Olympics to start Youth Games

Guatemala City -- The International Olympic Committee said the organization will stage Youth Olympic Games for people aged 14-18 beginning in 2010.

An IOC release from a meeting in Guatemala said some 3,200 young athletes are expected for the Summer Youth Olympic Games and another 1,000 would participate in the Winter Youth Olympic Games.

IOC President Jacques Rogge said the Youth Games marked a "historic moment for the Olympic movement. We owe this to the youth of the world."

The IOC said the Youth Olympic Games aims to bring young athletes together to participate in high-level competition; to run education programs on Olympic values and the benefits of sport for the healthy lifestyle; and the social values sports can deliver on the "dangers of doping and of training to excess and/or inactivity."

Olympics officials are soliciting bids this month from national Olympics committees wishing to be the site for the first Olympic Youth Summer Games in 2010 with selection of a site expected in February.

Copyright 2007 by United Press International.