions, taking the Games as a testing ground for its plan of full participation in 109 events at the Winter Olympic Games on home soil two years away.
Flag bearers carry the Olympic flag into the opening ceremony of the 3rd Winter Youth Olympic Games held at Vaudoise Arena in Lausanne, Switzerland on Jan. 9, 2020. (Xinhua/Bai Xueqi)
Swiss national flag and Olympic flag are seen during the opening ceremony of the 3rd Winter Youth Olympic Games held at Vaudoise Arena in Lausanne, Switzerland on Jan. 9, 2020. (Xinhua/Yang Shiyao)
President of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, addresses during the opening ceremony of the 3rd Winter Youth Olympic Games held at Vaudoise Arena in Lausanne, Switzerland on Jan. 9, 2020. (Xinhua/Bai Xueqi)
Children form the shape of Olympic Rings during the opening ceremony of the 3rd Winter Youth Olympic Games held at Vaudoise Arena in Lausanne, Switzerland on Jan. 9, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Jianwei)
Members from Swiss delegation march into the opening ceremony of the 3rd Winter Youth Olympic Games held at Vaudoise Arena in Lausanne, Switzerland on Jan. 9, 2020. (Xinhua/Bai Xueqi)
Yodli, the Lausanne 2020 mascot performs with actresses during the opening ceremony of the 3rd Winter Youth Olympic Games held at Vaudoise Arena in Lausanne, Switzerland on Jan. 9, 2020. (Xinhua/Bai Xueqi)
An artist carries the torch during the opening ceremony of the 3rd Winter Youth Olympic Games held at Vaudoise Arena in Lausanne, Switzerland on Jan. 9, 2020. (Xinhua/Yang Shiyao)
Gina Zehnder, Swiss figure skating athlete, lights the cauldron during the opening ceremony of the 3rd Winter Youth Olympic Games held at Vaudoise Arena in Lausanne, Switzerland on Jan. 9, 2020. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin)
Ding Yuhuan, flag bearer of China, walks in during the opening ceremony of the 3rd Winter Youth Olympic Games held at Vaudoise Arena in Lausanne, Switzerland on Jan. 9, 2020.HANDOUT IMAGE SUPPLIED BY OLYMPIC INFORMATION SERVICES. THIS IMAGE IS OFFERED FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. COMMERCIAL USE IS PROHIBITED. (Bob Martin/OIS/Handout via Xinhua)
Actresses perform during the opening ceremony of the 3rd Winter Youth Olympic Games held at Vaudoise Arena in Lausanne, Switzerland on Jan. 9, 2020. (Xinhua/Shan Yuqi)
An artist performs during the opening ceremony of the 3rd Winter Youth Olympic Games held at Vaudoise Arena in Lausanne, Switzerland on Jan. 9, 2020. (Xinhua/Yang Shiyao)
Artists perform during the opening ceremony of the 3rd Winter Youth Olympic Games held at Vaudoise Arena in Lausanne, Switzerland on Jan. 9, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Jianwei)
An actress performs during the opening ceremony of the 3rd Winter Youth Olympic Games held at Vaudoise Arena in Lausanne, Switzerland on Jan. 9, 2020. (Xinhua/Shan Yuqi)
An artist performs during the opening ceremony of the 3rd Winter Youth Olympic Games held at Vaudoise Arena in Lausanne, Switzerland on Jan. 9, 2020. (Xinhua/Yang Shiyao)
Artists perform during the opening ceremony of the 3rd Winter Youth Olympic Games held at Vaudoise Arena in Lausanne, Switzerland on Jan. 9, 2020. (Xinhua/Yang Shiyao)
Alphorn artists perform during the opening ceremony of the 3rd Winter Youth Olympic Games held at Vaudoise Arena in Lausanne, Switzerland on Jan. 9, 2020. (Xinhua/Yang Shiyao)
Members from the Chinese delegation take selfies during the opening ceremony of the 3rd Winter Youth Olympic Games held at Vaudoise Arena in Lausanne, Switzerland on Jan. 9, 2020. (Xinhua/Lu Yang)
Athletes pose for photos with Yodli (C), the official mascot of the Lausanne 2020, during the opening ceremony of the 3rd Winter Youth Olympic Games held at Vaudoise Arena in Lausanne, Switzerland on Jan. 9, 2020. (Xinhua/Lu Yang)■
