The Youth Olympic Games appeal to potential host cities. No fewer than 11 Candidate Cities have officially informed the IOC of their interest in staging the first Summer Youth Olympic Games in 2010. These cities, in alphabetical order, are: Algiers (Algeria), Athens (Greece), Bangkok (Thailand), Belgrade (Republic of Serbia), Debrecen (Hungary), Guatemala de la Asunci贸n (Guatemala), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Moscow (Russia), Poznan (Poland), Singapore (Singapore), and Turin (Italy).
Decision in February 2008
The 11 Youth Olympic Games Candidate Cities will now prepare their candidature files in accordance with the IOC questionnaire. These files will be analysed by a panel of experts representing the Olympic Movement, who will draw up a shortlist of Youth Olympic Games Candidate Cities to be further evaluated by an IOC Evaluation Commission. The election and announcement of the host city will take place in February 2008.
Around 3,500 athletes for the Summer Games
The Youth Olympic Games - age group 14 to 18 - will bring together approximately 3,500 athletes and 875 officials in 2010. The sports programme comprises all sports on the programme of the 2012 Olympic Summer Games with a limited number of disciplines and events. The YOG, the flagship of the IOC's strategy to appeal to a younger audience, were brought to life at the 119th IOC Session in July 2007 in Guatemala. They aim to
- bring together talented athletes from around the world to participate in high-level competitions;
- educate young athletes at the Youth Olympic Games on the importance of sport for their health and social integration, and inform them about the dangers linked to sport, such as doping, training to excess and/or inactivity;
- communicate, through modern communication channels, the Olympic values, and the spirit and message of the Youth Olympic Games worldwide.
(Credit: IOC. Click here for further information.)
