Youth Olympics - Host City

IOC praises Lillehammer 2016’s young team with one year to go

OMEGA has acted as Official Olympic Timekeeper for the Olympic Games since Los Angeles 1932 (Photo: Lillehammer 2016)

As Lillehammer celebrated one year to go until the Winter Youth Olympic Games (YOG), its young organisers were praised by the event’s owner and custodian, the International Olympic Committee.

Celebrations began in Lillehammer on Wednesday night with His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon of Norway unveiling an OMEGA countdown clock showing 365 days to go.

Speaking at the ceremony, IOC vice president Nawal El Moutawakel said: “This is truly a Games by young people for young people and a big thank-you goes to the tremendous efforts of the young and talented local Organising Committee.”

Lillehammer 2016 CEO Tomas Holmestad said: “Every one of the next 365 days now counts to making Lillehammer 2016 a huge success.  We have an amazing team of young, talented staff and I know we will deliver a unique Winter Youth Olympic Games.”

The festivities will continue for several days in Lillehammer, Hamar and Gjøvik, with cultural spectacles, a YOG-themed ice hockey match and the “Sjogg Film Festival” in the centre of the city. 

Sjogg, the Norwegian word for snow, is also the name of the Lillehammer 2016 mascot. 

During the Games, Lillehammer, Hamar and Gjøvik will also host “learn and share” activities, which the IOC says is designed to provide guidance on Olympic values, the benefits of leading a healthy lifestyle and “how to be true champions on and off the field of play”.

During the unveiling of the clock, the Crown Prince and El Moutawakel were joined by Angela Ruggiero, Chair of the IOC coordination commission and Norwegian Minister for Culture Thorhild Widvey. 

Earlier in the day, El Moutawakel and Ruggiero took part in activities including a school sports day and a session on the ice, where Olympic ice hockey champion Ruggiero provided a coaching session to local youngsters.

Lillehammer hosted the Winter Olympic Games in 1994. 

“We have an Olympic Games legacy under our belts, and now we will create the legacy of Lillehammer 2016,” said Holmestad.

Lillehammer 2016, the second Winter Youth Olympic Games, will take place from 12 to 21 February 2016, featuring more than 1,000 top athletes between the ages of 15 and 18 from over 70 countries. 

The athletes will compete in the same seven sports as those on the Olympic programme, plus some new additions such as Monobob, snowboard cross and cross-country cross as well as mixed-gender and mixed-National Olympic Committee competitions.

“With its exciting sports and unique spirit, this will certainly be a wonderful and unforgettable YOG,” said El Moutawakel.

 

Buenos Aires making ‘impressive headway’ with Youth Olympics plans

The IOC has praised Buenos Aires' preparations for the Youth Olympics

The first visit of the IOC Coordination Commission - headed by four-time Olympian and IOC member Frank Fredericks - concluded on Sunday with the local organising committee (BAYOGOC) presenting its plans to bring sport to the inner city, in particular the 2.6 million young people residing in Buenos Aires.

Fredericks said: “Under the expert guidance of CEO Leandro Larrosa, the organisers have really understood the true spirit of the Youth Olympic Games – to put young people at its heart. Thanks to the close cooperation Buenos Aires 2018 has with the all levels of government and the Argentinian Olympic Committee (AOC), the organisation has made impressive headway with strong foundation plans already underway. With its world-famous passion for sport and culture, we truly believe that Buenos Aires will deliver a phenomenal Youth Olympic Games.”

The IOC said “significant progress” has been made on the venue masterplan with a proposed four-cluster concept grouping the sports in a compact framework. In a bid to reflect the culture and spirit of the city, Buenos Aires 2018 has put forward a festival-style concept to feature in each cluster.

Taking inspiration from the ‘Sports Lab’ inaugurated at this year’s edition of the Games in the Chinese city of Nanjing, these festivals will not only showcase and offer sporting experiences to the visitors, but will also provide family entertainment and cultural activities.

Three major development projects will get underway in 2015 including tenders out for the athletics and aquatic venues and the construction of the Youth Olympic Village (YOV) which will begin early next year.

The YOV will be situated in the south of the city, an area of Buenos Aires targeted by the local government in need of urban development. From the YOV, 65 per cent of the athletes will be able to walk to their competition venues. In addition, with the recent launch of the city’s metro-bus link, the IOC said that “excellent” transport links are already in place.

The IOC also said Buenos Aires 2018 has already made “fast progress” by not only discussing the project with the national federations, but using their time in Nanjing this summer to meet with almost all of the international federations to present their preliminary proposals for sport competitions. 

Larrosa added: “This is a life-changing project, not only for young athletes, but for future generations in Argentina and we are happy in the knowledge that the IOC Coordination Commission will be by our side to guide us throughout this exciting process. There is a great social legacy we want to achieve with this Games, we want to get all our kids into sport and inspire kids around the world to do the same.”

Buenos Aires was awarded the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in July 2013. The city beat Colombian city Medellin by 49 to 39 in the second round of voting by IOC members. In the first round, Scottish city Glasgow was eliminated after getting only 13 votes, compared to 40 for Buenos Aires and 32 for Medellin.

Argentina looks to Olympic Games bid

Buenos Aires is hosting the 2018 Youth Olympics

The COA is currently pressing ahead with preparations for Buenos Aires’ staging of the 2018 Youth Olympic Games, with the event being seen as a potential springboard for a tilt at the Olympic Games itself.

In a statement, the COA said that it would be “an honour” to bid for either edition of the Games and pinpointed Patagonia, utilising the Andes Mountains, as a potential option for a winter Olympics.

An Argentine winter Olympics would break new ground for the International Olympic Committee, with the event having never previously set foot outside the Northern Hemisphere. 

Argentina’s last bid for the summer Games saw Buenos Aires eliminated in the first round of voting as Athens went on to clinch the 2004 event. The Games will take to South America for the first time in 2016 when Rio de Janeiro hosts the event in Argentina’s regional rival, Brazil. 

The COA’s statement comes after the IOC last week praised Buenos Aires’ hosting plans for the 2018 Youth Olympic Games, which will focus on engaging with the city’s sizeable inner-city population. The IOC stated that the city had already made “impressive headway” in its preparations for the event, which concluded its second edition in Nanjing, China on August 28.

Buenos Aires was awarded the 2018 Youth Olympics in July 2013. The city beat Colombian city Medellin by 49 to 39 votes in the second round of voting by IOC members. In the first round, Scottish city Glasgow was eliminated after getting only 13 votes, compared to 40 for Buenos Aires and 32 for Medellin.

Gangwon 2024 launches first ever metaverse experience for Youth Olympics

Image (c) IOC

[Source: IOC] The International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Gangwon 2024 Organising Committee (YOGOC) and the Gangwon-do Province, with the support of the Ministry of Science and Information and Communication Technology (MSIT), announce the launch of a metaverse focused on the Winter YOG Gangwon 2024 as an extension of the Gangwon-do Province’s Metaverse.

This unique virtual world offers a variety of interactive experiences to users all over the globe, helping to make Gangwon 2024 as inclusive and accessible as possible, particularly for young fans.

From virtual tours of the venues to games and challenges where fans can compete against other users in online mini games of ski jumping, bobsleigh and curling, the Gangwon 2024 Metaverse enables fans to engage with the YOG in new and exciting ways.

Users based in the Republic of Korea will also be able to enjoy streaming of sporting events.

The metaverse also provides an opportunity to meet and interact with other fans around the world as well as inspiring visitors to try new winter sports and learn about the Olympic values.

To ensure the metaverse is as accessible as possible, it features automatic translation of six languages (Korean, English, Spanish, French, Japanese and Chinese), while users are also able to create custom avatars for their digital experience.

This includes the ability to choose from 30 different characters featuring a variety of customisation options, such as hairstyles, body shapes and clothing options.

These avatars are also able to express a range of emotions – including joy, love, sadness, surprise and anger – while users are also able to make their character perform a variety of dances: hip-hop dance and a YOG-related dance.

Once they have created their custom avatar, users are able to freely move around the 3D virtual world, where they can visit digital recreations of nine YOG venues including fantastical elements, the Youth Olympic villages, and four tourist attractions in the host region.

Gangwon 2024 will also have a “Metaverse Experience” at the Gangneung Green City Experience Centre, where visitors will be able to virtually experience some of the winter sports with simulators, graphic panels and virtual reality kit.

The Winter YOG Gangwon 2024 will take place from 19 January to 1 February 2024, with approximately 1,900 athletes from 81 National Olympic Committees expected to take part.

Fans who want to see the next generation of potential winter sports stars can now apply for their tickets for Gangwon 2024 on tickets.gangwon2024.org.

Africa’s long walk to the Olympic Games

Ben Avison and Fanta Diallo at Global Sports Week Paris (Photo: Host City)

“The time I feel most Senegalese is during a sports game, and it’s the same for most Senegalese people. Our slogan is ‘One People, One Goal, One Belief’. But the only time you see people using it or getting out the flag is during sports events,” Fanta Diallo, Director of Sports, Youth and Community at the City of Dakar told Host City at Global Sports Week Paris.

“Having one of the biggest sports events being in our country and our city is a very important moment for me, to make true our slogan – to be together, and to take on the challenge.”

Dakar is a rapidly developing city, but it still has a lot of challenges. “If we are not facing challenges together, having the same goal and the same feeling about the way we have to use the Games, then we stay an underdeveloped country.

“But we can use this momentum. We have a lot of youth in our city, in our country. We can use this moment to show them that you can stay in Africa and deliver something on the same international level, done by Senegalese for Senegalese to the world.”

Host City asked Ibrahima Wade, Vice President of both the Senegalese Olympic Committee and the Dakar 2022 Organising Committee how much support Dakar needs from international suppliers to putting on the Games.

“During the candidature phase, Senegal was quite ready because most of the infrastructure that we needed for sport and other areas such as transportation and medical facilities are ready,” he said.

“At the same time we were working very closely with the IOC from November 2018 to December 2019, on the edition plan of Dakar 2022 YOG. We were working hard to define the road map precisely on how to plan and go to the market, so everything is ready.”

 

Africa’s Youth Olympic Games

This is not only the first time an Olympic event is coming to Senegal, but also to Africa.

“That’s why we are working very closely with all African countries – firstly with the African Union – to let them know that this is not an event for Senegal but for all Africa,” said Wade.

The Dakar 2022 organising committee is planning to include representatives from other African National Olympic Committees (NOCs), particularly from those that were also bidding for the Games: Tunisia, Nigeria and Botswana.

They are also looking into the possibility of staging some test events in other African countries. “We don’t have the decision right now, we are thinking and working on that, also seeing how to have some volunteers from other African countries, and a training programme not only for Senegalese athletes but also for other African athletes.

“We are working with Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA), the international alliance of NOCs, with Olympic Solidarity and asking them how to build some OlympAfrica centres in other African countries, in order to show the African community this is not the Games for Dakar, but the Games for all Africa.”

Beyond Africa, Dakar 2022 has a lot of support coming from international federations and other Olympic Games Organising Committees, including Beijing 2022 and Paris 2024.

“We are benefitting from their experience in terms of engagement and environmental legacy. For example, Paris is sending experts to see how we can match and benefit from each other.”

Dakar is also acting as a test bed for Paris by including breaking, surfing, sport climbing and skateboarding, some of the additional sports that will also be included in the 2024 programme.

“It’s very important to put urban sports in the programme as a laboratory for that,” said Wade.

Host City asked if esports might feature in 2022. “No. Maybe for the big Games!”

 

Africa 2032 Olympic Games?

Everyone would like to see a big Olympic Games in Africa, and the Youth Olympic Games is seen as a gateway event.

“IOC President Thomas Bach mentioned this last November when he was in Dakar, saying it’s very important for all of us to make Dakar a success as it’s a good way to open the door for a big summer Olympic Games for Africa,” said Wade.

“I strongly believe that we will succeed, for all Africa. Like South Africa did for the World Cup, we will do it for the Youth Olympic Games.”

An African Olympic Games could also be enabled by changes to the bidding process, which no longer restrict the Games to single cities or even single countries. I ask Fanta Diallo when we might see an African Games bid, and which cities might be included.

“I bet for 2032 we will have African cities being candidates. I would say maybe Casa Blanca, Pretoria and Kigali,” she said.

But for now, it is Dakar’s time to shine. “Just imagine what kind of empowerment this is for the youth. To know that they can do something, because they never have the opportunity to show their talents. Just give them the floor to show that they can succeed in our country. And use the two years we’ve got to show all the talents we have, all the capacity and all the creativity we have in our country. I think it will be a good moment for that.

“We have a common goal – let us use it to solve common problems and really give back to youth the pride in being Senegalese. Let’s show the world what we can do as Senegalese people.”

Fanta Diallo is speaking at Host City 2020

"Time for Africa": IOC leaders recommend Senegal to host 2022 Youth Olympic Games

[Source: IOC] The IOC Executive Board (EB) today made the decision to propose Senegal as host for the 4th Summer Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in 2022. The host will be elected by the IOC Session in Buenos Aires. This proposal is based on the report of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Evaluation Commission, chaired by IOC Vice-President Uğur Erdener, who said:

“The IOC was fortunate to have four quality partners representing the African continent in the YOG 2022 Host Selection Process. All four candidates have the capability of delivering successful Youth Olympic Games and offer many opportunities:

  • Botswana, the smallest of the four candidate countries, proposed a compelling project based in the capital Gaborone that would help achieve the country’s long-term vision for young people and sport.
  • Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, proposed a very solid and compact project in the capital Abuja, a project also fully aligned with the national sports and youth strategy.
  • Tunisia presented a robust project involving Tunis, La Soukra, Radès and the seaside tourist resort of Yasmine-Hammamet. The project’s vision is in line with the government’s goal to empower young people.”

In taking its decision, the IOC EB recognised that Senegal offers a strong project and the greatest opportunities at this moment in time.

The candidature is centred on three locations: the capital city, Dakar; the new city of Diamniadio; and the coastal resort of Saly. Senegal’s project is tied in with the West African country’s overarching development strategy, notably the national government’s “Emerging Senegal’’ plan, which envisions major economic and infrastructure improvements.

IOC President Thomas Bach said, “It is time for Africa…Africa is the home of many successful and prominent Olympic athletes. Africa is a continent of youth. That is why we want to take the Youth Olympic Games 2022 to Africa and to Senegal. They have offered a project based on a strong vision for youth and sport. There are many opportunities, and we will endeavour to deliver together, as part of a strong partnership, visionary, responsible and inspiring Youth Games”.

In PyeongChang, the IOC Session in February this year unanimously decided that the next edition of the Youth Olympic Games in 2022 would be awarded to the African continent.

The process has been collaborative, and the IOC was impressed by the quality and thoroughness of each party’s submissions. The IOC would like to particularly praise the level of involvement and positive response of all four NOCs and the public authorities concerned.

The Youth Olympic Games 2022 in Africa will make history as the first Olympic event on the continent. The Host Selection Process was shorter than previous processes, and reduced cost and complexity for the Interested/Candidate Parties.

Considering the unifying power of the Games, the IOC is pleased to count on the four parties, which all promised to endorse the decision of the IOC and pledged full support to the selected host.

Following the IOC Session’s endorsement and the signing of the Host Contract in Buenos Aires, Senegal will enter a Co-construction phase with the IOC to build the detailed Senegal 2022 Edition Plan.

The IOC Session will convene on 8-9 October 2018 in Buenos Aires.

IOC offers "glimmer of hope" for Olympic hosting in Africa

IOC Member Nawal El Moutawakel speaking during the Doha Goals Forum in 2012 (Picture by Mohan)

[Source: IOC] The International Olympic Committee has approved plans to target African National Olympic Committees (NOCs) as potential host cities of the fourth edition of the Summer Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in 2022. The decision was made by members at the IOC Session, following the recommendation of the IOC’s Executive Board earlier this week.

A targeted approach based on the principle adopted by the IOC Session in 2016 will replace the competitive stage seen for previous YOG host city selections, making the process more streamlined, simpler and shorter.

Part of this evolution is to ensure the event is accessible to a greater number of cities, which will be encouraged to make full use of existing and temporary venues. The goal is to elect the host city at the next IOC Session, to be held in October 2018 in Buenos Aires, ahead of the YOG.

This approach has been taken in line with a recent YOG review, to ensure a more impactful and effective concept for young elite athletes, and for host cities.

IOC President Thomas Bach said, “Africa is the home of so many very successful Olympic athletes. Africa is a continent of youth.  That is why we want to take the Youth Olympic Games 2022 to Africa. The IOC will proactively approach a number of African NOCs to evaluate the feasibility of such a project.”

The next few weeks will see the IOC engaging with selected African NOCs to establish the feasibility of staging the Youth Olympic Games 2022. This will be based on the criteria established by the revised YOG model, including use of existing infrastructure and affordable temporary fields of play, enhanced flexibility and adaptation to the local context, with the event to be used as a catalyst for wider youth and sport engagement programmes.

Significant work has already been undertaken by the IOC on the African continent to use sport to protect and invest in young people and drive social transformation, starting with the Youth Olympic Development Centre in Zambia, a facility which supports over 10,000 young athletes, from grass roots through to the international level.

This is supported throughout the continent with the Olympic Solidarity programme that offers assistance to NOCs for athlete development, training of coaches and sports administrators.

Furthermore, in partnership with UNHCR, the IOC also established the Olympic Refuge Foundation in 2017, which aims to create safe, basic and accessible sports facilities in areas where there are refugees, a displaced migrant population and internally displaced people. The IOC has established projects in Rwanda and Ethiopia to ensure the safety and security of young refugees.

IOC Member from Ethiopia, Dagmawit Berhane said,  “Our youth has been hoping and always dreaming to have the world come to Africa and experience the African nations. It’s a pleasure to hear our colleagues in the IOC have the faith and belief in an African nation to host the [Youth Olympic] Games.”

Nawal El Moutawakel, IOC Member and Moroccan Olympic hurdling champion, also commented: “I would like to express my joy at finally seeing such a project being implemented on a continent which has for so long been on the margin of our Olympic Movement. This is going to be a great glimmer of hope for Africa.”

A future Youth Olympic Games edition in Africa will go one step further to build on the sports development work, youth sport events and programmes that are already gaining momentum, such as the African Youth Games, and to further engage with the largest continental youth population.