The roadmap toward the Winter Youth Olympic Games Dolomiti Valtellina 2028 is beginning to take shape through decisions that go beyond mere regulations. The Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) approved the Qualification System Principles, which will guide the path of young athletes to the Italian event, establishing a common framework that all International Federations must follow when designing sport- and discipline-specific systems.
This step not only defines rules but also organizes the qualification ecosystem with a focus on equity, clarity and reducing burdens for athletes, National Olympic Committees and National Federations. At the same time, another announcement reinforces the symbolic character of these Games: the appointment of Manuela Di Centa as President of the Organising Committee, a figure who embodies the link between Olympic legacy, sporting experience and youth development.
Clear principles for a fairer and more accessible qualification pathway
The approved principles establish that qualification systems must be easy to understand, transparent and aligned with the Olympic Charter, avoiding ambiguous interpretations and ensuring equal opportunities for all countries and athletes. Among the most relevant guidelines is the requirement to use, whenever possible, existing competitions within the continental calendars of the International Federations, limiting the need to create additional qualification events that imply higher costs and travel demands.
The document also sets detailed criteria on age eligibility — all participants must be no older than 17 by the close of the Games — the allocation of quota places per country, strict timelines for acceptance and reallocation of places, the responsibility of National Olympic Committees in communicating with their federations and athletes, and formal dispute resolution mechanisms through the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), among others.
Sports governance and youth legacy under Di Centa’s leadership
In this regulatory context, the selection of Manuela Di Centa as President of the Organising Committee brings a human and symbolic dimension to the project. An Olympic cross-country skiing champion and double gold medallist at Lillehammer 1994, the Italian not only understands high performance from within but has also built a career linked to sports governance and public service, key aspects for leading Games centered on the holistic development of youth.
Her appointment aligns with the philosophy underpinning the qualification principles: reducing barriers and facilitating participation. From this perspective, sports such as biathlon, curling, ice hockey, speed skating, snowboard, among others, will begin designing their specific systems under these shared guidelines, consolidating a model that seeks coherence across disciplines and real opportunities for young talents worldwide.
