The Norwegian heir, a member of the Lillehammer 2016 Advisory Board who lit the cauldron at the Opening Ceremony when Lillehammer hosted the Winter Olympics in 1994, was speaking to 1,500 volunteers at a special sports Gala with barely a month until the Games open on February 12.

"Now it's not so long to the Youth Olympic Games, and I know that I'm starting to enjoy myself properly," he told hundreds of onlookers at Håkons Hall, as reported by NRK.

"In Norway we have a proud tradition to work voluntarily and together. 

"Our community is borne by the hundreds of thousands of Norwegians who are willing to spend time and effort every year for the community.

"The Youth Olympics are certainly an awesome experience for the athletes, and I'm quite sure it will be a great experience for you as well."

As well as performances by Norwegian artist Mo and rapper Sirius, others in attendance during the day were IOC Coordination Commission chair Angela Ruggiero, the American ice hockey star who won medals at four successive Olympics before retiring in 2011.

She gave a speech on her career with the aim of inspiring young athletes to follow her path.

IOC Athletes' Commission chair Claudia Bokel was also present for the Flame's arrival in the Scandinavian nation, after it was lit on December 1 in the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens.

The Torch Relay arrived in Lillehammer late last night before staying with 100 young volunteers during the night.

Today it was shown to 1,600 of the 3,000 Games-time volunteers at a volunteer training event.

It will fly to northern Norway tomorrow ahead of the Torch Relay's start with an event in Alta on Monday (January 11), the first of 20 such celebratory events before the Opening Ceremony.

More information on the Relay's journey can be found here.