Kasper named chairman of inaugural Youth Games

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) -- International Ski Federation president Gian-Franco Kasper will oversee preparations for the inaugural 2012 Winter Youth Games.

Kasper was appointed Monday as chairman of the International Olympic Committee's coordination commission for the youth games in Innsbruck, Austria.

The Swiss official served on coordination commissions for the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics and 2006 Turin Olympics. He is a member of the IOC panel for the 2010 Vancouver and 2014 Sochi Winter Games.

Kasper will accompany IOC president Jacques Rogge on a visit to Innsbruck on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Innsbruck, which staged the 1964 and 1976 Winter Olympics, was awarded the youth event last month after defeating Kuopio, Finland, in an IOC vote.

The Youth Games, a 10-day event, will feature about 1,000 athletes ages 14-18 competing in seven sports -- skiing, ice hockey, biathlon, bobsled, curling, luge and figure skating.

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