Youth Olympic Games
The Youth Olympic Games are multi- sports events under the supervision of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), to be held every four years. They are divided into summer and winter games and aim to complement the existing Olympic Games. Participation is open to young athletes aged 14 to 18 years.
Development
The idea for the Youth Olympic Games was the Austrian Johann Rosenzopf in 1998. On 5 July 2007 the IOC members decided at its 119th Session in Guatemala City, the introduction of a youth version of the Olympic Games. Summer Games were first held in 2010, Winter Games were first held in 2012. In addition, the IOC established a limitation on the number of participants: In the Summer Games athletes maximum 3500 and 875 caregivers at the Winter Games than 1000 athletes and 500 team leaders are allowed.
Various other youth sports events such as the European Youth Olympic Festival and the Australian Youth Olympic Festival have proved to be successful and serve as a model for the Youth Olympic Games. The latter, in turn, are successors of no longer transmitted World Youth Games.
Conditions and funding
The IOC emphasized that the host cities should not build new sports facilities, with the exception of some temporary facilities or a possible Olympic village, which is later converted into a housing development. All sports facilities must be located in the same city.
The cost of the first Olympic Youth Games are estimated at 30 million U.S. dollars for the Olympic Winter Youth Olympic Games on 15 to 20 million U.S. dollars. The majority of these relate to infrastructure and property. The IOC accepts travel expenses, accommodation and meals for athletes and officials.
Differences to the Olympics
In summer, the 26 provided sports will be the same as with the traditional Olympic Games, but with a limited number of disciplines and competitions. For example, the IOC plans, water polo, synchronized swimming and canoe slalom omit. When cycling mountain bike and BMX only be taken into account, but not road and track racing. The Winter Games will include seven sports. Tobogganing and bobsledding are given the world's limited number of athletes and the need for expensive infrastructure may not be part of the program.
In addition, no national flags and national anthems are used in Youth Olympic Games. At the award ceremony, the Olympic flag will be hoisted and played the Olympic anthem. This is the competition between the countries fade into the background.