The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will introduce the Youth Olympic Games in 2010. Similar to the Olympic Games, the Youth Olympics will also have summer and winter versions, alternating every four years. Participants of the Youth Olympics will be athletes aged from 14 to 18. The IOC emphasized that the main goal of these games is not competition, but education based on Olympic values.


The inaugural summer Youth Olympic Games will begin in the summer of 2010, with a 10-day duration, while the 7-day winter Youth Olympics will be staged in early spring in 2012. Cities interested in hosting the inaugural event turned in their applications by August 31, 2007; the officially confirmed applicants are the following:

• Athens, Greece
• Bangkok, Thailand
• Debrecen, Hungary
• Guatemala City, Guatemala
• Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
• Moscow, Russia
• Poznan, Poland
• Singapore, Singapore
• Turin, Italy

A short list will be announced on November 19, 2007, and an evaluation committee will visit the shortlisted cities in December, if necessary, before the IOC elects the host in February 2008.



Links

http://www.2010debrecen.com/

http://www.athens2010yog.com/

http://bangkok2010.com/2007/en/main.php

http://www.moscowyog2010.com/