The chefs de mission seminar for more than 200 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) of Countries competing in the next edition of the Youth Olympic Games has been held in Buenos Aires.
The seminar which consists of high level meetings with the Buenos Aires 2018 Organizing Committee to share information about the biggest multisport and cultural activity in Argentina’s history saw Evans Yeboah, second Vice President of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) in attendance.
International Olympic Committee (IOC) directors also participated in the seminar, which came off in downtown Buenos Aires, Argentina.
According to Mr Yeboah, who is chef de mission for Team Ghana, the exposition touched on wide variety of themes and preliminary arrangement including: sport entries, ceremonies and the role and function of the Youth Olympic Village for the national teams.
The president of the Ghana Badminton Association (BAG) said the “seminar has been a revelation and hope to lead the talented youth of Ghana like rising star, Hor Hulute to emulate Martha Bissah who won Ghana’s first gold at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games. Ghana will also be looking into competing in Athletics, Badminton, Beach Volleyball, Boxing, Fencing, Judo, Karate, Rowing, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Triathlon, Weightlifting, Hockey, Ruby, Futsal Football and Beach Handball. These are subject to various International Federation qualification by end of July, 31st 2018, and with everyone’s support I look forward to a resounding performance over the immediate past Youth Olympics Games”
Gerardo Werthein, president of the Buenos Aires 2018 Organizing Committee, kicked off the seminar, with a message “The athletes are the heart of our Games. We are committed to delivering a unique celebration for them. In just a few months, almost 4,000 young athletes will make history competing in the first gender equality Games ever. They will show us the path for a better world through the sports; the path only the Olympic Movement is capable of building,” said Werthein.
The over 208 NOC delegates also visited the Youth Olympic Centre construction site, which, when complete, will be the largest of the four Olympic parks for the Games; the Puerto Madero and Palermo neighborhoods, the sites of two temporary Olympic parks, and Tecnopolis Park, the complex that will serve as the fourth stadium at Buenos Aires 2018. “We’ll share the vision and operations for Buenos Aires 2018. The link we build with the Chef De Mission’s present her is going to be very important to fulfil our objective of celebrating a memorable Games”, said Laura Canals Cruz, director of National Olympic Committees Relations at Buenos Aires 2018.
The chefs de mission seminar also marked the debut of the first group of Buenos Aires 2018 volunteers who played a key role during the delegations’ visit to the South American city. The Youth Olympic Games (YOG) is an international, multi-sport event for young athletes aged 15-18 with an educative and cultural nature that aims to foster the Olympic values in youth.
The event, which takes place every four years (in its two versions, winter and summer, that alternate every two years), is promoted by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games will be held from October 6 -18 with the participation of 3998 athletes from 206 countries.
Credit: Sammy Heywood Okine
