On behalf of the city of Lake Placid, USA, Mayor Craig H. Randall has sent an official invitation to the 8th International Children's Winter Games to all International Winter Sports Friends.

It is with great pleasure that we received the following information from Hugh Waters, Member of the Committtee and of the Technical Commission of ICG:

Kirsty Gilmour, who played for Team Hamilton / Scotland in 2007 in Reykjavik Iceland, has been shortlisted for the Badminton Europe Female Badminton Player of The Year 2017!

Kirsty is currently the winner of the Scottish Open and the Austrian Open!

Congratulations to Kirsty from the ICG family!

The beautiful Olympic Winter City of Lake Placid/ USA invites the children of the world to participate in International Children's Winter Games 2019 from January 6 to 11. Invitations go out in February!!!

Official press release dating from January 27, 2018:

Lake Placid, NY - In a ceremony earlier today at the Olympic Jumping Complex’s Intervale Lodge, International Children’s Games President Torsten Rasch and Lake Placid Village Mayor Craig Randall signed the letter of agreement announcing Lake Placid as the ICG host in winter 2019.

Modeled after the Olympics, the International Children’s Games were created in 1968 with the goal of promoting peace and friendship. Each year, 800 to 1000 athletes ages 12 to 15 from about 60 cities around the world, compete with their peers. The multi-sport and cultural event will take place January 6-11, 2019.

Winter sporting events include alpine, freestyle, and cross country skiing, snowboarding, biathlon, figure and speed skating and hockey. Lake Placid’s event may include winter sliding sports.

"This is a very special moment for Lake Placid and the region, and I am very honored to be be mayor at a time we can welcome the International Children’s Games to our community and region," said Mayor Randall. "This Olympic region has demonstrated many times over the years its capability of hosting events for all levels of sport," he said.

ICG President Torsten Rasch welcomed Lake Placid to the ICG family. "This is a dream come true for us today as it’s the first time the winter games will be held in a United States Olympic city", he said.

Please also read the following article: LP, Intl Children's Games share new tie at www.pressrepublican.com.

Today in a personal telephone call ICG-President Torsten Rasch informed mayor Klaudia Szemereyné Pataki of Kecskemét / Hungary about the ICG Committee’s decision to award the International Children’s Summer Games 2020 to her beautiful city.

The Committee decided unanimously – with all its votes – to accept Kecskemét’s excellent application.

All sports facilities are located within a 1 kilometer radius. The city’s relationship with International Children’s Games has grown very strong over the last twelve years since it first sent a delegation of young athletes to the Games in Coventry, England in 2005. Kecskemét’s cultural offerings, especially in music and sports, focusing young people have also been decisive factors for the successful application.

Madam Mayor Szemereyné Pataki was extremely pleased and happy about the good news: “This is a great and unique gift for Kecskemét and a perfect match for the coming holiday season!!!”

So, look forward from now on to International Children’s Games 2020 in Hungary!

A letter sent from Efthymios Kotzas, mayor of the city of Ancient Olympia, expressing the Ancient Olympia's Municipality's "outmost appreciation and deepest gratitude for hosting our delegation during the 51st International Children's Games held 04 - 09 July 2017, in the city of Kaunas, Lithuania" came to the attention of the President and the Executive Committe of the International Children's Games.

We wish to share this document with you as it shows how International Children's Games are particularly suited for building good relations between towns and people all over the world.

Read the letter

Kylie Masse who started her international swimming career in the 2009 International Children's Games in Athens / Greece as member of the City of Windsor's team from Canada is the current world champion in the 100 m backstroke and the first female Canadian swimmer to ever win a world title.

ICG is proud of her and congratulates Kylie for her outstanding results at the 2017 World Aquatics Championships in Budapest / Hungary!

Kylie also participated participated in the 2011 International Childrens's Games in Lanarkshire / Scotland receiving five medals at the time and in the 2012 International Childrens's Games in Daegu / Republic of Korea. She also won gold in the 100 m backstroke at the 2015 Summer Universiade and a bronze medal in the women's 100 m backstroke event at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro / Brazil.

Every year since 1997, Coventry has sent a team of young athletes to The International Children’s Games. The cost of sending the Coventry team has always been covered through generous sponsorship by individuals and organisations. Over the years, the Games’ fund has become depleted.

The Albany Theatre Coventry presents a spectacular Gala on Friday 17 February at 7:30pm which will raise funds to help send this year’s team to Kaunas in Lithuania, and to also build up the reserves to help in future years.

The Gala is being organised by Albany Young Producers, a new group of 16 to 25 year old volunteers based at the theatre. The Gala features talented young performers from the local area – young performers raising money for young athletes, organised by young producers. Brilliant!

The gala is a variety performance featuring acts including:

• Charlie Blackwood - Solo Singer
• Elite Dance Academy - Dance Troupe
• Tazmin Barnes - Solo Singer
• Ffion Rebecca - Solo Singer
• Coventry Youth Jazz Orchestra
• Street Mix Youth Theatre & Dance Academy - Dance Troupe
• Jodie Dickson - Solo Contemporary dancer
• Catlin Gee - Monologue

Visit http://albanytheatre.co.uk/childrens-games-gala for more information and to book tickets.
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TheAlbanyTheatre/

We have written to all the athletes at their last known address, but many will have moved on. Do you know anybody who took part in the games? We plan to display memorabilia from the games over the years – athletes are asked to contact Rebecca Finley, Albany Young Producers – rebecca.finley(at)albanytheatre.co.uk

Would you like to sponsor the event?
Would you like to get your name into the souvenir programme as a sponsor, with or without an advert? Again, all money raised will go to the Fund. Please contact Rebecca for more information.

Mayor Laurent Ballif from Vevey / Switzerland finishes his great work and contribution for ICG!

Laurent started his unique ICG career as early as 1974 when he participated as Coach of Vevey Swimming Team in the 5th International Children's Games in Darmstadt / Germany.

In 2006 during the 40th International Children's Games in Bangkok / Thailand Laurent served as Mayor / City Representative and, just like in 1974, as a Coach of Vevey Swimming Team.

In 2009 Laurent Ballif together with Mayor Wehrli from Montreux organized the outstanding 4th International Children's Winter Games Montreaux-Vevey / Switzerland next to Lake Geneva.

In 2016 Mayor Laurent Ballif has been a City Representative for the last time in the 7th International Children's Winter Games in Innsbruck / Austria.

Laurents ICG-career over 42 years!!! as a coach, as a father of four children that participated as athletes in the International Children's Games, as mayor / city representative, and - last but not least - as an organizer of Winter Games in Switzerland is simply amazing. His unique support for the development of the International Children's Games deserves great appreciation!

Therefore we wish to say: Merci beaucoup, Mayor Laurent Ballif