Issue No 001 Issue No 001

About the Youth

YOG : a novel sports and cultural project

Historically, the idea of the was first mooted in 2001 when IOC officials led by former IOC President, , began brainstorming the issue. They were driven by the desire to create a multisport event styled to the Olympic Games model in a bid to revive sports practice amongst youths while disseminating the Olympic ideals of frater- nity and universality. The dream came true on 25 April 2007 when, during the 119th IOC session, the Executive Committee unanimously adopted the concept. Barely three months later, on 5 July 2007, the city of was elected to host the inaugural edition in 2010. , , played host to the maiden winter edition in February 2012. has now taken the relay baton, which will thereafter be handed to (winter 2016) and (August 2018). The difference between these Games and the traditional Olympics is the age of participants. The YOG bring together youths who must be aged between 15 and 18 on 31 December of the year of the Games. They are also obliged to live in the host city from start to finish in order for them to get the real games experience, which is the IOC’s wish. The Youth Olympic Games are not just a race for medals; they also feature a cultural programme where NOCs showcase their potentials following a previously established schedule. This enables participants not only to get a close feel of the Olympic atmosphere, but to also live an intense intercultural experience. Issue No 001

Spotlight on Nanjing 2014

About Nanjing 2014

Nanjing will play host to the Youth Olympic Games from 16 to 28 August 2014. The Chinese city was elected during the 122nd IOC Session on 10 February 2010 in Vancouver. Nanjing carried the day over Poznan with 47 votes against 42, after Guadalajara withdrew from the race. Facts and figures Period : from 16 to 28 August 2014 Participating NOCs: 204 Number of athletes expected : 3808 Model Athletes : 37 YOGs ambassadors including (RSA) and Michelle Wie (USA). Sports Programme : 222 events in 28 sports disciplines Age Category : depending on the sports disciplines in which they are to compete, they must be aged 15, 16, 17 or 18 on 31 Decem- ber 2014 (born between January 1996 and 31 December 1999). Games venues : 35 3 zones : Olympic Centre, Historic Sites and University Area. Number of volunteers : One million Cultural Programme : Cultural Exhibition 15 to 28 August Official Slogan: «Share the Game. Share our Dreams» Issue No 001

Africa at the centre of events

Colourful opening ceremony with Africa in attendance

Chinese President, Xi Jinping, gave the kick-off to the Youth Olympic Games Nanjing 2014 on 16 August 2014. The opening cere- mony took place at the , with representatives from more than 200 countries in attendance. The ceremony was graced by a host of dignitaries, prominent amongst who were UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, IOC Pre- sident, Thomas Bach and former IOC President, now honorary President, Dr Jacques Rogge. Also in attendance were ANOCA President, Intendant General Lassana Palenfo, and several Presidents of African NOCs and IOC members in Africa. It was a rousing opener with fireworks before a cheering crowd of 61,500 spectators. In tune with the times, Thomas Bach tur- ned to the athletes: “Dear young athletes, these are your Games. This is your moment. So, young athletes, please join me: Let us all capture it – so get your smart phones out and let’s set a record for selfies,” he said, and was then joined on stage by five athletes - Lilia Maamar, horse riding, Morocco; , athletics, Jamaica; Dilixiati Dilana, basketball, ; Ivana Jorovic, tennis, Serbia; and Gabrielle Fa’amausili, swimming, New Zealand – with whom he took a selfie of the YOG. The IOC President also said he was confident as to the success of the second edition of the games in Nanjing, noting that all was set for a successful hosting of the YOG. Thomas Bach congratulated the city and the Organising Committee, highlighting efforts made by Nanjing to turn the city into a major sports hub. The four-time Olympic diving champion in Beijing 2008 and London 2012, China’s Chen Ruolin, 21, was the last to carry the . She lit the cauldron following the arrival of the Olympic flag borne by former Olympic medallists. The thrilling show lasted two hours with 5,000 extras who acted out scenes of Chinese history and culture on the theme «China Dream.» It was directed by Chen Weiya who managed 500 professional dancers from the Nanjing Institute of Arts and 120 students from the Shaolin Tagou Martial Arts School. Of course, African delegations answered present at the opening parade with the kids, totally relaxed, proudly flaunting their natio- nal colours. Issue No 001

Africans in Nanjing 2014 Young Reporters Programme

An IOC initiative, the Nanjing 2014 Young Reporters Programme has brought together 35 young journalists representing Africa, the Americas, Asia, Oceania and Europe. They shall, throughout their stay, be drilled in the techniques of sports information gathe- ring, processing and dissemination. They have been offered accommodation at the YOG Village where they will live with the athletes, will have access to all games venues and receive specialised training in all sports reporting aspects. Aged between 18 and 24, they will later be joined by other young reporters representing media outfits from host cities of the YOG: Nanjing 2014, Lillehammer 2016 and Buenos Aires 2018, as well as the next summer and winter Olympics.

Young African Reporters in the Spotlight There are four young reporters from Africa among the 35 selected under the Nanjing 2014Young Reporters Programme. Our Newsletter profiles them in this maiden issue.

Stella Annan, 20, Ghana Stella Annan studied journalism at the Ghana Institute of Journalism into which she gained admission in 2010. Professionally, she has already covered several sensitive and critical political assignments focussing on elections and political leadership in her country. As her final year project, she and her mates launched a sports magazine, The Ball, which provides updates on the latest sports news and events, reporting on local football matches, the most popular sport in Ghana. She also worked for the Parliamentary Press Corps as a student. During her leisure time, Stella enjoys reading as a hobby. She expressed her delight after being selected for the Young Reporters Programme: “I was overjoyed when I was selected to be a part of the Young Reporters Programme for the Nanjing Games. When I started my sports magazine, I realised that I had a lot of inclination to learn about football and many other sports and become a good sports journalist. The Youth Olympic Games is a perfect platform for me to do just that. I am looking forward to sharpening my skills, meeting young athletes from all over the world and learning everything there is about as many sports as I can. I want to do Ghana proud and represent Africa in a group of talented young reporters from all over the world.”

Yasmine Torche, 24, Algeria Yasmine Torche graduated from the University of Constantine with a degree in Science of In- formation and Communication before studying photography at la Maison des Jeunes, a youth centre. Her profile also reveals that she has worked as an intern (journalist and photographer) for media houses like El Khabar and Asda El-Charqu. Currently, Yasmine Torche is a vo- lunteer editor for E-pen Magazine, a local media outfit manned by Arab student journalists. Yasmine speaks fluent Arabic and French and is proficient in English. Her impressions about her participation in the programme: “I am really excited to be a part of the Young Reporters Programme in Nanjing. It af- fords me an opportunity to sharpen my knowledge and skills in journalism by learning from renowned names in Olympic circles. I know that this will be a unique experience Issue No 001 in my life and I am ready to work relentlessly to make the most of it. The Youth Olympic Games are not just about sports and competition but also about making long-lasting friendships and developing relationships with young people from across the globe. Hence, I am excited to be a part of such a diverse and talented crop of Young Repor- ters.”

Saeed Zaki, 23, Sudan Saeed Zaki is a final year communications student at the Sudan University of Science and Technology. He has worked on several thesis projects which were presented to the Sudanese government for implementation. These include the National Recycling Project which focused on the nationwide recycling efforts and opportunities for a more sustai- nable environment. He has represented his university at a number of conferences and se- minars and has been Manager of the Multimedia Company for three years. He was quite instrumental in the establishment of the Media Centre of the Faculty of Communication at his university, and is founder and President of Skills National Group established in 2011. The group backs media projects that can be used in developing various sectors such as the agriculture, medical and social sectors. Saeed is a football and basketball enthusiast who loves watching matches with friends and family. Talking about his selection for the Young Reporters Programme, he said: “I am so proud that I have been chosen to represent my country and continent at the Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing. The Games are like a melting pot where people from many cultures from all over the world come together to celebrate youth and sports. The city will be the hub of so many international journalists and media experts that I cannot wait to get started. I want to share my background with my fellow reporters and learn from them. I have reported at several events before but nothing compares to the Youth Olympic Games. They hold a special charm and I feel so fortunate to be a part of the Games in Nanjing.”

Lovemore Mario, 24, Botswana Lovemore Mario is quite active as a sports reporter in Botswana. He covered the from 22 to 31 May 2014 in Gaborone, Botswana, during which he produced special features on his radio show. He is currently working for Botswana Television, where he interned in 2009. He also works as producer cum sports anchor for the radio channel RB2, where he anchors a sports show, Fundamental Live, one of the most popular shows in the country. Apart from being a profi- cient reporter, Mario describes himself as a techie who loves to stay updated on the latest technological innovations. About his presence in Nanjing, he said : “The Youth Olympic Games are a great chance to witness history in the ma- king. I truly believe that youth lay the foundation for a better future and to see young athletes pursuing their dreams with such zeal and passion will motivate me too. The Young Reporters Programme is a very prestigious opportunity and I feel lucky to be selected by my National Olympic Committee to represent Botswana and Africa. I am looking forward to learning new skills during the training so that I can gain some international exposure and become a better reporter.” Issue No 001

Africa at the centre of events

Nanjing 2014 : Africa to showcase culture from 19 to 21 August 2014

Africa shall on the sidelines of the 2014 edition of the Youth Olympic Games, and just like all other continents, exhibit its cultural heritage in Nanjing as part of the event’s cultural programme. This will take place at the Village Of World Cultures, where stands will be mounted all over the Olympic Village for the exhibition of the world’s cultural diversity. NOCs will take turns according to their continents and athletes will be allowed to visit the stands at all times during business hours to better understand the customs and culture of other countries and share with the locals. Following is the schedule of exhibitions.

Continent Number NOCs Périod Europe 49 15 – 18 August (4 days) Africa 53 19 – 21 August (3 days) America and Oceania 58 22 – 24 August (3 days) Asia 43 25 – 28 August (4 days) Issue No 001 Issue No 001

Impressions about Nanjing 2014

After the kick-off to the 2nd edition of the Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, we caught up with some African youths who gave their impressions about being part of the event.

Bouananani AMINE, Algeria The Games are good. It is wonderful so far; the reception was hectic, the accommo- dation has lived up to expectations. I’m excited to be in China, a wonderful country. Here, I do not only look forward to doing my very best in terms of sports perfor- mance, but I also intend to make friends with other athletes and learn about the cultures of other countries; for me, Nanjing is also a major meeting and exchange platform”

OTONIEL BADJANA, Sao Tome and Principe « I love the games and the mood at the village; all the young people are so nice; the organization is perfect and Chinese are welcoming. I am also meeting people and learning about the cultures of other countries. It is a dream come true for me”

MAIMOUNA CISE, Mauritania I have already learned a lot since I arrived here. It is so wonderful. I hope to be worthy of Africa in Nanjing. Kudos to the organisation too; no effort is spared to make us feel at home. I wish to thank the IOC and African sports administrators who have made it possible for us to live these unforgettable moments. Issue No 001

Africa’s heads for Nanjing 2014

Algeria in Nanjing 2014

Algeria is at the 2nd edition of the Youth Olympic Games with 34 athletes, 17 girls and 17 boys. This was revealed by the President of NOC Algeria, Mustapha Berraf who, speaking at a press briefing prior to the departure of his country’s athletes for Nanjing, said : “There are as many girls as boys and that is good. It shows that there is a balance between the performances of boys and girls…These youths trained in good conditions thanks to the means allocated by the State which is keen on giving fresh impetus to youths and their training in the area of sport.” Mustapha Berraf also let it out that the country’s sports officials shall set no targets and thus avoid bringing pressure to bear on Algerian athletes : “We should especially avoid to bring pressure to bear on these kids, though some of them have got the talent to excel. I wish to reiterate that qualifying for the Games is a positive result in itself. Bringing pressure to Issue No 001 bear on 16 or 17 year-olds to spur them on is contrary to Olympic ideals, for the games aim at educating, disseminating cultures and fostering friendship, respect and fair play,” he concluded. Algeria will be competing in 13 disciplines, and the number of athletes has increased by almost 50% in relation to the maiden (2010) edition in Singapore.

Nanjing 2014 : Madagascar participating with four athletes

Four athletes are representing Madagascar at the 2nd edition of the Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing. They will compete in the following four disciplines : athletics (Isidore Ralaimihaja), swimming (Lalanomena Andrianirina), judo (Mihanta Andriamifehy) and weightlifting (Ny Hasina Andriamihantantsoa). The delegation of athletes, most of who are on their first international outing, is led by the Minister of Youth and Sports, Dr Jean Anicet Andriamosarisoa. “We shall only travel with athletes who made the minima and the wildcard. Most often, what matters for us is to participate, but we urge athletes to work hard to bring back medals,” the Minister declared. The delegation was on 30 July received at the Chinese embassy prior to their departure for Nanjing. Issue No 001

Nanjing 2014 : Tunisia participating with 50 athletes

Tunisia is represented at the 2nd Youth Olympic Games by 50 athletes, 33 boys and 17 girls aged between 14 and 18. They will be competing in 14 sports disciplines, three of them team sports disciplines. These include: boxing, rowing, weightlifting, judo, swimming, fencing, , men’s basketball (3X3), athletics, gymnastics, table tennis, sailing, women’s rugby and men’s . Prior to their departure, NOC Tunisia organised a ceremony at the Cultural Centre in El Menzah, during which athletes, technicians, medical staff and all others received their accreditations. On hand to wish the athletes farewell was the Minister of Youth, Sports, Women’s Affairs and the Family,Saber Bouatay, the NOC President, Mehrez Bousayane, as well as the Ambassadors of China to Tunisia and that of Tunisia to China. On that occasion, the minister urged the athletes to be worthy ambassadors of the country, underscoring the stakes involved. The head of delegation, Abdelatif Abid, had prior to that held a meeting with the athletes, his assistants as well as members of the technical and medical staffs. He briefed them on the conditions for participation, urging them to be disciplined both within and without the Olympic village and the games venues, and to work in lifting Tunisia’s image.