A fable on stage, history as the backdrop. "The boy who wanted the world" is the title of the evocative short story screened at the ysgardsbakken Ski Jumping Arena, one of the iconic venues that in 1994 allowed Lillehammer to write an unforgettable Olympic chapter, thanks to the XVII edition of the Winter Olympic Games. It is the thread chosen to celebrate another opening ceremony: 22 years after the flame is lit for the second act of the YOGs. Italy parades behind the beardless features of Felix Schwarz, nevertheless already (youth) world champion (in the photo Augusto Bizzi), luger and standard-bearer for the 37 Italian athletes, guided by Anna Riccardi, Head of the mission, escorted by ex luger Sandra Gasparini (Young Ambassador) and cheered by CONI President Giovanni Malagò and by the Vice Secretary General and Head of Olympic Preparations Carlo Mornati.

The amazing sight of the Norwegian cold is triggered together with the spark that lights the world, and travels lighting up the path of a boy who tried to fulfil a fantastic dream: to become a great skier, the best in the world, cultivating his talent selflessly and with spirit of sacrifice. But the competition disheartens him, does not allow him to fulfil his resolution, making him progressively lose his "sacred" fire, distancing him from the objective, until when in the stadium a legendary figure appears - taking the semblance of the champion Marit Bjorgen - with Olympic flame, which reignites the hope, kindling the sleeping passion. The torch is passed to Her Royal Highness, Ingrid Alexandra, Olympic torch bearer after the winner of the cross-country ski Olympic Games, repeating the rite of 1994, when it was her father, His Royal Highness, Haakon Magnus, to sanction the beginning of the Games. It is the fire of the five circles that pierces the darkness of the Norwegian night, gifting us with a life lesson: the metaphor of daily life, the authentic sense of sport, passion, courage and resolve are the key elements to reach the most ambitious finishing lines.

There were many protagonists in the event: King Harald and Queen Sonja, Prince Haakon, Princess Mette Marit, the apex of Norwegian royalty. The athletes’ parade, all strictly in group with no separation along national lines, preceded by the appearance of the Kringsja Twirling team (European youth champions in October), was saluted by the words of the President of the Committee for the Organisation of the Lillehammer 2016, Siri Hatlen, and by the speech of Thomas Bach, President of IOC, which preceded the opening of the Games, proclaimed by King Harald. Six champions successively handed over to the same number of Norwegian gifted sportsmen the Olympic banner, to symbolically seal the promise: Eric Alard (Bob), Yun Kim (Figure skating), Stine Lise Hattestad (Freestyle), Bjorn Daehlie, Anita Moen Bonden (Cross-Country Skiing) and Espen Bredesen (Jump) ideally handed over to the young recruits the responsibility to honour the values that animate the Olympic path. At the end many smiles and fireworks: a pyrotechnic epilogue to launch the challenge into the future. Nine days of competitions, 1000 athletes, 70 Countries: now the five circles that unite the world under the banner of sport live in Lillehammer and are called YOG.