The event will see 1,058 young athletes aged between 14 and 18-years-old in action, while the 200 days to go milestone has been celebrated in style by the official Innsbruck 2012 mascot Yoggl the mountain goat, who has dressed up in a new summer outfit.

The Innsbruck 2012 Facebook page says: "With just 200 days to go until the first Winter Youth Olympic Games it is hot in Innsbruck and Yoggl's home the mountains.

"He has already unpacked his shorts to enjoy his summer holidays and relax before the big buzz in January 2012."

The 200 days to go milestone takes on added significance as it means that there are just four days left to become a volunteer for the Innsbruck 2012 Youth Olympics and four more days to vote in the Innsbruck 2012 medal design competition.

Innsbruck are looking for volunteers for the event who "want to work at the first Winter Youth Olympic Games, are at least 18 years old on January 1, 2012, speak German fluently, are vacant from January 10-24, 2012, are flexible and like to work in a team".

They are looking to recruit 1,200 volunteers for the event.

Meanwhile, the medal design competition gives fans the chance to vote online for the design that will be presented to the podium finishers at the Games.

The competition, which follows the success of the medal design competition for the inaugural Summer Youth Olympic Games in Singapore last year, invites people from around the world to submit their design to be used on the gold, silver and bronze medals awarded at the event.

People have until June 30 to either volunteer for Innsbruck 2012 or vote for their favourite design.

To volunteer, click here and to vote for a medal design, click here.

The next big milestone for Innsbruck 2012 will be 100 days to go to the Games on October 5, 2011.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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