Banská Bystrica's European Youth Olympic Festival was postponed by a year in response to the coronavirus pandemic ©EYOF

European Olympic Committees (EOC) sports director Peter Brüll has said that moving the Summer European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF) to 2022 is beneficial on the whole.

Brüll visited Slovakian city Banská Bystrica last month to assess the progress of preparations for the event, which expects to welcome 3,600 athletes aged 14 to 18 from 50 European countries.

It is currently scheduled to take place from July 24 to 30 in 2022.

In May, it was moved from 2021 due to a clash with the rescheduled Tokyo 2020 Olympics, which will now take place next year.

Extra time for the organisation of sports facilities and accommodation will be useful, according to Brüll.

"The postponement of the event has not significantly affected the activities of the Organising Committee," he said.

"It is good that they continue to meet and work. 

"The change of dates is in many aspects more positive than negative.

"The most important thing is to make a good budget, as the preparation period has been extended."

Brüll is due to visit the city at the end of October along with members of the EYOF 2022 Coordination Commission. 

"Banská Bystrica will be a great host and the city was ready for the EYOF even in 2021," Brüll added.

"We would not have had to move the event if the Tokyo Olympics had not been moved. 

"In the National Olympic Committees, the same people are now working for both the Olympic Games and the EYOF. 

"The people in Banská Bystrica gained an extra year and the EYOF can be even better."

A visit of the Coordination Commission was originally scheduled to take place in April, but postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The construction of the National Athletic Stadium is said to be significantly advancing, while adjustments to the other sports facilities have progressed and university dormitories are being modernised.

Brüll also commented on why he believes the city will be a good EYOF host.

"Banská Bystrica is neither too small nor too big city to organise EYOF," Brüll said.

"In big cities, similar events can be lost, in small ones they can have big problems. 

"The advantage of Banská Bystrica is that it has enough university dormitories so there is the possibility of accommodating young participants in the summer."