More than 850 volunteers gathered Friday (November 1st) armed with tools in the newly inaugurated Youth Olympic Village (YOV), known as the ‘Vortex’, to help furnish the 952 rooms that will house 1700 athletes during the Winter Youth Olympic Games (YOG) that will take place in Lausanne, starting 9th January 2020.
Volunteers strolling into this architectural jewel were made up of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) staff, including IOC Coordination Commission Chair, Danka Bartekova; members of the Lausanne 2020 team led by President Virginie Faivre, and employees of local partners and stakeholders.
Just one day after receiving the keys to the ‘Vortex’ in an inauguration ceremony, the enthusiastic volunteers responded to the call of the Organising Committee to roll up their sleeves and help put together as much flat-pack furniture as possible with the help of 50 coaches made available by IKEA, a partner of Lausanne 2020.
The positive energy of the volunteers was spread across all eight floors of the circular building, which for the first time will house all athletes competing at a venue for an Olympic Games under one roof.