Youth Sports Games
The Youth Sports Games (also known as Plasma Youth Sports Games for sponsorship reasons[1]) are organised amateur sports competitions for children and youth of elementary and high school age. They were founded in Split in 1996[1] and have since grown into the largest amateur sports event in Europe for school-age children. These games are held in Croatia, Serbia, Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
More than 2,750,000 have competed in the 27 years since the Games began.[2][3]
In addition to the games, the association organises regular sports and recreational activities for children, to promote health, tolerance and ethical values. The association promotes a lifestyle based on understanding, friendship, solidarity and fair play as an alternative to addiction and deviant behaviour.
In 2024 alone, the Games gathered more than 320,000 participants.[4][5][6]
The Games are organised under the auspices of the International Olympic Committee,[7] UEFA, and FIDE,[8] as well as under the honorary patronage of the President of Croatia and Ministry of Tourism and Sports.[9]
Support and Ambassadors
[edit]The Games enjoy the support of Aleksander Čeferin, Johannes Hahn, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Luka Modrić, Nemanja Matić, and Edin Džeko, among others.[10][11]
Sports Disciplines
[edit]Students compete in 10 sports disciplines:[12] mini-football, handball, tennis, table tennis, chess, 3x3 basketball, volleyball, beach volleyball, athletics, and dodgeball. The competitions begin at the city, county, or inter-county level, with the finals held in Split. Participation is completely free for children at all levels.[1][12]
Competitions
[edit]Boys and girls aged 7 to 18 have the opportunity to participate in competitions held between January and September. The competitions are free and open to all teams, including casual enthusiasts who embrace a healthy lifestyle and socialising, not just those who are actively or professionally involved in sports.
The competitions are organized at a professional level, despite being amateur in nature, adhering to the internationally accepted rules and regulations of each sport.[1]
Competition System
[edit]The organization of the Games takes place in three stages:
1. Qualifying competitions / city finals
2. National finals
3. Grand international final
Winners of the qualifying competitions earn the right to participate in the National Finals, and the winners of the National Finals advance to the Grand International Final, traditionally held every year in Split.
Coca-Cola Cup
[edit]The mini-football part of the games is organized as the Coca-Cola Cup, the biggest mini-football tournament in Europe.[13] In 2024, the tournament's 11th edition took place in over 100 cities and towns across Croatia and 21 counties.[14]
The tournaments are divided into two categories: U-18 and U-15.
The Coca-Cola Cup serves as a platform for promoting sports values, fair play, and team spirit among the youth. Qualifying tournaments are held in cities from January to May, followed by county finals. Winners of the county finals advance to the National Finals held in Split.
Each tournament showcases fair play and sportsmanship, with a significant incentive: a spot in the National Finals in Split. In 2024, over 45,000 childre from across Croatia participated in the Coca-Cola Cup tournament.[15]
Sources
[edit]- ^ a b c d "About Plazma Youth Sports Games - Youth Sports Games". www.youthsportsgames.com. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
- ^ "Youth Sports Games 2024". UEFA Foundation. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
- ^ "Youth sports games in Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina | Kinder Joy of moving". www.kinderjoyofmoving.com. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
- ^ "Barbara Matić i Vrsaljko zaigrali graničar, Valent Sinković šah". www.24sata.hr (in Croatian). 2024-08-24. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
- ^ "Ove godine na igrama mladih sudjelovalo je 328.870 djece". www.24sata.hr (in Croatian). 2024-08-21. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
- ^ "Turistička zajednica grada Splita - International Final of the Plazma Youth Sports Games in Split 2024". visitsplit.com. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
- ^ "Sports organizations - Youth Sports Games". www.youthsportsgames.com. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
- ^ "UEFA Youth Sports Games conclude in Split, Croatia". www.fide.com. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
- ^ "Institutions and organizations Partners/Friends categories - Youth Sports Games". www.youthsportsgames.com. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
- ^ "Ambassadors - Youth Sports Games". www.youthsportsgames.com. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
- ^ Chiles, Adrian (2024-09-04). "I didn't know what to expect from the Youth Sports Games. But they blew me away". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
- ^ a b "Category and Competition in 2024. - Youth Sports Games". www.youthsportsgames.com. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
- ^ "Coca Cola cup - Youth Sports Games". www.youthsportsgames.com. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
- ^ "Sportske novosti - 'Za nas je Coca-Cola Cup kao Europsko prvenstvo'". sportske.jutarnji.hr (in Croatian). 2024-06-10. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
- ^ "Sportske novosti - Više od tri milijuna sudionika u 28 godina, ali ova sezona Plazma Sportskih igara mladih je posebna". sportske.jutarnji.hr (in Croatian). 2024-09-27. Retrieved 2024-11-13.