By Gary Anderson

An EOC Commission met with EYOF 2017 mascot Hugoo during a visit to host city Győr ©EYOFHungarian Olympic Committee (MOB) President Zsolt Borkai, who is also Mayor of Győr, admitted there is still work to be done before the city hosts the 2017 Summer European Youth Olympic Festival. 


It follows a visit by the European Olympic Committees (EOC) Coordination Commission, led by chairman Josef Liba, who were checking in on preparations for the Festival due to take place from July 23 to 28.

Organisers reported on progress being made and showed visiting delegates, who included Katerina Nycova, who oversees the European Youth Olympic Festival for the EOC, the newly built Multisport Audi Arena, which will host the handball tournament.

The facility is due to be opened by the end of the year.

Liba and Nycova, who met with official EYOF 2017 mascot Hugoo, also visited the Olympic Centre - currently under construction - which is scheduled to host the athletics, judo, gymnastics, swimming and tennis events.

Basketball and volleyball are set to take place at the Szechenyi University Campus, which will also be the location of the Athletes' Village.

Liba and Nycova praised the work of Győr 2017 organisers so far following the two-day visit, but urged them to continue to keep preparations on track, particularly in terms of ensuring accommodation for athletes, coaches and team officials.

"There's work to do yet, but it seems to me we are progressing well in the works," said Borkai.

"[By] 2017, new hotels [will be] built in the city but existing, new or renovated dormitory capacities of the local university [will also be used].

"But there are plans to create a smaller Olympic Village, whose flats [will] then be granted or sold, but it seems to me we are well advanced in the works."

MOB President and Mayor of Győr, Zsolt Borkai (centre), admitted more work needs to be done as the city prepares to host the 2017 Summer EYOF ©MOBHungarian Olympic Committee President and Mayor of Győr, Zsolt Borkai (centre), admitted more work needs to be done as the city prepares to host the 2017 Summer EYOF ©MOB



Győr was chosen to host the Festival in 2012 and it will be the first time an Olympic multi-sport event has been held in Hungary.

The European Youth Olympic Festival is held every two years, providing an opportunity for young athletes aged between 14 and 18 to take part in multi-sport competition.

Sarajevo and East Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina are due to host the 2017 Winter European Youth Olympic Festival from February 12 to 17.

Next year, Tbilisi in Georgia is due to host the 2015 Summer European Youth Olympic Festival from July 25 to August 1, while the 2015 Winter edition is scheduled to take place in the Austrian state of Vorarlberg and Lichtenstein from January 25 to 30.

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