Martin Burke, Chef de Mission, has arranged for sports taking part to attend planning seminars in early January 09 at Olympic House in Howth; Athletics, Cycling, Gymnastics and Swimming
He said “The initial seminar will be attended by AAI athletes and coaches in the frame for Tampere 2009. Other sports specific seminars will follow.Whilst they will be updated on the Tampere event, the main focus will involve an athlete/coach planning workshop with OCI’s Stephen Martin, sports scientist Dr Giles Warrington, and Dr Rod McLoughlin.
This is part of the Olympic Council of Ireland’s Tampere preparation programme to ensure athletes and officials have the best possible support to maximise performance at the EYOF.”
Background to EYOF:
In 1990, thanks to the initiative of Jacques Rogge’s, the European Olympic Committee launched the European Youth Olympic Days, nowadays known as the EYOF, the only multi-sport event on this continent.The EYOFs, that have a Summer and a Winter edition, take place every year with an odd number. Since they were launched they have taken place in:
1991 in Brussels (Belgium);
1993 in Aosta (Italy) and in Valkenswaard (Netherlands)
1995 in Andorra-La Vella (Andorra) and in Bath (Great Britain)
1997 in Sundsvall (Sweden) and in Lisbon (Portugal)
1999 in Poprad Tatry (Slovakia) and in Esbjerg (Denmark)
2001 in Vuokatti (Finland) and in Murcia (Spain).
2003 in Bled (Slovenia) and in Paris (France).
2005 in Monthey (Switzerland) and in Lignano Sabbiadoro (Italy)
2007 in Jaca (Spain) and in Belgrad (Serbia)
2009 in Slask Beskidy (Poland) an in Tampere (Finland)
2011 in Liberec (the Czech Republic) and in Trabzon (Turkey)