Nanjing, China: The sports programme for the 2nd Asian Youth Games in Nanjing, China, in August 2013 was approved at the 2nd OCA Coordination Committee meeting at the Jinling Hotel on Wednesday. It was also agreed that the number of events in the 15 sports would not exceed 123, and that the total number of athletes and officials from the 45 NOCs would not be more than 3,500, with approximately 2,300 athletes and 1,200 officials.

The age limit for the Asian Youth Games will be one year younger than for the IOC’s Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing in 2014, enabling the Asian athletes to benefit from their experience in 2013 if they compete the following year.

The 15 sports are: aquatics (including diving), athletics, badminton, basketball (3-on-3), fencing, football, golf, handball, judo, rugby sevens, shooting, squash, table tennis, tennis and weightlifting.


In other news from the meeting:

• Organisers plan to recruit between 10,000 and 15,000 Games-time volunteers, mainly from colleges, universities and middle schools in Nanjing.

• The opening and closing ceremonies will be held indoors at the 13,000-capacity Nanjing Olympic Sports Centre Stadium.

• All refurbishment of competition venues and training facilities will be completed by February 2013.
 
• The Main Media centre will be located in the Nanjing Olympic Sports Centre. Some 500 media are expected, including broadcasters.

• The Athletes’ Village (AYV) at the Nanjing University of Technology plans to open on August 12 and close on August 26.

• Accreditation is expected to begin in February 2013 and close on June 15 –two months before the AYG.