Four cities have put themselves forward as candidate cities to hold the first ever Winter Olympic Youth Games in 2012.

Representatives from the four cities – Harbin (China), Innsbruck (Austria), Kuopio (Finland) and Lillehammer (Norway) – attended an IOC workshop in Lausanne last week during which they were taken through the concept of the Youth Olympic Games and the requirements to host the Games.

Based on the briefs agreed during the meetings, city officials will now prepare the candidature files to be handed in on 19 June 2008.

The files will be analysed by a panel of experts representing the Olympic Movement, who will then draw up a shortlist of Youth Olympic Games Candidate Cities by August 2008.

The shortlisted cities will be further evaluated by an IOC Evaluation Commission.

The election by the IOC members and the announcement of the host city will take place in December 2008.