The Host City Contract for the 2021 Summer European Youth Olympic festival (EYOF) was signed today, making the Slovak city of Banská Bystrica the official host for the 16^th edition of the multi-sport event for elite young athletes aged 14 to 18.

Banská Bystrica Mayor Ján Nosko, who will receive the EYOF flag at the Closing Ceremony of Baku 2019 on Saturday, put the final signature on the contract, following European Olympic Committees (EOC) President Janez Kocijančič, EOC Secretary General Raffaele Pagnozzi and the President of the Slovak Olympic and Sports Committee Anton Siekel.

“It is a great honour and pleasure to organise this event but at the same time it is a great responsibility for us because of the short time frame,” said Nosko. “We know where our weak points are but at the same time we received positive feedback from the first EOC site inspection and we will do our best to prepare a great Games in 2021.”

The signing of the agreement comes after the official announcement of Banská Bystrica as the host city at the 40^th EOC Seminar in Vienna in May, where Slovakia was also named host of the next EOC Seminar, which will be held at the x-bionic sphere in Samorin in spring 2020.

“I am pleased that we have found a partner such as the city of Banská Bystrica, with which I am sure we will be able to organise the event at the highest level,” Siekel said. “For us, not only is it a great responsibility but also an opportunity to introduce the city and the whole region to Europe.”

The first site inspection of the facilities in Banská Bystrica was conducted by EOC Sports Director Peter Brüll and EOC Coordination Commission Chair Joseph Cassar from 8-10 July.

Competition will feature the best young athletes of Europe competing in 10 sports from 24 July to 1 August 2021. The sports venues will be a mix of existing, newly built and temporary facilities.

Banská Bystrica was awarded the title of 2017 European City of Sport by ACES Europe, the European Capitals and Cities of Sport Federation.

For more information, check out the Banská Bystrica 2021 website.