Variable valve control for an internal combustion engine

In a variable valve control for a valve operating mechanism of an internal combustion engine with an inlet-outlet cam shaft for operating the outlet valves and for opening the inlet valves and an inlet valve closing cam shaft whose angular position relative to the inlet-outlet camshaft is adjustable for controlling the inlet valve opening duration, an inlet valve closing cam and an exhaust valve operating cam are disposed essentially in radial alignment and the camshafts are arranged so close together that the top portion circles of the two cams are overlapping but cooperating angularly so that, when the top portions of one of the adjacent cams is directed toward the other cam the top portion of the other cam is directed away from the one cam.