The 22-year-old French freestyle skier joins South Korean figure skater Yuna Kim and Alpine skiers Lindsey Vonn and Benjamin Raich, from the United States and Austria respectively, as ambassadors for the Games, which are due to open on January 13 and last until January 22.

Rolland was introduced as an ambassador by International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge at a special event in Lausanne.

Rolland has claimed successive gold medals at both the Winter X Games and the Winter X Games Europe in the last two years in the superpipe discipline, as well as winning the FIS Freestyle World Ski Championship in the ski halfpipe in 2009.

He will be looking to win a medal at what will be his first Winter Olympic Games in Sochi in 2014, the first Games at which the ski halfpipe will be contested, and with just over two years to go, he will be in Innsbruck this January to help inspire and mentor athletes competing in the inaugural Winter Youth Olympics.

"It's a great honour to be part of the first ever Winter Youth Olympic Games and to share the responsibility of being an ambassador with such a fantastic group of athletes," Rolland said.

"The values of the Olympic Games have always been important to me and with ski halfpipe now on the Olympic programme I can finally realise my dream of becoming an Olympian at Sochi 2014.

"I hope my story helps inspire the young athletes going to Innsbruck 2012 to reach for their dreams and to make the most of the unique opportunities the Youth Olympic Games have to offer."

Rogge added: "Kevin is a gifted athlete who embodies the passion and energy of his sport and I am certain he will have a huge impact on the athletes he comes in contact with as Youth Olympic Games Ambassador.

"Kevin can surely lead by example as a young man of 22 who has already been at the pinnacle of freestyle skiing for a number of years."

Rolland is also appearing in an IOC social media contest called "I Copy U", which was launched this week and asks fans to tweet a photo of themselves copying poses of athletes, with the winner being given a trip to the Winter Youth Olympic Games.

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