Lillehammer 2016 declared officially open following tonight's Opening Ceremony

The Lillehammer 2016 Youth Olympic Games are officially open after this evening’s spectacular Opening Ceremony at the Lysgårdsbakkene Ski Jumping Arena.

Bobsleigh pilot George Johnston had the honour of carrying the union flag into the arena in front of 13,000 spectators including his 15 Team GB teammates.

With a nod to the past and present of our Norwegian hosts, the lighting of the Olympic Flame was bestowed upon HRH Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway exactly 22 years ago to the day the 12-year-old Princess’s father, HRH Crown Prince Haakon, lit the same cauldron in 1994 to kick off Lillehammer’s first Olympic Games.

The ceremony officially begins 10 days of winter sport action which will see around 1,100 athletes from 71 nations compete across 15 disciplines.

Team GB’s curlers were actually in action before the official opening of the Games as they took on South Korea in their opening fixture of the mixed team event.

Led by skip Ross Whyte, Team GB were in control from first stone to last and got their Games off to the perfect start, eventually running out 9-2 winners.

The team of Whyte, Mili Smith, Callum Kinnear and Amy Bryce will play twice tomorrow, taking on Canada followed by Brazil as they look to build on today’s victory and Kinnear was delighted to kick off the competition with such a resounding victory.