The city of Tampere in Finland will host the tenth summer edition of the European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF), which will be held from July 18 - 25. The interdisciplinary event dedicated to young champions developed from an idea by Jacques Rogge, the current President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The event is held every two years with a summer and a winter edition.
2,600 young athletes ranging in age from 13 to 18 will arrive from 49 European countries to compete in 9 sports (athletics - basketball - cycling – gymnastics - handball - judo - swimming - tennis - volleyball). They will be accompanied by members of their teams and assisted by 1500 volunteer workers who will make the event enjoyable and possible through their help in many organisation areas.
The Olympic village is located in the Tampere University of Technology of the Hervanta district and together with the Police College of Finland it will form a completely independently-managed multifunctional centre, which is able to offer accommodations, meals, meeting rooms for events and recreational equipment of various types.
It is important to highlight that the Tampere EYOF Organising Committee, in its pragmatic vision of functionality, aimed on efficiency and solidity more than on ephemeral visual choreography. In fact one of the three values, which will be mainstreaming all the arrangements of the event, is ‘economic effi ciency’. It includes building few new structures, and generally renovating or using those existing in the territory. After the event, those infrastructures will be put to public and social uses so that the money spent remains as a benefi t to the community.
Another fundamental value stated by the organisers is ‘sustainable development’. This means maintaining unaltered the high environmental level in Tampere, as it is generally in Finland. The carbon footprint will be minimal, electricity will be ‘green’, the transportation will be organized as far as possible by the public transport and all types of waste will be recycled.
The fundamental value of this Finnish edition and the main point in all of the events which fall under Olympic protocol is ‘sportsmanship’ through which friends are made, solidarity forms and fair play is used, respecting adversaries in an honest and professional sports competition. Framed by the bright Finnish summer, there will also be many collateral events including concerts and conferences organised to highlight the value of sports as a vehicle for learning and culture. With its universal language, it overcomes geographic, political, religious and racial barriers in an active meeting and exchange of opinions. Each young athlete will represent his or her country dedicating their sacrifices, victories and losses for an unforgettable sports and human experience, moreover they will live under a single emblem which represents the embryo of a multicultural society that is able to train strong future champions, as well as adults with a solid character. All will be aware that they are outlining a future based on the ethical principles of living together and respecting each other without discrimination and without frontiers, and sharing a sense of belonging that is not only European, but worldwide.
Best wishes to all of the participants: Pidän peukkuja!`."