YOG πεδίον δόξης λαμπρόν.

Rowing prepares for first Youth Olympic Games

24/10/2008

Sport has a new highlight. In 2010 the first ever Youth Olympic Games (YOG) will take place in Singapore, bringing together talented young athletes from around the world.

FISA’s events director, Svetla Otzetova, is just back from visiting the host nation and gave the venue the thumbs up. The rowing course will cater for 1000m racing, due to the shape of the channel, with room for eight lanes. Otzetova describes: “The water body has been created through the construction of a dam which is controlling the level of the water and neutralising the impact of the tide coming from the ocean. At the present time the water is still partly salty, but a purification treatment of the water is taking place.”

“It will be a spectacular place for presenting our sport,” adds Otzetova. “It is located next to the Formula One racing track.”

The Youth Olympic Games, an initiative of the International Olympic Committee, is a multi-sport, cultural and educational event with a strong emphasis on the Olympic values of excellence, friendship and respect, and the principles of universality, sustainability and no discrimination. All sports on the 2012 Olympic Games will be represented in the programme, although the actual disciplines may vary. The Youth Olympic Games will welcome athletes between the ages of 14-18, but each sport will focus on a specific two-year age group, with rowing involving the 17 to 18 year olds.

Singapore is expecting up to 3,200 youth athletes and 800 officials for the Games for a 12-day period in August 2010.