UPCOMING: Youth Olympics Summer 2 Commencing On August 16 In Nanjing, China

The Youth Olympic Games (YOG), previously known as World Youth Games is a multi-sporting event held every four years organized by the International Olympics Committee. It was first conducted i  n 1998 molded from the concept by an Austrian industrial manager Johann Rosenzopf. This idea of organizing an international sporting event started as a campaign to fight child obesity and the dropping number of youth involvement. However, this was discontinued until 2010.

This sport event has two versions-first is the Summer 1; after two years, Winter 1 will be conducted. The summer edition lasted 13 days while the winter edition lasted 10 days. This year will be the Summer 2 which will be held on August 16-28, 2014 in Nanjing, China while the Winter 2 will be on February 2016 in Lillehammer, Norway.

Not only does the YOG offer sporting activities, but will also foster cultural exchange programs, education, and different opportunities for the participants to meet other athletes and experience the diversities from other nations in the competition. This, too, is to advance the linkage and cooperation amongst the participating countries of this international event. In order to take full advantage of the Youth Olympic Games, the IOC agreed to have a Culture and Education Program (CEP) to be featured at each game.

The sports that will be played during the YOG is said to be the same as the traditional games only with a few modifications in some disciplines. In swimming, for example, there would be no synchronized swimming and water polo. The basketball competition in YOG also uses the FIBA 33 format which is a 3-on-3 half-court game, where periods only lasts for five minutes each, and the first team who scores 33 points wins.