Despite the bad weather of recent days, the venue of Břízky in Jablonec offered a well prepared track and a clear sky as backdrop for the first race in the Biathlon. There were two races on the programme – the boys 12.5 km and the girls 10 km.
Interview with Matthias Dorfer (Germany) - winner of race 12.5 km in Biathlon.
Winner of the first part of Nordic combined Marcus Gruber from Austria.
The first medals were handed out at the European Youth Olympics (EYOWF) 2011 in Liberec on 14th February. There are already winners among girls in giant slalom and the 7.5 km cross country race and among boys in the 10 km cross country race. Running events in Vesec were honoured by Jacques Rogge's visit as president of the International Olympic Committee. The Figure Skating competition and ice hockey tournament has also started today.
Neither penetrating cold nor strong wind put off the sports teams who came to watch the first Medal Ceremony, which took place in the Olympic Village in Harcov. It is shortly before seven in the evening and athletes from probably all the teams participating in EYOWF are gathering in front of a large screen. Some national colours are more frequent than others. Why? The audience includes mainly those whose representatives have won the first medals in today’s competitions.
The American media labelled her "the most beautiful face of socialism", the late leader of the former German Democratic Republic called her "the prettiest niece of Karl Marx". Even today, at the age 45, the double Olympic champion in Figure Skating, Katarina Witt is a remarkable woman. She looks at least ten years younger. On Sunday just before 15:00 she arrived in Liberec, the location of EYOWF 2011. She came from Berlin in her BMW and was accommodated in the Hotel Zlatý Lev. She is the head of Munich’s candidature for the Winter Olympic Games in 2018, and has been lobbying for Munich in Liberec.