Alpine skiing, cross country and speed skating medals action will begin tomorrow ©Lillehammer 2016

Six medals will be won tomorrow on the first official day of sporting action at the Lillehammer 2016 Winter Youth Olympic Games, including two in the new discipline of cross country cross.

Both the male and female free competitions will take place, potentially providing an opportunity for the first home gold medal of the Games.

The new event is very similar to the sprint, but the competition course features several technical elements, such as jumps and turns to test the skier's abilities. 

Action will begin at 9.30am tomorrow morning at the Birkebeineren Cross-Country Stadium with individual time trials, before the fastest 30 competitors advance to three semi-finals of 10 competitors each.

Norway will be chasing medals in cross country tomorrow ©Lillehammer 2016
Norway will be chasing medals in cross country tomorrow ©Lillehammer 2016

The top two finishers in each semi-final heat, and the next four fastest, advance to the 10-strong finals.

The first gold medal of the Games will come in the women's super-G competition beginning at 10.30pm, before the men's event takes place at 12pm.

Men's and women's 500m events will also be held in speed skating at the Hamar Olympic Hall Viking Ship.

Action will also continue in ice hockey and curling after opening encounters today.

Competition will begin in biathlon. luge and figure skating.