The Importance of the Olympic Youth Camp Program: The Case of the Sydney Olympic Games 2000

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the Sydney Olympics Youth Camp program (OYC) on 331 children (160 males and 171 females) aged 16-18 years, from 187 participating National Olympic Committees (NOC). The participants, through a variety of activities, had the opportunity to be involved in the Olympic Games, developing an understanding for different cultures and learning about the history and culture of the host city. Questionnaires were administered to the Sydney OYC participants, before and after the implementation of the program. The results indicated that the program was perceived as very important, and the children were highly satisfied from the activities they were involved in during their 22 days visit in Australia. It was concluded that the program contributed to the promotion of the Olympic ideals, promoted cultural exchange, fostered international cooperation, and developed respect of all countries and human dignity.