YOG: International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge visited the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee (NYOGOC) today, proclaiming “impressive progress” has been made in preparations for next year’s Youth Olympic Games.

During his visit to Nanjing, President Rogge toured the NYOGOC headquarters and met with NYOGOC staff, volunteers and junior consultants to offer words of encouragement and inspiration. In addition, President Rogge held meetings with senior executives of NYOGOC.

A tour was also arranged for President Rogge to the Youth Olympic Village construction site- which is well ahead of schedule- and a model of one of the rooms where more than 4,000 athletes and visiting team officials will stay during the Games.

The Youth Olympic Village is being constructed in an environmental friendly manner.  To decrease its carbon footprint, energy-saving technologies and materials were applied during construction, allowing rainwater to be collected for reuse.  The Youth Olympic Games Village will become a local neighborhood community following the Games including apartments, school and kindergarten.

Prior to departing Nanjing, President Rogge held a press conference with Yang Weize, General Secretary of CPC Nanjing Municipal Committee and Executive President of NYOGOC.

“We warmly welcome President Rogge's visit to Nanjing which shows the IOC's attention and support for Nanjing 2014 YOG. All of the preparatory work has been well organized and is being pushed forward smoothly. We are no doubt that Nanjing will host a wonderful and memorable YOG and fulfill its commitments to both the IOC and the international community,” Mr. Yang said.

President Rogge praised the NYOGOC Team in response.

“Thanks to the tremendous efforts of the talented NYOGOC team, impressive progress has been made. I have absolutely no doubt that the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games will be a great success and inspire young people from cities, nations and around the world to become more active in sport,” he said.

NYOGOC