The 30-year-old from Volgograd, who won gold medals at Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 before taking bronze at London 2012, is also a two-time world champion and current world record holder in the event and, therefore, widely considered the greatest female pole-vaulter of all time.

The announcement for the second Summer Youth Olympic Games means Isinbayeva will reprise her role as an ambassador for the competition having undertaken it at the inaugural edition of the event in Singapore in 2010.

"I am very happy and honoured to continue in my role as a YOG Ambassador for the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games," said Isinbayeva, as she was given a tour of the Nanjing 2014 Athletics Stadium and gave a masterclass to young athletes.

"The Youth Olympic Games are a great platform for young athletes, which I experienced first-hand at the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games."


Nanjing 2014, which is due to be held on August 16 until 28 next year, is expected to attract more than 3,600 athletes aged between 15 and 18 years old to compete in the Chinese city.

The Games will feature 28 sports, including golf and rugby sevens, which will make their debut on an Olympic programme before their inclusion in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Nanjing 2014 will also feature unique disciplines such as three-on-three basketball and five-a-side hockey, as well as mixed gender and mixed National Olympic Committee (NOC) events.

"As well as these Games preparing them for their future sports careers by exposing them to all that comes with a high-level international multi-sports event, such as living in a village and the media interest, I saw for myself how the athletes made the most of the opportunities to make friends with different athletes from different countries, to experience different cultures and to really live the YOG spirit," said Isinbayeva.

"It is a fantastic event."

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