(ATR) New events and sport disciplines such as the slam dunk contest, upcoming 8 x 100-meter street race and "Sports Lab" showcase are creating a buzz in Nanjing.
The IOC held its mid-Games press conference Friday and much of the discussion was about the importance of keeping the Youth Olympics fresh and relevant, as international sport federations experiment with these unconventional formats.
The highly anticipated 8 x 100-meter street race wraps up the athletics program on Tuesday with some 600 athletes from all track and field events running through the streets of downtown Nanjing. Teams will be both mixed gender and mixed nation.
"It’s a fantastic example of the innovations that we are seeing here in Nanjing," IOC sports director Kit McConnell said about the street race. "It’s the bringing together of different countries and the bringing together of athletes from different events.
"We saw the innovation [with events] at the first Youth Olympic Games in Singapore and here in Nanjing it is being cemented and reflected further on the program," McConnell added.
International Basketball Federation (FIBA) secretary general Patrick Baumann – who is thrilled with the success of their popular three-on-three basketball tournament as well as the novel slam dunk contest – said it was paramount for federations to be creative and flexible to remain successful.
"Innovation is the key for all international federations in the future," Baumann told Around the Rings. "You have to strive to find a balance with high level competitions and the innovation that you want bringing the youth of the world together by modifying the format of competitions."
"I think that all international federations are working very hard at finding a way to make this happen," Baumann added. "We all have a mission to be relevant and to remain relevant."
The slam dunk competition on Thursday night was a huge hit, with 158 players showcasing their creativity and athleticism much to the delight of the fans.
"It was fun to see; an incredible atmosphere," Baumann said of the competition. "The French guy who won the gold medal jumped incredibly, flying over three girls. It was very exciting."
The dunk contest complemented the three-on-three hoopsformat. Played on two adjoining courts, the tournament features 40 teams from 30 countries – 20 men’s, 20 women’s – some from nations where the sport still hasn’t reached the upper echelon of the traditional five-on-five game.
"It’s responding quite well to our needs of broadening our base and to be more youth oriented," Baumann said of the format.
"Television is crazy for this sort of event," the basketball executive added. "It’s also responding well to hopefully getting to the IOC’s wish to get the right mix for the audience – theminestrone, that mix of vegetables – so that the younger audience is attracted to the game."
It has been a strong showing for a discipline that FIBA hopes will secure a spot on the Summer Olympic program in time for the Tokyo 2020 Games.
Dual Nation Teams at YOG
In addition to the upcoming 8 x 100m street race, numerous other sports on the Nanjing program also feature teams of athletes from different countries competing as one, including badminton, shooting, archery and table tennis.
"You really see the athletes coming together and the international teams working for each other," McConnell said.
"It’s been fantastic to see the response from the athletes. It is a real important part of the spirit of the Youth Olympic Games."
Sports Lab Rocks
The "Sports Lab" features four sports – sport climbing, roller skating, wushu and skateboarding – sharing one unique venue with athletes pushing their limits, while expressing themselves during daily displays of their craft. The sports aim to entertain fans and showcase their credentials as potential future Olympic sports.
According to the IOC, the "Sports Lab" has been attracting around 3,000 visitors per day. Approximately 1,500 of them have been coached, trying one or more of the four sports.
"It is about engaging with the local youth," McConnell said. "It’s pretty cool to get people in there and get them active and we can see this coming to life in the sports lab. It’s a fantastic facility that will be used by the local youth in the years to come."
Reported by Brian Pinelli in Nanjing
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