Utrecht, 22nd July after a brief week of intense emotions, the participants at the 12th European Youth Olympic Festival have left and Utrecht has gone back to its daily life.
A week’s worth of competitions that has seen Russia, the Netherlands and Georgia top the medal tables, but above all a week of festivity and friendship that the organisers, sustained by the amazing team of volunteers, were able to carry off with professionalism and a smile.
A key highlight was the colourful Opening Ceremony in a brimming Utrecht stadium, where His Majesty King Willem-Alexander, who is also an IOC Member, officially opened the event in the presence of IOC President Jacques Rogge, EOC President Patrick Hickey, and EOC Secretary General Raffaele Pagnozzi, local personalities and Olympic leaders. But there were also others, such as the touching moment when Patrick Hickey thanked Jacques Rogge, the founder of the EYOF 22 years ago, on behalf of the EOC in the presence of a large group of young athletes at the Village, and President Hickey’s impromptu visit to the Organising Committee at their HQ.
And as always, the EYOF was emotions, joy, effort, and at times disappointment, for the 3,300 athletes and the spectators who followed them with excitement.
But it will above all be the memories and the friendship ties that will remain in the hearts of our young athletes from across Europe, together with a taste of those Olympic Games they all hope to take part in one day.
The EOC Flag has now passed to the city of Tbilisi (GEO), the organisers of the 2015 summer EYOF, preparations for which are already well underway.
And so it’s thanks to our friends in Utrecht and our best wishes to Tbilisi.