Athletes ready to compete in Youth Olympics

Games offer chance for friendly communication and understanding

Chinese student athletes will strive for medals for their country at the Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, starting on Saturday.

The Chinese sports delegation was established in a ceremony on Monday in Beijing. The delegation's 123 young athletes joined the ceremony.

The Games will take place from Aug 16 to 28. President Xi Jinping will attend the opening ceremony.

Also expected to attend at Xi's invitation will be UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza, Fiji President Epeli Nailatikau, Maldives President Abdulla Yameen, Montenegro President Filip Vujanovic, Singapore President Tony Tan Keng Yam and Vanuatu Prime Minister Joe Natuman, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang on Monday.

The Youth Olympic Games, the brainchild of former International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge, are for athletes ages 14 to 18.

The Chinese delegation will compete in 222 events in 28 sports, including swimming, archery and basketball, said Xiao Tian, vice-chairman of the Chinese Olympic Committee and chief of the Chinese delegation of the Youth Olympic Games.

About 73 percent of Chinese athletes are from sports schools and high schools, while 21 percent are from middle schools.

The youngest member, Zheng Jie, 14, is a soccer player.

"It is important to compete in the Games, but it is also fun to gain friendship during the global games," Zheng said, adding that she and her teammates have created and arranged a dance piece to woo athletes from other countries and regions.

"The Youth Olympics, unlike regular Olympic Games, value cultural exchange with athletes from around the world more than competing itself. We'd like to take the opportunity to further communicate with global youth athletes," Xiao said, adding that a total of 3,868 athletes from 204 countries and regions will compete.

The Youth Olympic Games are international multisport events held every four years with staggered summer and winter events.

The first summer Youth Olympic Games were held in Singapore in 2010, while the first winter event took place in Innsbruck, Austria, in 2012.

China ranked atop the gold medal list as well as the overall medals list at the Games in Singapore, with 30 gold medals and 51 medals overall.

"As the host, we are obligated to win more honors," Xiao said. However, he also stressed that cultural communication is the key to hosting the Games.

Also important, Xiao said, are "opening friendly communication, enhancing understanding with other countries and building a perfect global image, which all will have a positive effect on the Winter Olympics bid."

Beijing and Zhangjiakou in Hebei province have jointly bid to host the 2022 Winter Olympics. Hosting the Youth Olympic Games is a positive way to woo the International Olympic Committee, Xiao said.

Nanjing Mayor Miao Ruilin echoed Xiao, saying that Nanjing will set examples for economic preparation and post-event use of facilities.

luowangshu@chinadaily.com.cn