Patrick Hickey, President of the European Olympic Committees (EOC), officially confirmed the closure of the Games at the Ceremony in Schruns as the EOC flag was passed over to the hosts of the 2017 EYOF Winter edition, Sarajevo and East Sarajevo, who were represented by the respective Mayors Ivo Komšić and Nenad Samardžija. 

Karl Stoss and Leo Kranz, Presidents of the Austrian (ÖOC) and Liechtenstein Olympic Committees respectively, waved the flag for a final time before handing it to Komšić and Samardžija, via Hickey. 

The extinguishing of the Olympic flame coincided with a spectacular firework display as the Festival's official song "Rock the Alps" - named after the Festival's slogan - was blasted out to the watching crowd.

The Festival was the first-ever Olympic event to be co-hosted by two countries and attracted a record number of nations for the winter edition, with 45 competing in all. 

A total of 1,200 volunteers contributed to the running of the event, while more than 25,000 spectators are said to have turned out to watch the young athletes compete in eight disciplines across nine venues.

The end of the Closing Ceremony of the European Youth Olympic Festival was marked with a spectacular firework display ©ÖOC/GEPA



Peter Mennel, secretary general of the ÖOC and head of the EYOF Executive Board, described the level of sporting competition as "extraordinary" and the atmosphere in the venues as "exceptional" as he addressed the crowd at the Closing Ceremony. 

"As organiser, I can tell you that the past five days have literally flown by," he said. 

"We can be proud that all disciplines took place with perfect conditions."

He added: "I would like to express my appreciation for the Organising Committee team, the public authorities, the emergency services, the armed forces, the EOC Coordination Commission and the EOC.

"And of course, for our 1,200 volunteers - without them, this 24th edition of the EYOF in Vorarlberg and Liechtenstein could not have happened for they worked around the clock.

"Please all of you accept my heartfelt thanks for your dedication.

"And of course, I want to wish the teams of athletes and officials a safe journey home and good luck for your future competitions.

"I can assure you, we all together rocked the Alps."

Peter Mennel, secretary general of the Austrian Olympic Committee, addresses the crowd during the Closing Ceremony ©ÖOC/GEPA





As Hickey announced the closure of the Games, in keeping with tradition he invited Europe's young athletes to Sarajevo and East Sarajevo, where the 13th edition of the Winter EYOF is due to take place. 

"On behalf of the European Olympic Committees, I would like to express our sincere thanks to Vorarlberg and Liechtenstein for these tremendous Games," said Hickey. 

"I want to thank all the authorities and the Olympic Committees of both Austria and Liechtenstein.

"And most importantly, I want to thank all you, the young athletes of Europe for making these Games a gigantic success."

Komšić, the Mayor of Sarajevo, said the 2017 Winter EYOF will be the biggest and most important sporting event for the city since the 1984 Winter Olympic Games.

"Taking over the flag from the European Olympic Committees, we have accepted the great responsibility of organising the Festival, to promote the universal values of the Olympics, peace, friendship and fair play," he said.

"See you in Sarajevo on February 11 2017."

The 2015 Summer edition of the EYOF is scheduled for Tbilisi, Georgia, from July 26 to August 1. 

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
January 2015: Two-nation European Youth Olympic Festival has worked but Olympic Games is different story, warns Hickey