IOC Demands "Simplicity" from Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympics

(ATR) The IOC's Olympic Games executive director Gilbert Felli tells Around the Rings' Chinese partner Tencent Sports that the 2014 Summer YOG in Nanjing, China should be an event of simplicity.

"The lessons that Nanjing should learn from Innsbruck is to do things simply," he said

He made the remarks after Wednesday's press conference in which the IOC praised the inaugural edition of the Winter Youth Olympic Games as the event reached its halfway mark.

Since the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the Chinese public has been increasingly critical of a series of international events being extravagantly organised across the nation, featuring massive infrastructure construction, lengthy traffic control and security overkill such as evacuating residents from apartments with remote views of ceremony sites.

Felli told ATR: "Nanjing should organize the Games as a simple thing and straightforwardly. It should listen to the advice of the IOC, and listen to the advice from partner hosting cities."

He disclosed that the IOC has had "lengthy discussions" with Nanjing on this matter, but admitted that it was difficult to expect Nanjing 2014 not to be conducted as a high level international event.

"The YOG goes to another country, you can't do the same thing [as Innsbruck 2012]," he said.

"China has a different culture, a different political system, and even different volunteer system.

"But they agree with the IOC to the goals and objectives of the Youth Olympic Games," he added on a positive note.

Organizers of the second summer YOG in Nanjing appear to be falling in line with the IOC's thinking.

Earlier this week in Innsbruck, Nanjing 2014 organizing committee vice secretary Liu Yian said the second summer YOG after Singapore 2010 would be a surprising and frugal affair.

Liu, who led a delegation from Nanjing 2014 to the first winter YOG, said his experiences in the Austrian city had inspired his team to stage the Chinese YOG edition without too many bells and whistles.

"I have watched the opening ceremony and the Culture and Education Program (CEP), which inspire a lot of things for me," Liu was quoted by Xinhua. Liu said it was not necessary to overcomplicate the opening ceremony as long as it ignited the passion of young people.

He also highlighted the importance of delivering an engaging CEP. "The CEP plays a crucial role in shortening the distance between people from all over the world," Liu added.

Liu promised to stage the Games on a tight budget.

"Both Singapore and Innsbruck present an economic Youth Games. We can do that because all the stadiums are ready," Liu said, noting that Nanjing was well-equipped after hosting the 10th National Games in 2005. Around 10,000 Chinese athletes competed in the multisport event.

"We will firmly control the budget, using less money to hold the event."

As in Innsbruck, the big spend will be on a new Youth Olympic Village, which Liu said would be completed later this year.

Reported by Dan Zhang in Innsbruck

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