Rogge (pictured top, second left) toured the Organising Committee's headquarters to talk to staff, volunteers and junior consultants, as well as meeting with some of Jiangsu Province's most powerful Government officials, including Governor Li Xueyong and Communist Party general secretary Luo Zhijun, who are Nanjing 2014's President and Honorary President, respectively.

"We warmly welcome President Rogge's visit to Nanjing which shows the IOC's attention and support for Nanjing 2014 YOG," said Yang Weize, Nanjing Municipal Party secretary and executive President of Nanjing 2014.

"All of the preparatory work has been well organised and is being pushed forward smoothly.

"We have no doubt that Nanjing will host a wonderful and memorable YOG and fulfil its commitments to both the IOC and the international community."


The IOC President, who invented the concept of Youth Games, also visited the Youth Olympic Village construction site, which will play home to more than 4,000 athletes and visiting team officials during the second Summer Youth Games next August, and got to experience a mock-up dormitory room.

The development, which is ahead of schedule, is being carried out using environmentally friendly construction methods and will become a local neighbourhood community, with apartments, a school and kindergarten, following the Games.

"Thanks to the tremendous efforts of the talented NYOGOC (Nanging Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee) team, impressive progress has been made," said Rogge.

"I have absolutely no doubt that the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games will be a great success and inspire young people from cities, nations and around the world to become more active in sport."

The Nanjing 2014 Summer Youth Olympic Games are expected to draw in more than 3,800 young athletes aged between 14 and 18 years old from more than 200 countries and regions to take part in the 28 sports on the Olympic programme.

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