Youth Olympic Games facts for kids
The Youth Olympic Games (YOG) is a big international sports event. It's for young athletes aged 15 to 18 years old. The International Olympic Committee organizes these games. They happen every four years, just like the main Olympic Games. There are Summer Youth Games and Winter Youth Games.
The first Summer Youth Games took place in Singapore. This was from August 14 to 26, 2010. The first Winter Youth Games were held in Innsbruck, Austria. They happened from January 13 to 22, 2012.
The idea for these games came from Johann Rosenzopf of Austria in 1998. On July 6, 2007, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) decided to create the Youth Olympic Games. The IOC and the host city share the costs of putting on the event. The IOC pays for athletes' and coaches' travel. These games also include fun cultural programs. Young athletes can meet famous Olympic athletes too.
Other youth sports events, like the European Youth Olympic Festival, have been very successful. The Youth Olympic Games are based on these events. The YOG is also a new version of the old World Youth Games.
The Summer Youth Games in Singapore (2010) and Nanjing (2014) had about 3,600 athletes. They lasted for 13 days. The Winter Youth Games in Innsbruck (2012) had 1,059 athletes. The Lillehammer games (2016) had 1,100 athletes. These winter events lasted for 10 days. The YOG are smaller and shorter than the main Olympic Games. The most recent Summer YOG was in Buenos Aires in 2018. The most recent Winter YOG was in Lausanne in 2020. The next Summer YOG will be in Dakar, Senegal in 2026. The 2024 Winter Youth Olympics recently took place in Gangwon, South Korea.
Contents
History of the Youth Olympic Games
The idea for the Youth Olympic Games started with Johann Rosenzopf in 1998. He noticed that more young people were becoming overweight. Also, fewer young people were playing sports. He thought a youth version of the Olympics could help. It could encourage more young people to get active.
At first, the IOC didn't want just a sports event. They wanted the games to be about learning and cultural exchange too. So, they created the Culture and Education Program (CEP). This program is a big part of every Youth Olympic Games.
Jacques Rogge, who was the IOC President, officially announced the games on July 6, 2007. The YOG has several important goals. These include bringing together the world's best young athletes. They also aim to teach about the Olympic spirit. Another goal is to find new ways to teach and discuss Olympic values.
Singapore was chosen to host the first Summer Youth Olympics. This was announced on February 21, 2008. Then, on December 12, 2008, Innsbruck was chosen for the first Winter Youth Olympics in 2012. Innsbruck had hosted the Winter Olympics before, in 1964 and 1976.
What Host Cities Need
The Youth Olympic Games are smaller than the main Olympics. This is on purpose. It means smaller cities can host an Olympic event. Cities that want to host must keep all events within the same city. They also should not build new sports venues.
However, they can build a media center for reporters. They can also build places for classes and workshops. A village for athletes and coaches is also allowed. This village is the main place for athletes to stay and gather. New transportation systems are not needed. Athletes and coaches use local shuttles to get around.
For the Summer Games, the main athletics stadium must hold 10,000 people. The swimming facility needs to have 2,500 seats.
How the Games are Paid For
The first Summer Youth Games in Singapore cost about S$387 million (about US$284 million). The first Winter Games in Innsbruck cost around US$22.5 million. These costs do not include building new places for sports. The host city pays for new buildings and other big improvements.
The IOC helps by paying for travel costs to the host city. They also pay for food and housing for the athletes and judges. This is estimated to be about US$11 million. This money comes from the IOC's own funds.
Sometimes, it's hard to find sponsors for the YOG. This is because it's a newer event. Companies are not always sure how much attention they will get.
Who Can Participate
Over 200 countries and 3,600 athletes took part in the first Summer Youth Olympics in 2010. Athletes are put into age groups: 15–16 years, 16–17 years, and 17–18 years. An athlete's age is based on how old they are on December 31 of the year they compete.
The IOC works with sports groups to decide how athletes qualify. To make sure all countries can send athletes, the IOC has "Universality Places." These are special spots saved for athletes from smaller nations. This means every country can send at least four athletes to each Youth Olympic Games.
For team sports, one team from each continent can compete. A sixth team might be from the host country. Or it could be another team approved by the IOC. A country can send a maximum of two teams (one boys' and one girls' team). No country can have more than 70 athletes in individual sports.
Sports at the Youth Olympic Games
Summer Youth Olympics Sports
Many sports from the main Summer Olympics are also in the Youth Games. Some team sports use smaller teams. For example, regular basketball is replaced with 3x3 basketball. Football becomes futsal. Handball becomes beach handball. Field hockey becomes hockey5s. Indoor volleyball becomes beach volleyball. In 2026, baseball will be baseball5. The 2026 games will have an equal number of events for boys and girls for the first time.
The city hosting the games chooses which sports will be played. In 2010, 27 sports were part of the games. For the 2014 Games, beach volleyball and field hockey were chosen. In the 2018 Games, six new sports were added. These included beach handball, breakdancing, futsal, karate, roller speed skating, and sport climbing. The 28 main Olympic sports are expected to be in the 2026 Games.
Sport | Discipline | Code & Pictogram | Body | 10 | 12 | 18 | 26 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Archery | Archery | ARC | ![]() |
World Archery | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Aquatics | Diving | DIV | ![]() |
World Aquatics | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 |
Swimming | SWM | ![]() |
34 | 36 | 36 | 34 | ||
Athletics | Athletics | ATH | ![]() |
World Athletics | 36 | 37 | 36 | 38 |
Badminton | Badminton | BDM | ![]() |
BWF | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Baseball | Baseball5 | BS5 | ![]() |
WBSC | 1 | |||
Basketball | 3x3 | BK3 | ![]() |
FIBA | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Boxing | Boxing | BOX | ![]() |
No body recognised | 11 | 11 | 13 | 10 |
Canoe | Slalom | CSL | ![]() |
ICF | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Sprint | CSP | ![]() |
3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | ||
Cycling | BMX Freestyle | BMF | ![]() |
UCI | 1 | 2 | ||
Road | CRD | ![]() |
1 | 3 | 2 | 5 | ||
Dance Sport | Breaking | BKG | ![]() |
WDSF | 3 | 2 | ||
Equestrian | Jumping | EJP | ![]() |
FEI | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
Fencing | Fencing | FEN | ![]() |
FIE | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 |
Football | Futsal | FBS | ![]() |
FIFA | 2 | 2 | ||
Golf | Golf | GLF | ![]() |
IGF | 3 | 3 | 3 | |
Gymnastics | Artistic | GAR | ![]() |
FIG | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
Rhythmic | GRY | ![]() |
2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | ||
Handball | Beach | HBB | ![]() |
IHF | 2 | 2 | ||
Hockey | Field | HOC | ![]() |
FIH | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Judo | JUD | ![]() |
IJF | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | |
Karate | KTE | ![]() |
WKF | 6 | 6 | |||
Modern Pentathlon | MPN | ![]() |
UIPM | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | |
Rowing | ROW | ![]() |
World Rowing | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | |
Rugby | Sevens | RU7 | ![]() |
World Rugby | 2 | 2 | 2 | |
Sailing | SAL | ![]() |
WSail | 4 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
Shooting | SHO | ![]() |
ISSF | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | |
Skate | Skateboarding | SKB | ![]() |
World Skate | • | 2 | ||
Sport Climbing | CLB | ![]() |
IFSC | • | 2 | 2 | ||
Surfing | SRF | ![]() |
ISA | 2 | ||||
Table Tennis | TTE | ![]() |
ITTF | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | |
Taekwondo | TKW | ![]() |
World Taekwondo | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | |
Tennis | TEN | ![]() |
ITF | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | |
Triathlon | TRI | ![]() |
World Triathlon | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | |
Volleyball | Beach | VBV | ![]() |
FIVB | 2 | 2 | 2 | |
Weightlifting | WLF | ![]() |
IWF | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | |
Wrestling | Freestyle | WRE | ![]() |
UWW | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 |
Beach | WRB | ![]() |
8 | |||||
Wushu | WSU | ![]() |
IWUF | • | 4 | |||
Cycling | BMX Racing | BMX | ![]() |
UCI | 1 | 3 | 1 | |
Mountain Bike | MTB | ![]() |
2 | |||||
Football | Football | FBL | ![]() |
FIFA | 2 | 2 | ||
Gymnastics | Acrobatic | GAC | ![]() |
FIG | 1 | |||
Trampoline | GTR | ![]() |
2 | 2 | 2 | |||
Multi-Discipline | GYM | ![]() |
1 | |||||
Handball | Indoor | HBL | ![]() |
IHF | 2 | 2 | ||
Skate | Inline Speed Skating | ISS | ![]() |
World Skate | • | 2 | ||
Volleyball | Indoor | VVO | ![]() |
FIVB | 2 | |||
Wrestling | Greco-Roman | WRG | ![]() |
UWW | 5 | 5 | 9 | |
Total events | 202 | 220 | 243 | 244 | ||||
Total sports | 33 | 35 | 41 | 40 |
Demonstration Summer Sports
Some sports are shown as "demonstration sports" at the Summer Youth Olympics. This means they are not official medal events yet. Skateboarding, Sport Climbing, Inline Speed Skating, and Wushu were shown in 2014. They later became official sports. Three sports were demonstrated in 2018 but are not yet official:
Winter Youth Olympics Sports
All the main sports from the Winter Olympics are part of the Winter Youth Olympics. In 2020, ski mountaineering was added. It will also be in the 2026 Winter Olympics. The 2024 Winter Youth Olympics were the first Olympic Games to have an equal number of events for boys and girls. No sports have been just "demonstrated" at the Winter Youth Olympics. There have been 46 different types of events across 16 sports. These were from the 2012 Games to the 2020 Games.
Sport | Discipline | Code & Pictogram | Body | 12 | 16 | 20 | 24 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Biathlon | BTH | ![]() |
IBU | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | |
Bobsleigh | BOB | ![]() |
IBSF | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | |
Skeleton | SKN | ![]() |
2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | ||
Curling | CUR | ![]() |
World Curling | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | |
Ice Hockey | IHO | ![]() |
IIHF | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | |
Luge | LUG | ![]() |
FIL | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | |
Skating | Figure | FSK | ![]() |
ISU | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
Short Track Speed | STK | ![]() |
5 | 5 | 5 | 7 | ||
Speed | SSK | ![]() |
8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | ||
Skiing | Alpine | ALP | ![]() |
FIS | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
Cross-Country | CCS | ![]() |
4 | 6 | 6 | 5 | ||
Freestyle | FRS | ![]() |
4 | 6 | 8 | 12 | ||
Nordic Combined | NCB | ![]() |
1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | ||
Ski Jumping | SJP | ![]() |
3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | ||
Snowboarding | SBD | ![]() |
4 | 7 | 9 | 9 | ||
Ski Mountaineering | SMT | ![]() |
ISMF | 5 | ||||
Total events | 62 | 70 | 81 | 81 | ||||
Total sports | 15 | 15 | 16 | 15 |
Culture and Education at the Games

Learning and culture are very important parts of the Youth Olympic Games. This isn't just for the athletes. It's also for young people around the world and people in the host city. Because of this, there's a special Culture and Education Program (CEP) at each event.
The first CEP was at the 2010 Singapore Games. It had activities that helped athletes from different countries work together. There were classes on many topics. These included health, fitness, the environment, and planning for careers. Students from Singapore set up booths. These booths showed off each of the 205 countries taking part.
One very popular part of the program was "Chat with Champions." Here, young participants could listen to inspiring talks. These talks were given by current and former Olympic athletes.
The CEP also includes the Young Ambassadors Programme. This program selects young people aged 18 to 25. They are chosen by their countries to help promote the YOG. They also encourage athletes to join the CEP activities.
Another part is the Young Reporters Programme. This program helps journalism students or new journalists. They get training and real-world experience during the YOG. Young Reporters are between 18 and 24 years old. They are chosen to represent different continents.
Athlete Role Models are also part of the program. These are usually active or recently retired Olympians. They act as mentors to help and advise the young Olympians. Famous examples include Japanese wrestler Kaori Icho and Italian Simone Farina.
The Youth Olympic Games also focus on mixing things up. There are mixed-gender and mixed-country teams. In sports like triathlon relays, fencing, table tennis, and archery, athletes from different nations and genders can compete together.
YOG organizers use social media like Facebook, Flickr, and Twitter. These are used to connect with young athletes before, during, and after the games. The program aims to be for many languages, cultures, and ages. It focuses on themes like "Learning to know, learning to be, learning to do, and learning to live together."
Past Youth Olympic Games Host Cities
In late 2007, five cities were chosen as candidates to host the first Youth Olympic Games. These were Athens, Bangkok, Singapore, Moscow, and Turin. In January 2008, the list was narrowed down to Moscow and Singapore. Finally, on February 21, 2008, Singapore was announced as the host. Singapore won with 53 votes, while Moscow had 44.
For the first Winter Youth Olympic Games in 2012, four cities were shortlisted. These were Harbin, Innsbruck, Kuopio, and Lillehammer. The list was then shortened to Innsbruck and Kuopio. On December 12, 2008, Innsbruck won the bid to host the games.
Nanjing, China, was chosen over Poznan, Poland, to host the 2014 Summer Youth Olympics. This decision was made on February 10, 2010. Lillehammer, Norway, hosted the 2016 Winter Youth Olympics.
Summer Youth Olympic Games Host Cities
Edition | Year | Host City | Host Nation | Opened by | Start Date | End Date | Nations | Competitors | Sports | Events | Top of the medal table | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
I | 2010 | Singapore | ![]() |
President S. R. Nathan | 14 August | 26 August | 204 | 3,524 | 26 | 201 | ![]() |
|
II | 2014 | Nanjing | ![]() |
President Xi Jinping | 16 August | 28 August | 203 | 3,579 | 28 | 222 | ![]() |
|
III | 2018 | Buenos Aires | ![]() |
President Mauricio Macri | 6 October | 18 October | 206 | 3,997 | 32 | 239 | ![]() |
|
IV | 2026 | Dakar | ![]() |
31 October | 13 November | Future event | 35 | 244 | Future event | |||
V | 2030 | TBD | TBD | Future event | Future event | |||||||
VI | 2034 | TBD | TBD | Future event | Future event |
Winter Youth Olympic Games Host Cities
Edition | Year | Host City | Host Nation | Opened by | Start Date | End Date | Nations | Competitors | Sports | Events | Top of the medal table | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
I | 2012 | Innsbruck | ![]() |
President Heinz Fischer | 13 January | 22 January | 69 | 1,059 | 7 | 63 | ![]() |
|
II | 2016 | Lillehammer | ![]() |
King Harald V | 12 February | 21 February | 71 | 1,100 | 7 | 70 | ![]() |
|
III | 2020 | Lausanne | ![]() |
President Simonetta Sommaruga | 9 January | 22 January | 79 | 1,872 | 8 | 81 | ![]() |
|
IV | 2024 | Gangwon | ![]() |
President Yoon Suk-yeol | 19 January | 1 February | 78 | 1,802 | 7 | 81 | ![]() |
|
V | 2028 | TBD | TBD | Future event | Future event | |||||||
VI | 2032 | TBD | TBD | Future event | Future event |
Images for kids
See also
In Spanish: Juegos Olímpicos de la Juventud para niños
- 1998 World Youth Games
- International Children's Games (ages 12–15)
- Gymnasiade (ages 13–18)
- Universiade (ages 17–25)
- Youth (athletics)