The European Youth Olympic Festival began in eastern Erzurum province on Monday with the participation of at least 675 athletes from 34 countries. This is the first time Turkey is hosting the games for the festival, which is also known as EYOF-2017. The morning races began with skiing and biathlon competitions. Other races during the day featured ice hockey and figure skating.
The opening ceremony of the games was held on Sunday night at Erzurum’s 25,000-person capacity Kazim Karabekir Stadium. Despite the -14 Celsius (6.8 Fahrenheit) cold weather, many people showed up at the event.
Speaking at the ceremony, Youth and Sports Minister Akif Cagatay Kilic said: “The young people who came from different countries of the world and stand shoulder-to-shoulder together like a rainbow make us hopeful. “As common hopes, joys and excitement increase, people will understand each other better and terrorism, which is trying to overcome people, will be weakened,” Kilic added.
Turkish athlete Ayse Durlu did the honors of setting alight the Olympiad torch on Sunday night. At least 190 dancers and some whirling dervishes also performed at the event. Earlier on Sunday, acting president of the European Olympics Committees Janez Kocijancic praised Turkey’s preparation for the event in such a short period of time.
“Turkey’s National Olympics Committee has done a good job. I am convinced,” he added. “The EYOF is the first top European multi-sport event aimed at young athletes aged 14 to 18,” according to the festival’s official website. Winter and summer editions take place in two-year cycles and in odd-numbered years, it added.