More about Lillehammer 1994

• More about

  Schedule change
  In 1986 the IOC voted to change the schedule of the Olympic Games so that the Summer and Winter Games would be held in different years. To adjust to this new schedule, the Lillehammer Games were held in 1994, the only time that two winter Games have been staged two years apart.
  
  Memorable champions
  Local hero Johann Olav Koss won three speed skating events and set a world record in every one. Vreni Schneider of Switzerland won a complete set of medals in Alpine skiing, and Manuela Di Centa of Italy earned medals in all five cross-country events. The women’s biathlon was dominated by Myriam Bédard of Canada, who won both individual races.
  
  Repeat performers
  Swiss pair Gustav Weder and Donat Acklin became the first repeat winners of the two-man bobsleigh. Russian pairs skaters Ekaterina Gordeeva and Sergei Grinkov returned to repeat their Olympic victory of 1988. American Bonnie Blair made history by becoming the first woman to win three consecutive speed-skating titles in the 500m and to win a second 500m/1000m double.
  
  Olympic spirit
  Although the Games took place during the Bosnian War, the Bosnia and Herzegovina four-man bob team consisted of one Croatian, two Bosnians and a Serbian - the best possible example of the Olympic spirit at the worst of times.
  
  NOCs 67
  Athletes 1,737 (522 women and 1215 men) 
  Events 61
  Volunteers 9,054
  Media 6,633 (2,615 written press, 4,018 broadcasters)

• All the facts

  Every two years
  Since 1994, the Olympic Winter Games and the Games of the Olympiad are held alternately every two years.
  
  An Environmental Conscience
  Based on respect for the environment, these Games were baptised the "White-Green Games" by President Samaranch.
  
  The Olympic Spirit
  The composition of the Bosnia and Herzegovina four-man bob team was: one Croatian, two Bosnians and a Serbian - the best possible example of the Olympic spirit at the worst of times.
  
  An Emotive Call by the President
  In memory of Sarajevo: "Our message is stronger than ever: Please stop the fighting. Stop the killing. Drop your guns."
  
  Ceremonies
  Lillehammer, 12 February 1994. Opening Ceremony in Lysgaardsbakkene. The "vetters".
  
  Official opening of the Games by: His Majesty King Harald V
  
  Lighting of the Olympic Flame by: Prince Haakon
  
  Olympic Oath by: Vegard Ulvang (cross country skiing)
  
  Officials' Oath by: Kari Karing (figure skating)

• Emblem

  

  It is composed of a stylized aurora borealis (Northern lights), the five Olympic rings, snow crystals and the title "Lillehammer '94". The emblem is a development of the aurora borealis symbol used during the candidature phase. It was inspired by contact with nature, the sky and snow. The aurora borealis is a natural phenomenon due to the northerly position of Norway. It has associations of power, great tension and dramatic spectacle. The main colours of the emblem are cobalt blue and white.

• Medal

  

  Ingjerd Hanevold, who created the medals, says she designed them to be "humorous, sober and recognizable" and that their design "is Norwegian through and through". Her innovative surprise was to use granite - sparagmite to be precise - as the basic material. "I tried to create something that reflects what Norwegians like and appreciate, i.e. nature. There is plenty of granite in our country, and it is beautiful in its simplicity. I think that, thanks to the other components - gold, silver and bronze - the medals are very stylish."

• Poster

  

  The posters, produced following the rules of the Lillehammer Games design programme, were meant to incorporate three main aspects : Norwegian originality and particularity, human contact and contact between mankind and nature. The design programme was the main tool in achieving the goal of presenting a unified image. It featured basic visual elements which could be combined in different ways to serve as a basis for recognition and identification : the Lillehammer emblem, the pictograms, the pictographic emblems, the crystal theme, colours, typography and the mascots.

• Mascots