Posted at 9:43 a.m., Thursday, July 12, 2007
Olympics: Moscow bids to host first Youth Games
Associated Press
MOSCOW — A week after winning the right to host the 2014 Winter Games, Russia entered the bidding today for another Olympic event.Moscow will be a candidate for the first summer Youth Olympics in 2010.
"Moscow has the moral right to fight for the Youth Olympic Games, since it has great experience in conducting youth and sporting competitions," acting deputy mayor Valery Vinogradov told Interfax news agency.
The International Olympic Committee voted last week to create the Youth Olympics in an effort to encourage children to get involved in sports and spend less time in front of computer and television screens.
The IOC expects 3,200 athletes, ages 14-18, to compete in the Youth Olympics. The host city will be chosen in February.
IOC president Jacques Rogge said last week that "a half dozen" cities expressed interest in holding the 2010 event.
All Olympic sports will be represented in the Youth Games, but with fewer events. The first winter Youth Olympics are to be held in 2012.
The 2014 Games will be held at the Black Sea resort of Sochi. It's the first time Russia will host the Winter Olympics. Moscow hosted the 1980 Summer Games, which were boycotted by the United States.
