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Innovation and increased gender balance at Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympics

Xinhua, July 28, 2015 Adjust font size:

The IOC Executive Board approved here on Tuesday the event program for the third Summer Youth Olympic Games (YOG) set to take place in Buenos Aires in 2018.

The program sees even more of the popular innovations that have become synonymous with the event and an increased gender balance.

Joining the Olympic program for the first time at Buenos Aires 2018 will be, among others, BMX freestyle, kiteboarding and beach handball.

"The Youth Olympic Games are leading the way in terms of innovations and testing new concepts, and we are impressed with the creativity from the International Federations to make this event really appeal to young athletes and audiences. I am confident Buenos Aires 2018 will be a great success," said Buenos Aires 2018 Coordination Commission Chairman Frank Fredericks.

The Buenos Aires 2018 organizers (BAYOGOC) are in full support of the new program, which is very much in line with their vision and are striving to make the event the most unique and youth-appealing to date.

"We saw in Nanjing 2014 the appeal of these new innovations created by the International Federations and we are looking forward to working with them and the IOC to push this concept further. All 28 IFs have been very flexible in their approach and through this event are continuously developing their sports," said Leandro Larrosa, CEO of BAYOGOC.

Innovation and gender equality have been key principles of the Youth Olympic Games since their inaugural event in Singapore in 2010. The event strives to reach and engage local youth, bring together the world's best young athletes and inspire young people to get active. It has become renowned as a laboratory for sporting innovation and a catalyst for initiatives for the Olympic Movement. Endi