Rio Olympics chief hails Youth Games as the ‘future’

SINGAPORE - The chief organiser of the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games Sunday praised the Singapore inaugural Youth Olympics, saying it was the “future” of Olympic sports.

“It’s very good and I’m very impressed. A fantastic Games,” said President of the Organizing Committee for the 2016 Games and member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Carlos Nuzman.

“The IOC did a lot of work to make this happen,” the Brazilian told the Youth Games’ official news service.

“This is the future of Olympic sports and they did everything to share the spirit of the Olympic Games with the athletes,” Nuzman said.

The Youth Olympics, a brainchild of IOC President Jacques Rogge, reached its midway mark Saturday and is set to run through August 26.

Apart from competing in 26 sports, the 3,600 athletes aged 14 to 18 will participate in a wide-ranging educational programme as a defining part of the Games.