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Olympic medals |
The decision to create the Youth Olympics was taken in July 2007 by the 119th IOC Session in Guatemala City.
The Youth Olympics which IOC President Jacques Rogge describes as the IOC's "commitment to the youth of today and tomorrow" will gather young talented athletes aged from 14 to 18, from around the world to participate in high-level competitions.
Although sporting events will take centre-stage, the aim of the Youth Olympics is not just to inspire young people around the world to take up sport.
Through the games it's also hoped that bonds between the youth of the world will be created with the respect shown on the sports field of play being translated into everyday living.
As education will be weaved into the Youth Olympics, it's hoped that young people will learn to be wary of the dangers in sport and the world such as drugs and violence, and become inspired to play an active role in their communities.
The Youth Olympics will follow the four year cycle of the Olympics Games, alternating between Winter and Summer Games.
The first ever Youth Olympic Games will be the Summer Games to held in 2010.
It will bring together approximately 3,200 athletes and 800 officials who will be involved in a sports programme that will encompass all 26 sports on the programme of the 2012 Summer Olympics.
The Winter Olympic Youth Games will follow in 2012.
The Vision
The vision of the Youth Olympic Games is to inspire young people around the world to participate in sport and adopt and live by the Olympic values.
The Objectives:
1. to bring together the world’s best young athletes and celebrate them
2. to offer a unique and powerful introduction to Olympism
3. to innovate in educating and debating Olympic values and challenges
of society
4. to share and celebrate the cultures of the world in a festive
atmosphere
5. to reach youth communities throughout the world to promote Olympic
values
6. to raise sports awareness and participation among young people
7. to act as a platform for initiatives within the Olympic Movement
8. to be an event of the highest international sporting standard.
Not Just Games
The Youth Olympics will feature alongside the sports element,educational programmes that would convey the Olympic values, the benefits of sport for a healthy lifestyle, the social values sport can deliver and the dangers of doping and of training to excess and/or of inactivity.
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