Last weekend marked 50 Days to Go until the start of the XV Summer European Youth Olympic Festival, and the Baku 2019 Organising Committee and National Olympic Committee of Azerbaijan celebrated the occasion with a special event that featured the participation of 500 children.

The event, which coincided with International Children’s Day and the 125th anniversary of the modern Olympic Movement on 23 June, was supported by the Azerbaijan Ministry of Education. It included an Olympic Culture and Education Programme (OCEP) and took place at the Athletes Village for the EYOF, which are scheduled to take place from 21-27 July in the Azeri capital.

The athletics, basketball, tennis, swimming and cycling federations all gave interactive presentations this weekend and provided interesting facts about each sport. At the Athletes Village, meanwhile, 500 students from 49 schools competed in a 1 km distance run. The winners were presented with gifts and certificates.

Students participating in the OCEP were taken on a tour of the Athletes Village and introduced to the living, entertainment and exercise areas the athletes will enjoy this July.

The EYOF will feature seven days of competition in 10 sports: wrestling, tennis, basketball, handball, swimming, volleyball, cycling, athletics, artistic gymnastics, judo. The competition will take place at 12 venues, all of which are already existing, making this edition of the EYOF also one of the most sustainable. Wrestling joins the EYOF programme for the first time this year.

Some 3,600 athletes and team officials are expected to take part in Baku 2019, assisted by 2,500 volunteers.