Not surprisingly, transforming a building into an Olympic-level stadium is far from easy. Upgrading the expo center's lighting system, especially, proved to be particularly difficult for the modifying team. Despite previously functioning as a stadium for the 2013 Asian Youth Games, its lighting system didn't meet the requirements for the Youth Olympics, especially for fencing, which is very meticulous about lighting.

"One possible option was to change the whole lighting system, which would have cost as much as 13 million yuan ($2.1 million). The old lights would have been scrapped, which is a huge waste," said Liang Qihui, head of the exhibition center's transformation project.

In order to fulfill the requirements of the International Fencing Federation (FIE) while still saving money, managers of the center and the NYOGOC decided to adjust the arrangement of the lights and change lighting control modes following negotiations with the FIE.

The only brand-new venue built for the Games is the Youth Olympics Sports Park in Jiangbei New Town, Pukou District. Scheduled to open to residents after the Games, the park will function as an outdoors fitness center.

"Even if we were not hosting the Games, we would have still built this park," said Mayor Miao Ruilin.

In addition to the main sports park, the torch relay is an important component of the Games which serves to spread the Olympic spirit, display China on the national stage and introduce Nanjing to the world. The NYOGOC has taken an innovative approach to this year's torch relay: It's using a "virtual torch relay" app to pass on the torch online. With the exception of the lighting of the torch in Athens, Greece, and the arrival of the torch in Nanjing, all other segments of the torch relay take place on the Internet through the app. Web users can download it through Android or Apple systems and register to be a torch-bearer.

"The online torch relay has enabled more people to be involved in the activity and allowed the torch to reach places that otherwise would be impossible," Zhang Le, an assistant spokesperson for the cultural and educational section of the NYOGOC, said.

The torch has traveled to the Chang'e-3 lunar probe and China's first manned deep-sea submarine, Jiaolong, thanks to the relay app.

"The online torch relay has reduced costs, and really represents the concept of 'greener' Youth Olympics," added Zhang.

Holding a frugal Olympic event means putting a budget to good use. Already, this year's Youth Olympics conform to the new international low-budget norm and project Nanjing's positive image as a welcoming and able host city.

"We can expect Nanjing to present to the world an economical yet splendid event," Liu Yian, Executive Vice Mayor of the city, said.