Rogge confirms talks for Youth Paralympic Games

From Sportsbeat staff, in Singapore

INTERNATIONAL Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge insists he wants to see the Youth Olympic format transferred to the Paralympics after declaring Singapore 2010 a roaring success.

HAPPY CHAP: International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge has declared Singapore 2010 a success and is convinced the competition will continue to grow (Singapore Press Holdings)

The curtain is set to come down on the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in the Far East where as many as 3500 athletes from 202 nations took part.

Among the more notable success stories have been the popularity of modern innovations to sports with three-on-three basketball the most eye-catching, although Singapore 2010 has not been without its problems and the political row between Iran and Israel reared its ugly head once more.

But Rogge, who played a key role in the creation of the Youth Olympics insists there is due cause to be positive, expects the competition to grow, and confirmed talks had begun over creating a similar Paralympic competition.

"We are going to do something for the Paralympics in the same vein as this - it is definitely something we are looking at," he said.

"We give big support to the international Paralympic movement but it's up to them to decide. We've not discussed it with them because of the autonomy that we want to respect.

"The Youth Olympic Games was a great success and you made it that way by participating in your sports at such a high level.

 "We want to foster all these ideas for the next Youth Olympic Games. Every four years it will go to another city and they will improve the quality of the event. I am very optimistic about the future.

"By the next Youth Olympic Games, there will be far more media attention. Here in Singapore, we had 1,100 journalists and 166 broadcasters.

"But we will endeavour to help publicise this event and make it even bigger. This is only the very first event."

And Rogge also reiterated his belief that some of the new events trialled in Singapore - in particular the mixed events such as the triathlon and swimming relays.  

"We will look at expanding these events in the future," he said. "I am a fan of mixed events - we are considering adding them to the summer Olympic line up."