Youth Games praised by IOC, but future in doubt

The Youth Olympic Games in Dakar earned high marks from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Thursday, a day before the closing ceremony, but the event’s future remains unclear.

Senegal is the first African country to host an Olympic sporting event, with the Youth Games involving about 2,700 young athletes from 204 national Olympic committees. Africa has never hosted an Olympics Games.

“Everyone came here with certain expectations and those expectations have been far exceeded,” IOC President Kirsty Coventry, the Zimbabwean former Olympic swimming champion, told a press conference.

IOC president Kirsty Coventry, right, and IOC Coordination Commission chair Humphrey Kayange speak during a press briefing in Dakar on Thursday.

Photo: Reuters

“It has been a magnificent journey. It has been extremely magical,” she said.

Coventry said the IOC, which this year paused the process for awarding the hosting of the 2030 Youth Games, was still analyzing all aspects before a decision is taken.

“We took a pause … and we are analyzing and that’s where we are. We are still analyzing. The data we will collect from Dakar will be added,” she said.

“As we move forward the way we want to engage with young people is extremely important. We have to analyze what will be the best way for the movement to continue in the future,” she added.

She did not say when a decision was likely on the future of the event.

The IOC staged the first summer Youth Games, the brainchild of former IOC President Jacques Rogge, in 2010 in Singapore, followed by the 2012 winter Youth Olympics in Innsbruck. The 2028 Winter Games are to be held in Italy.