(ATR) European Olympic Committees President Janez Kocijančič says the European Youth Olympic Festival will bring together "peace and youth," for the next 10 days.
Over 2,500 athletes are in Győr, Hungary for the 2017 EYOF. The thirteenth edition of the summer festival will run from July 23-30 and feature 10 Olympic sports. All 50 members of the EOC have sent athletes.
Győr is 75 miles outside of Budapest, and would have hosted preliminary matches in basketball and football were Budapest to secure the 2024 Olympic Games.
Kocijančič spoke of the democratic nature of the event ahead of the opening ceremony, saying all athletes will compete "on equal terms."
"The organization here is outstanding and without them this week’s event would not have been possible; it is a great pleasure to be here in Hungary to celebrate the EOC’s oldest European Olympic event," Kocijančič said in a statement.
"The most important message of the European Youth Olympic Festival is to use the power of sport to bring the youth of Europe together in friendship. It has been wonderful to see a sporting event combine two wonderful things – peace and youth. Through sport, the Olympic Movement achieves unity and I hope this year’s athletes can make lasting friendships with their fellow competitors."
Swimming was the only sport to award medals in the first day of competition. Russia tops the medal table with two gold won and one silver. Hosts Hungary won two gold medals and one bronze. On Tuesday all ten sports will be in action throughout the day.
The European Youth Olympic Festival was started in Brussels in 1991 when Jacques Rogge was president of the EOC and is considered a forerunner of the Youth Olympic Games of the IOC. Since the first EYOF, 15 other editions have been held. Since 1993 the EOC has also held a winter version of the festival.
Click here to watch a livestream of the event.
Written by Aaron Bauer
25 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is AroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.
Últimas Noticias
Utah’s Olympic venues an integral part of the equation as Salt Lake City seeks a Winter Games encore
IOC president tells Olympic Movement “we will again have safe and secure Olympic Games” in Beijing
Boxing’s place in the Olympics remains in peril as IOC still unhappy with the state of AIBA’s reform efforts
IOC president details Olympic community efforts to get Afghans out of danger after Taliban return to power
North Korea suspended by IOC for failing to participate in Tokyo though its athletes could still take part in Beijing 2022
