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  • What are the YOG?

    • The Youth Olympic Games are the ultimate multi-sports event for young athletes, but they are more than just competing and performing. They are about learning important skills, connecting to other cultures and celebrating the Olympic values of excellence, friendship and respect.

      The Youth Olympic Games are essentially about competing, learning and sharing. The mission of the YOG is to shape and influence the athletes and other young participants, to prepare them to become ambassadors of Olympism, of sport and of a healthy lifestyle so they can take on an active role in their community.

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  • What is the origin of the Youth Olympic Games (YOG)?

    • The YOG were created at the initiative of the former President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Jacques Rogge. His idea was approved unanimously by the IOC members at their Session in July 2007 In Guatemala City. The 1st Summer YOG were held in Singapore, in August 2010. The 1st Winter YOG were held in Innsbruck, in January 2012.

      The objective of the YOG is to encourage young people around the world to practise sport; raise awareness of and encourage them to adopt the values of Olympism; and disseminate the message of the Olympic Movement around them.

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  • What is the difference between the Olympic Games (OG) and the Youth Olympic Games (YOG)?

    • The YOG are for the world's young athletes aged from 15 to 18. Like the OG, they are held every four years, and are held in the same year as the OG with the Summer YOG taking place the same year as the Olympic Winter Games and vice-versa. Note that following the approval of Agenda 2020 by the IOC Session in December 2014, in the future the organisation of the YOG will move to an non-Olympic year, starting with the 4th Summer Youth Olympic Games, which will be postponed from 2022 to 2023.

      The Summer YOG Nanjing 2014 gathered almost 3,800 young athletes, whereas the OG London 2012 welcomed more than 10,500 athletes.

      The Summer and Winter YOG last 12 and 10 days respectively, while the OG may last up to 16 days.

      The sports programme is based on that of the Olympic Games, with 28 sports for the Summer YOG and seven for the Winter YOG. However, the events are different, adapting to the age range and interests of the younger athletes. The YOG also include Learn & Share activities (known previously as Culture and Education Programme (CEP)).

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  • Where and when will the next Youth Olympic Games (YOG) take place?
  • What are the special features of the Youth Olympic Games (YOG)?

    • The YOG are characterised primarily by their “YOG DNA” label, which defines the spirit and identity of the YOG. It is also the official trademark of the YOG, through which they distinguish themselves from the Olympic Games, while keeping the symbol of the Olympic rings.

      From a sports point of view, the YOG are an “ideas laboratory” for the International Sports Federations (IFs).
      Through the YOG, the IFs can innovate in their sport by proposing new events (for example, mixed or international teams, or a competition linking BMX and mountain biking). Sports not on the programme also have the opportunity to be presented in the framework of the “Sports Lab” (for example, skateboarding in Nanjing). Click here to learn more on the sports programme.  

      The YOG also distinguish themselves through the activities of the “Learn and Share” programme. All the YOG participants are offered events through interactive workshops and forums based on five themes: Olympism, Skills Development, the Benefits of Sport and Healthy Lifestyles, Social Responsibility and Expression.
      This programme is a source of inspiration for all the participants, and encourages young people in their role as ambassadors of sport and Olympism within their communities.

      Furthermore, one thing that makes the YOG stand out is its participants. As well as athletes, other figures are equally important. These are:

      • Young Ambassadors: They are aged between 18 and 28 and are chosen by their National Olympic Committee (NOC). Like the athletes and other participants, they take part in the “Learn and Share” programme activities. They must also promote these activities to the YOG participants, and their mission is to promote the YOG in their countries and on social media networks.
      • Athlete Role Models: They are chosen by their International Federation (IF). They come to the YOG to support the young participants, answer their questions, give them advice and share their experiences. They also take part in the “Learn and Share” activities.
      • Young Reporters: They are aged between 18 and 24 and have either started or just finished journalism studies. They are selected by their National Olympic Committee (NOC), then by the continental associations of NOCs. For them, the YOG provide a unique opportunity to receive theoretical and practical training with professionals in the areas of the written and photographic press, radio, television and new media.
      • Ambassadors: They are elite athletes. Their role is to promote the YOG throughout the world during the YOG preparation phase. They are also present during the Games. Click here to discover the names of the ambassadors of the previous editions of the YOG.

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  • How are the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) financed?

    • The International Olympic Committee (IOC) contributes to the financing of the YOG. It covers the costs of transport and accommodation for the athletes and team officials in the Olympic Village as well as for representatives from the International Sports Federations (IFs) and IOC representatives in hotels. It also finances the TV production.

      The Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee (YOCOG) shall be responsible for the planning, organising and staging of the YOG.

      On the other hand, the host city is responsible for the improvements to be made to sports and non-sports facilities and venues, where applicable.

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  • Does a city hosting the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) have to build new infrastructure?

    • No infrastructure has to be specially built to stage the YOG (apart from in exceptional cases). The facilities used must be in line with the sustainable development concept promoted by the Olympic Movement.

      The size and quality of this infrastructure must correspond to the objectives of the YOG and be suitable for young athletes. All the sports venues must be in the same city, and the use of multi-sports facilities is encouraged.

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  • How was Buenos Aires elected as the host city for the Summer Youth Olympic Games 2018?
  • Which sports are on the programme of the Youth Olympic Games (YOG)?
  • What age are the athletes competing in the Youth Olympic Games (YOG)?

    • The young athletes must be 15, 16, 17 or 18 years old on 31 December in the year of the Games. The age groups for the events in which they compete are defined in collaboration with the International Sports Federations (IFs) concerned.

      For the 2018, and 2020, editions of the YOG, the following athletes are eligible to participate:
      2018: Athletes born between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2003
      2020: Athletes born between 1 January 2002 and 31 December 2005

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  • How can a young athlete qualify to take part in the Youth Olympic Games (YOG)?

    • The qualification of youth athletes is prepared in collaboration with the International Federations (IFs).

      For each discipline, world and continental junior championships as well as world junior rankings and qualifying events allow the athletes to qualify for the YOG.

      If a young athlete is interested in taking part in the YOG, he/she must contact his/her National Olympic Committee (NOC), which will inform him/her of the qualification criteria. The NOC is responsible for managing its delegation during the YOG.

      Applicable only to the Summer YOG:

      • At least four athletes per National Olympic Committee (NOC) must be able to take part in the Games – if possible two girls and two boys.  A number of quota places have been reserved in each of the individual sports to allow several athletes per NOC to receive Universality Places in order to take part in the YOG. A delegation may comprise a maximum of 70 athletes.
      • Each NOC can only qualify one boys place and one girls place in team sports (handball, football, hockey and rugby) with the exception of the host country.

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  • How many athletes compete in the Youth Olympic Games (YOG)?

    • There are around 3,800 athletes for the Summer YOG from all of the NOCs, and about 1,100 athletes from 70 NOCs for the Winter YOG.

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  • How many countries participated in the Winter YOG Lillehammer 2016?

    • 70 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) came in Lillehammer for the YOG. A total of 1060 young athletes competed, 567 boys and 493 girls.

       

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  • Who were the Winter YOG Lillehammer 2016 "Ambassadors"?
  • Who were the Winter YOG Lillehammer 2016 "Young Ambassadors"?

    • There were 39 of them and they came from all over the world.

      Their task was to guide the young athletes, and to encourage them to take part in the Learn & Share activities and to make the most of all the possibilities on offer to them.

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  • Who were the Winter YOG Lillehammer 2016 "Athlete Role Models"?

    • They were Olympians, like Ross Powers (USA - snowboard), Felix Gottwald (GER – nordic combined), Tora Berger (NOR – biathlon), Chun Lee-Kyun (KOR - short track speed skating), Stéphane Lambiel (SUI - figures skating) and many more.

      Their mission was to spend time with the young athletes, answer their questions, give them advice on all aspects of the life of an athlete, and participate in the Learn & Share activities alongside the young athletes.

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  • Who were the Winter YOG Lillehammer 2016 “Young Reporters”?

    • 15 Young Reporters were chosen to go on to the Lillehammer 2016 Winter Youth Olympic Games. These rising stars of journalism reported on all the activity, on and off the field of play, on the Lillehammer 2016 official website.

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  • What were the themes of the Winter YOG Lillehammer 2016 Learn & Share programme?

    • The Learn & Share activities of the Winter Youth Olympic Games Lillehammer 2016 were built around the following main themes:

      • Olympism
      • Your Body and Mind
      • Your Career
      • Your Actions
      • Your Discovery
      • Your Stories

      Participants took part in over 25 activities and three excursions.
      The objective was to make the YOG an event linking sport, culture and education.

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  • Which were the new events on the programme of the Winter YOG Lillehammer 2016?

    • Many new events were on the YOG programme for Lillehammer 2016:

      • Biathlon: super sprint mixed relay
      • Bosbleigh:  monobob race (men / women)
      • Ski Freestyle: ski slopestyle (men / women),
      • Snowboard: snowboard cross (men / women)
      • Cross-country skiing: cross-country cross (men / women)
      • Freestyle skiing / snowboard: team  ski snowboard cross (mixed)
      • Combined sport: nordic team event (mixed)

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  • What is the mascot for the Winter YOG Lillehammer 2016?

    • Sjogg is the Lillehammer 2016 YOG mascot. Sjogg is a sporty-looking lynx and its name means “snow” in the Gudbrandsdal, the valley where Lillehammer is located.

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