A Rio 2016 delegation is attending the Asian Youth Games being held in Singapore until July 7.
The delegation includes Carlos Arthur Nuzman, President of Rio 2016, and Mario Cilenti, director of international relations.
The bid team is at the event to observe and exchange experiences, since one of the main objectives of Rio’s 2016 bid is to expand the reach of Olympic values among young people around the world, said a press release.
The Asian Youth Games brings together 1,300 athletes between 14 and 17 years, representing 45 countries.
Nuzman said in the press release, “the Rio 2016 committee could not fail to honour an event this important. Among the objectives of the Asian Youth Games are the celebration of sport in partnership with learning and the dissemination of values such as friendship, excellence and respect. These ideas are aligned with the pillars of Rio de Janeiro’s Olympic project. Brazil has 65 million young people under 18 years old. Across South America that number rises to 180 million”.
According to the press release the integration between sports and education has been a reality for young people in Brazil since 2005 when the School Olympics were created – a partnership between the Ministry of Sports and the Brazilian Olympic Committee.
A Rio 2016 delegation is also attending the General Assembly of Olympic Council of Asia on July 3 in Singapore.
