The decision, made here during the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board meeting, was widely expected as the Swiss and Romanian cities are the only two bidders. 

The IOC afterwards "thanked both cities for their hard work, dedication and support of the Olympic Movement and Youth Olympic Games".

Further assessment on the bids of each will now be conducted by the IOC Evaluation Commission, chaired by China's former two-time Olympic champion speed skater Yang Yang.

This will include video conferences with representatives from both Bid Committees, before a report to the IOC members ahead of a final decision, expected to be made on July 31 next year during the IOC Session in Kuala Lumpur.

The decision to put forward the two cities was made by the IOC Executive Board
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Brasov, a city of 250,000 people 170 kilometres to the north of Bucharest, hosted the 2013 European Youth Olympic Winter Festival and it bidding to become the first Romanian city to host the Olympics. 

Lausanne, meanwhile, is boosted by its status as the location for the IOC Headquarters and being the Olympic Capital

"We are very honored to hear that the IOC has recognised many of our proposal's unique strengths," said Lausanne 2020 Bid Committee President Patrick Baumann.

"This project is extremely well received across all of Switzerland and the support we have received is overwhelming."

Lausanne Mayor Daniel Brélaz added: "Hosting the Youth Olympic Games makes a lot of sense for our city, which was chosen 100 years ago by Baron Pierre de Coubertin as the home of the modern Olympic Movement".

The decision comes shortly before the beginning of the Extraordinary IOC Session here on Monday (December 8), where the future of the Youth Olympics is among 40 recommendations set to be discussed. 

This includes the proposal to move editions of the Games after 2020 onto odd year cycles, meaning the next edition would take place in 2023 rather than 2022.

Speaking today following the meeting, Bach said he looked forward to more discussions on the Youth Olympics and that he was pleased with preparations for upcoming Games in Lillehammer in 2016 and in Buenos Aires in 2018.

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