3,000 school children and 400 guests gathered at the Pierre de Coubertin Stadium to celebrate the forthcoming Winter Youth Olympic Games.

The event was organised by the Canton of Vaud in collaboration with the City of Lausanne and Lausanne 2020 organisers. During it students brought to the stadium flags of the two cities in exchange for the Lausanne 2020 flame to represent the spirit of the Youth Olympic Games and the values of friendship and respect.
The surprise appearance of the Youth Olympic flame, which had arrived in Lausanne just the night before, was accepted with a great joy by those present.
In the presence of IOC President Thomas Bach and Lausanne 2020 President Virginie Faivre, the Lausanne 2020 and Olympic flags were then raised along with the Swiss and French flags in recognition of the event taking place throughout Switzerland and in neighbouring France.
The Winter Youth Olympic Games will kick off on 9 January, 2020.