365 days of preparation for Youth Olympic Games

With one year to go until the Youth Olympic Games in Najing, the Namibia National Olympic Committee (NNOC) last week started it’s countdown for the games in China by visiting the Hope Centre in Windhoek.
According to NNOC Chef de Mission Monica Böhm, the countdown was specifically started to “create awareness and introduce the concept of the Youth Olympic Games and the Olympic Movement to Namibia’s youth and potential future Olympians.”
The youth summer games were hosted first by Singapore in 2010. Over 200 countries and 3,600 athletes participated in the first edition.
The age limitations for athletes differ slightly for various disciplines with all athletes between the age of 14 and 18 years. The sports contested at the Youth Games are the same as those scheduled for the traditional Olympic Games, but with some adaptations, and a limited number of disciplines and events.
Education and culture are also key components for the Youth edition. Not only does the education/culture aspect apply to athletes and participants, but also youth around the world and inhabitants of the host city and surrounding regions. To this end a Culture and Education Program (CEP) will be featured at each Games. The cultural and educational activities at the Nanjing Games will be facilitated under a framework of five themes which are Olympism, Skills Development, Well-Being and Healthy Lifestyle, Social Responsibility and Expression.