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The first-ever Youth Olympic Games are scheduled to be held in
Singapore August 14-26, 2010. Approved in July 2007 by the International Olympic Committee, the new global event will
have teenage athletes - 14 to 18 years old - compete in the same sports as those at the "Professional" Olympic
Games. The inaugural 2010 Summer Youth Olympic Games (YOG) will be followed by the 2012 Winter YOG,
2014 Summer YOG, 2016 Winter YOG ... and so on ... in alternate years to the "Professional" Olympic Games.
Wait a minute, not so fast. The creation of the Youth
Olympic Games obviously gives the IOC and broadcasters a youth product to sell. But, is anyone concerned about the
young lives that run up against the commercial machine of the most powerful brand in the world? God Bless Nodar Kumaritashvili.
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Monday, August 31, 2009
Omega Seeks to Profit from the Youth Olympic Games
From the vialuxe.com website:
Omega Countdown Clock Starts For 2010 Youth
Olympic Games
By Adam Keith, Associate Timepiece Editor for ViaLuxe-
 The association between renowned Swiss watchmaker Omega and the Olympic Games has been a fruitful one. For nearly a
century, Omega has been a faithful partner of the world's most celebrated athletic competition, and along the way has pioneered
many of the technologies which have advanced sports timing to an unprecedented level. As a continuation of its proud
tradition, Omega will partner with the 2010 Youth Olympic Games in Singapore. A festive ceremony held in Singapore on August 14th, replete with a grand fireworks display and a flag-waving crowd
kicked off the 365-day countdown to the beginning of the 2010 Youth Olympic Games. An electronic clock emblazoned with
the Olympic rings and the Omega logo stood proudly on the platform, rising a full ten meters from the stage. At 8:00PM,
the crowd unleashed a cheer as the Omega digital display began recording the year remaining until the start of the Games.
link: http://www.vialuxe.com/News/style-fashion-celebrity-news-Omega-Countdown-Clock-Starts-For-2010-Youth-Olympic-Games/4236,29865
Friday, August 28, 2009
2010 Singapore Youth Olympic Games on Facebook
 From the Facebook page for the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games: Greece is the home of the Olympics. Similarly, Singapore will be remembered as the origin of the Games' youth version. Parliament Secretary (Community
Development, Youth and Sports) Teo Ser Luck said: "Being the first host, it would be symbolic. "Singapore
will be the birthplace of the Youth Olympic Games, just as Athens is the birthplace of the Olympics." The
inaugural 2010 YOG will provide 3200 of the world's best young athletes a shot at glory. link: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=10338747574
Monday, August 24, 2009
The Best Kept Secret in Sports - 'Why the Secret?'
As published in the International Review for the Sociology of Sport, Vol. 44 (2009):
The
International Olympic Committee seeks to reignite interest in Olympic sports in a generation of adolescents that
are becoming increasingly overweight and inactive. International Olympic Committee president, Jacques
Rogge, helped develop a plan for an Olympic Games for teenagers in 2010; the IOC general assembly approved
the idea.
But since its declaration on 6 July 2007 this new proposal has provoked loyal advocates and
equally committed critics. This study examines the level of awareness of this event in the sporting
community in the United States. This newly passed initiative (is) examined for academic scrutiny from
its very infancy, tracing and predicting impact and outcome from the perspective of athletes, coaches, parents
and local and national sport officials in the United States.
Link to full article:
http://irs.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/44/2-3/173
Authors:
Lawrence W. Judge, Ball State University, Muncie, IN, USA,
lwjudge@bsu.edu Jeffrey Petersen, Baylor University, Waco, TX, USA, jcpetersen@baylor.edu Matt Lydum, Defiance College, Defiance, OH, USA, mlydum@defiance.edu
Friday, August 21, 2009
Youth Gymnastics: Wieber, 14, Recovering from Hamstring Injury
Last year's U.S. junior national champion
Jordyn Wieber hopes to return to gymnastics competition at the Junior Pan Am Games in Brazil during the first week in November. Wieber, 14, injured a hamstring muscle this summer and has been practicing on a limited basis.
She did not compete at the U.S. Championships last weekend in Dallas, and also missed the CoverGirl Classic and Challenge
in Des Moines, Iowa, last month.
"I'd classify it as a minor tweak," said Wieber's coach, John Geddert.
"It was definitely an untimely setback, in that Jordyn missed two key events this summer. But these things are inevitable,
and you just have to deal with them." Geddert said he'll
be able to determine Wieber's readiness in the next couple of weeks. "We
have to be careful in that we don't aggravate the injury, but all signs are pointing to a quick recovery," Geddert said.
"As long as she keeps showing progress over the next couple of weeks, we should be ready for the Pan Am Games." Geddert also said that Wieber, a freshman at DeWitt High, is a leading candidate
to represent her age group (15-under) at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games in Singapore.
link: http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20090821/SPORTS/908210339/1019/SPORTS
Monday, August 17, 2009
Youth Olympic Games - IOC "effort to reach out to young people" and promote a healthy lifestyle? - by Failing to Reach Out
to Young People?
So is the International Olympic Committee (IOC)
reaching out to young people or to corporate dollars? Why is it that hardly any young people even
know about next year's Youth Olympic Games - especially as qualifying events are already taking place?
As quoted on the Australian Olympic Committee corporate website:
“I am thrilled
the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has committed to the YOG in an effort to reach out to young
people and promote the benefits of a healthy and active lifestyle,” Olympian and Chef de Mission
Nick Green said.
It is disappointing in the 'spirit of fair play' that the IOC
has failed to announce the opportunity to participate in the Youth Olympic Games to youth across the world.
link: http://corporate.olympics.com.au/news.cfm?ArticleID=10299
Friday, August 14, 2009
Why is the IOC Rushing to Launch the Inaugural Youth Olympic Games?
Below, AsiaOne.com documents the short time frame the
Olympic Committee has given Singapore to launch the first-ever Youth Olympic Games: Despite the short
time of two-and-a-half years and the challenging task of organizing the first Youth Olympic Games... (see paragraph 3).
It is noted that 7 years is the normal lead time the IOC gives host cities between host selection and putting
on the Olympic Games. 2 and 1/2 years is obviously a short time frame for Singapore to put on this new global
event. So why is the IOC in such a rush to launch their new global mega-event? Is it a mere coincidence that the IOC rushes
to establish the new event before climate change legislation heats up?
Taking stock of YOG preparations
AsiaOne.com August 12, 2009
After 18 months, the Singapore Youth Olympic Games
Organising Committee reports on the progress it has made for the inaugural Youth Olympic Games (YOG). Key progress areas include the following - introducing the Olympic Education Programme to 500,000 school students,
finalising the sports venues and competition schedule, developing the Culture and Education Programme, upgrading works at
the Youth Olympic Village at NTU, and recruiting 15,000 volunteers. Mr Goh Kee Nguan, Chief Executive
Officer of SYOGOC said: "Despite the short time of two-and-a-half years and the challenging task of organising the first
Youth Olympic Games, preparations are on track. We are particularly encouraged by the people, institutions and companies,
who have come forward to partner us towards organising a successful Games. "Every involvement
is vital in contributing to the success of the Games." Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for
Community Development, Youth and Sports added that Singapore is setting the benchmark for future Youth Olympic Games. He said: "In this spirit, I urge all Singaporeans to get involved in the Games as we welcome the world to Singapore
in August 2010."
link: http://news.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2BNews/Sports/Story/A1Story20090812-160718.html
Monday, August 10, 2009
Teenagers and Parents from across America Converge on Des Moines for the Amateur Athletic Union's National Junior Olympics
The Des Moines area economy is expecting a big boost in the coming days as ... Junior Olympic Athletes
head to downtown Des Moines. The Junior Olympics will bring in an estimated $25 million. Massive tents are
already going up in the middle of Drake University's stadium for the Junior Olympics. At Veterans Memorial Auditorium, souvenirs
are being unpacked as organizers await a flurry of activity. "It's unprecedented on the sporting side and,
for all intents and purposes, on the events side, period," said Al Lorenzen of the Des Moines Convention and Visitors
Bureau. Starting Friday, teenagers playing table tennis and trampoline experts from across America will converge
on Des Moines for the Amateur Athletic Union's National Junior Olympics. "There will be almost 8,500 kids
competing in track and field alone at Drake Stadium," Lorenzen said. "Almost 3,500 to 4,000 kids will be here at
the Iowa Events Center." Veterans Auditorium will have baton twirling. Hy-Vee Hall will have weight lifting
and wrestling. Dozens of other venues around Des Moines will be busy as well. It's what the athletes and their
fans will be doing away from the venues that has businesses across the city so excited. "We'll be sold out
for the next several days with the Junior Olympics as well as the Newton race," said Rick Gaede of the Renaissance Savery
Hotel. Hotels are packed all the way to Pella, sold out at the time that the economy hasn't been kind to most people
in the hospitality industry. "Across the country, east and west coast, they're experiencing the same thing,"
Gaede said. "July has just been very soft." Since the athletes are children, many parents are making
this trip their summer vacation. "Not only just hotel rooms, " Gaede said. "It also helps our restaurants,
our bar, and I know the entire downtown is looking forward to all the restaurants being full with all the Junior Olympics
in town." The Junior Olympics will dwarf even the NCAA women's basketball tournament last year. It's expected
to drop about five times more money than that event did. Des Moines has locked up the Junior Olympics for two more
appearances, in 2014 and 2019. link: http://www.sports-city.org/news_details.php?news_id=8903&idCategory=25
Friday, August 7, 2009
Keeping Hopes Alive at Junior Worlds
Reported on NBC UniversalSports.com  The 2009 World Rowing Junior Championships in Brive-la-Gaillarde, France gave light relief for the second
day of repechages and quarterfinals as temperatures cooled. The waters of Lac du Causse Corrézien remained flat and
the atmosphere was relaxed and upbeat with a truly family feel around the regatta course.
This is the qualification
regatta for the 2010 inaugural Youth Olympic Games and today was the last chance for athletes to keep their hopes alive of
advancing to the next round.
See link for results as of August 6, 2009:
JUNIOR
WOMEN’S FOUR (JW4-) – REPECHAGE
JUNIOR MEN’S COXED FOUR (JM4+) – REPECHAGES
JUNIOR WOMEN’S
SINGLE SCULLS (JW1x) – QUARTERFINALS
JUNIOR MEN’S SINGLE SCULLS (JM1x) – QUARTERFINALSJUNIOR WOMEN’S PAIR (JW2-) – REPECHAGES
JUNIOR MEN’S PAIR (JM2-) – QUARTERFINALS
http://www.universalsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=23000&ATCLID=204770198
Monday, August 3, 2009
Chinese athletes to boycott closing ceremony of World Games
TAIPEI - Chinese athletes were to boycott the closing ceremony Sunday of the 8th World Games in Kaohsiung,
south Taiwan, the Liberty Times reported.The Chinese delegation
had also boycotted the opening ceremony of the Games. Most of the Chinese athletes had already left Taiwan.
China sent
59 athletes to participate in eight events at the World Games, which includes some 30 sports that are not included in the
Olympics. China sees Taiwan as its breakaway province and does not want Taiwan’s leader, President Ma Ying-jeou to appear
at international events. However, in view of improved cross-strait
ties, Beijing and Taipei seemed to have reached a consensus - President Ma opened the games and the Chinese team did not show
up, but did not protest either, the report said.
Some
4,800 athletes from about 100 countries took part in the World Games, which are held every four years.
The 2013
World Games will be held in Cali, Colombia.
Reported online July 26, 2009
link: http://blog.taragana.com/sports/2009/07/26/chinese-athletes-to-boycott-closing-ceremony-of-world-games-14992/
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