(ATR) – IOC president Thomas Bach says the IOC will take advantage of the fountain of ideas coming out of the first-ever Olympism in Action Forum.
"We opened the window to fresh air – there are new ideas and new areas where we can do better and we can do more," Bach said at the end of the two-day forum in Buenos Aires.
"It will now be up to the IOC session to make the best studies."
"We have heard about new trends, learned about new perspectives, we have heard critical voices, we have heard supportive voice," Bach said.
The free-wheeling, multi-topic forum drew more than 1,600 delegates to a cavernous hall in the city convention center. The first of its kind forum has an uncertain future. But the ideas hatched this week at the forum will be parsed into a document for the IOC session in two days.
IOC member JohnCoates of Australia is leading an editorial team, drafting the report . The team includes so-called Young Change-Makers, selected by the IOC from around the world.
"We have built a team where we want to have the direct input of the young generation," Bach said.
"We are making these changes to allow them to live in a sporting world that is still relevant to society."
The forum ended just hours before the opening ceremony and the third summer Youth Olympic Games. The Games take on a new style and format over the next 12 days.
Less formal and less structured than previous events in Singapore and Nanjing, China, the deconstructed approach applies to the opening ceremony. No tickets are needed for the open-air ceremony around the Obelisk on the Ave. 9 de Julio – the widest street in the world.
"Come with an open mind, stay with an open mind, enjoy the opening ceremony and enjoy the spirit of sport through these young athletes in Buenos Aries," Bach said.
The Games include versions of the 28 sports on the Olympic program. There are also some newcomers, such as break dancing, roller skating – but not skateboarding – and mixed team events.
Closing ceremony is October 18th. Some 4,000 athletes and officials from 206 National Olympic Committees will participate. The youngest is 14; the oldest 18.
Coverage of the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games made possible in part by BA 2018.
Written and reported by Brian Pinelli in Buenos Aires
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