International Hockey Federation President Leandro Negre was appointed to the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) Tripartite Working Group by International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach yesterday.
The Working Group will be tasked with making recommendations to improve the Youth Olympic Games in-line with the IOC's Olympic Agenda 2020.
Speaking of his appointment, FIH President Leandro Negre said: "This is a fantastic opportunity to shape the future of the Youth Olympic Games. This event plays a hugely important role the Hockey Revolution, our 10 year strategy aimed at making hockey a global game that inspires the next generation. I am looking forward to some interesting discussions with the Group and hope that we can make what is already a hugely successful youth event even better."
During the last Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing in 2014, the Hockey 5s event drew huge praise from athletes, coaches and fans who witnessed fast paced, action packed matches which offered lots of goals and plenty of excitement. For more information about that event, click here.
The next Youth Olympic Games will take place in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 2018. In December, hockey legend Luciana Aymar was the first ambassador to be appointed for those games. You can read more about that news here.
FULL IOC PRESS RELEASE:
IOC President announces composition of new Commissions and Working Group
International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach today announced the composition of the Coordination Commission for the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, the Evaluation Commission for the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad, and the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) Tripartite Working Group.
IOC Members Alexander Zhukov, Frank Fredericks and Uğur Erdener were named Chairs of the Coordination Commission Beijing 2022, Evaluation Commission 2024 and YOG Tripartite Working Group, respectively.
Alexander Zhukov was the Chair of the Evaluation Commission for the Olympic Winter Games 2022. The IOC Session 2015 in Kuala Lumpur elected Beijing as host.
“The Coordination Commission under Chair Alexander Zhukov will support the Organising Committee to further develop the Games plan with a special focus on sustainability and environmental protection, in line with Olympic Agenda 2020,” IOC President Thomas Bach said.
Frank Fredericks, Olympic medallist and former Chair of the IOC Athletes’ Commission, was previously a member of the Evaluation Commission for the Games of the XXX Olympiad and the Evaluation Commission for the Games of the XXXII Olympiad.
President Bach said: “Olympic Agenda 2020, with regard to the organisation of the Olympic Games, puts a special focus on sustainability and the athletes’ experience. This is where Frank Fredericks, as a four-time Olympic silver medallist in sprint and former Chair of the IOC Athletes’ Commission, has great expertise.”
The Candidate Cities* for the Olympic Games 2024 are Los Angeles (USA), Rome (Italy), Budapest (Hungary) and Paris (France).
Uğur Erdener, an IOC Executive Board Member, will lead the YOG Tripartite Working Group, which is primarily made of up of high-ranking experts from the IOC, International Federations and National Olympic Committees, including athletes’ representatives.
“The first four editions of the Youth Olympic Games were a great success. But nothing is so good that it cannot be made better,” said President Bach. “Following the recommendation of Olympic Agenda 2020, this Working Group will now have a wide-ranging debate about potential improvements and adjustments of the overall format of the Games. The diversity of the members guarantees an interesting discussion.”
Buenos Aires will host the next summer edition of the YOG in 2018, with Lausanne picking up the winter YOG baton from Lillehammer in 2020. From the 4th Summer Youth Olympic Games in 2023 onward, the YOG will be organised in non-Olympic years.
The scope and makeup of the Commissions and Working Group are closely aligned with Olympic Agenda 2020. President Bach said: “The composition of the two Commissions and Working Group reflects the commitment to even closer cooperation with the International Federations and National Olympic Committees, with a special focus on the athletes.”
