Lausanne 2020 will show the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that the Youth Games should not be scrapped by putting on a “magic” spectacle, newly-appointed chief executive Ian Logan told insidethegames here.
Discussions have been were held within the IOC about whether they should consider scrapping the Youth Olympic Games.
Several members are openly hostile about the concept, claiming it is too expensive and drains too much of the IOC's resources.
Logan, a former fighter pilot, was selected for the role of chief executive at Lausanne 2020 last December and is due to officially start work on March 1.
He is one of around 20 delegates from Lausanne 2020 who have been observing at Lillehammer 2016.
Logan is “convinced” that the IOC will see the value in the event before and during the Games in 2020.
He also dismissed claims that the competition for athletes aged 14 to 18 would move towards a more culture-heavy programme as had been suggested, promising Lausanne 2020 will provide a "new start" for the Youth Olympic Games.
"One of my first challenges is to get rid of these ideas that the Games won’t carry on,” Logan told insidethegames.
“We have to show that it is not only worth doing but we have to kill the rumours that Lausanne will be the last one.
“The IOC will be convinced before the Games even arrive that they are worth keeping – they are happy with this and I am convinced.
“The three words from Agenda 2020 were credibility, sustainability and youth so how can you say, with this success the Games have had, that you will stop the Youth Games?
“It cannot be - we must find a way [to keep them].
“For me, it must not be a cultural festival.
“If we do this, we are missing the sports part and sport is at the centre of everything.”
Logan also revealed that hosting bobsleigh events was “not part of their initial plans” but that they were in discussions with the International Bobsleigh and Skelton Federation about finding a solution in order to include the sport at the Games.
The nearest bobsleigh to Lausanne is 430 kilometres away in St Moritz.
It is not yet known whether an artificial facility could provide the answer as this would come at a heavy expense for Swiss officials when their plan is to keep overall costs to a minimum.
Logan also revealed they are “keen” on incorporating brand-new sports such as telemark, a variety of skiing extremely popular in Switzerland, on the programme.
Lausanne 2020 plans to discussions with the relevant International Federations and the IOC before deciding on a concrete set of sports and disciplines for the event.
The overall budget for the Games in 2020 stands at $42 million (£29 million/€38 million).
Lausanne 2020 are not currently forecasting large costs largely due to using existing facilities, including a brand-new Athletes’ Village which was being built regardless of whether they won the bid for what will be the third edition of the Winter Youth Olympic Games.
It will be completed for the Winter Youth Olympic Games, Logan confirmed.
They are also set to use the Tuffes Nordic Stadium, located across the border in France, around an hour from Lausanne, for ski jumping, biathlon and Nordic combined events, which organisers have previously claimed is in the spirit of Olympic Agenda 2020, the IOC’s strategic roadmap for the future of the Olympic Movement.
Lausanne beat off competition from Romanian rival Brașov to land the hosting rights for the event at last year's IOC Session in Kuala Lumpur.
They earned a comprehensive victory, securing 71 votes compared to Brașov's 10.
To read the full interview with Logan, click here.