The role and the importance of Youth Olympic Games: a social and cultural approach

Abstract

Sports and youth are an important combination to the daily lives of people around the world. That’s why it is worth to study the educational and social dimension of sport and Youth Olympic Games, as this thesis does. The Olympic Movement needed an innovative event such as Youth Olympic Games, which was started by the initiative of former President of the International Olympic Committee, Jacque Rogge in 2010. The first Summer Youth Olympic Games was held in Singapore and the first Winter Youth Olympic Games was held in Innsbruck. This thesis analyses the concept of Youth Olympic Games and the two editions of Youth Olympic Games in Singapore and Innsbruck. The part that is most emphasized of this thesis is the social and cultural approach of the Games, which has important influence to the participants of the Games, not only during the Games but also after them. Studying the bidding process of Youth Olympic Games, anyone can detect that there are not many differences with the bidding process of Olympic Games. The main research question of this thesis is if the outcome of the Games is identified with the aims of International Olympic Committee defined during the planning of the organisation. Through this information we can conclude if it is true or not, but also if the organisation of Youth Olympic Games is accomplished in an ethical way or not.