Twenty-four athletes competing across Biathlon, Short Track Speed Skating, Snowboard Cross and Ice Hockey have settled into the Australian headquarters ahead of their first day of competition on Saturday 20 January.

Fourteen-year-old Ice Hockey athlete and Australia’s youngest member of the team Elin Schmitz said she was excited to arrive at the Youth Olympic Village.

“Everything looked so amazing, there were flags from all the different countries everywhere, mascots, it was awesome,” Elin said.

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“Our rooms were all decorated so nicely for Australia, the team spirit was off the charts!”

Elin has spent the past two days exploring the Village with her teammates and was particularly excited by the dining hall and Athlete 365 centre.

“The dining hall has been so awesome and we have been doing all the different education programs in the Athlete 365 centre which have been really interesting. We’ve also been playing PinQuest and have won some awesome rewards!”

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Flying in from a training camp in Europe, biathlete Bridget Harvey said she was excited to arrive to the Village and find her Australian team kit in her bedroom.

“It was really cool when we arrived to our rooms, there was a bright yellow doona cover on the bed, and then we saw our white July suitcases and all of our gear and we were just so excited,” Bridget said.

“We opened it all up and there was just so much stuff we kept pulling out, we opened another zip and there was even more, which was just so cool!”

“My favourite pieces are the bright yellow puffy jacket and beanie, they are so comfy and really easy to see around the Village,” she continued.

“It feels pretty special to be able to put on the green and gold, to look in the mirror and see that it says Australia, and it says Youth Olympics, it's a really big deal.”

Short Track Speed Skater, Aditya Nghiem, said he was excited to meet other athletes, get to know his Australian teammates and don the green and gold.

“It was a bit overwhelming when I first arrived, there was just so much to do and see, but the support from the Australian team has been great,” the 15-year-old said.

“I have been able to meet some of the other Australian Team members, my roommates compete in biathlon. I am also excited to meet and compete against short track athletes from other countries.”

“I am really excited to wear the green and gold and to represent my country. There is a bit of pressure of course, but I have worked hard for this, and I hope I can represent my country well.”

The 47-strong Australian Team is our largest ever WYOG team, with athletes competing across eight disciplines over the two-week period from 19 January to 1 February.

You can watch all the action live and free on 9Now.

The Opening Ceremony will be broadcast live on 9Go! from 9:55pm AEDT Friday 19 January.