Youth Olympic Games ( YOG )

In the summer 2010 the IOC will organize the first Youth Olympic Games (YOG). The objective is to get together about 3500 young and talented athletes aged between 14 and 18 years old.

Most of the Summer International Federations are involved in the 2010 edition of the YOG. As it is the case for the Olympic Games, winter editions of the YOG will also take place, based on the same format of the Olympics.

FITA has been among the first International Federation to react to the IOC call. An Ad Hoc commission has been created and the collaboration with the IOC Sports Department is important.

With the goal to present an attractive competition format for a limited number of athletes, FITA is proposing a five days competition with 32 boys and 32 girls participating. A ranking round at 70m will take place on the first day, with eliminations and Olympic Round Finals on days 3, 4 and 5. The second day will be dedicated to a mixed team competition, 1 girl and 1 boy, in match format (1/8, 1/4, 1/2, bronze and gold).

The IOC also wishes young officials and young technical experts to take part in the competitions. FITA would like to propose 13 International Judges, acting under the responsibility of the Judges Committee: seven judges being under 42 years old and six being between 18 and 25 years old. These judges would be specially trained for this event and would be a good asset for the future of our sport.

The IOC wishes the Youth Olympic Games to be a return to the origin of the Olympic Games spirit. The Cultural and Sportive dimension of the Games will be important as well as the image of Fair-Play.

The Archery Family understands the importance of such an event for the future of our sport. The goal of this page is to keep everybody informed about this new and exciting project.

Thierry ZINTZ
Chairman YOG Ad Hoc Committee

- Article Source : FITA