The Chinese Olympic Committee -COC- held the tenth edition of its Youth Camp in Beijing from 12 to 17 October, bringing together 55 young participants from 24 National Olympic Committees. Under the theme “Hand in Hand, Together for a Shared Future”, the participants took part in educational and cultural experiences designed to strengthen Olympic values and promote friendship among delegations from around the world.
Organised with the support of the Chinese Olympic Academy, the programme included lectures, discussions with Olympic champions, workshops on Olympic culture and values, and cultural visits to iconic sites in the Chinese capital. Shen Jie, Deputy Secretary General of the COC, stated during the opening ceremony: “You are the future of the Olympic Movement and the driving force for the development of sport,” encouraging participants to build connections and contribute to a more united sporting community.
Olympic youth programmes gain global momentum
The youth camp format has become an established tool within the Olympic Movement for education and cooperation. In Asia, the Olympic Council of Asia -OCA- has developed technical camps in swimming and skateboarding involving young people from over 30 National Olympic Committees, combining athletic training with cultural exchange. The International Biathlon Union -IBU- and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) also run international camps for participants aged 15 to 21, focusing on technical development, sustainability and Olympic education.
In Europe, the French National Olympic Committee organises its own Olympic Youth Camp for schoolchildren aged 10 to 12, while the Slovak Olympic Committee hosts an international camp in the Tatra Mountains, bringing together young athletes and Olympians. In Greece, the Imagine Peace Youth Camp, coordinated by the International Olympic Truce Centre, welcomes participants aged 18 to 25 to promote coexistence, respect and peaceful conflict resolution through sport.
Learning, values and new approaches in Olympic education
While each programme adapts to the age and background of its participants, most share a common purpose: to instil Olympic values, promote cultural understanding and encourage social inclusion. Sessions typically include lectures on the history and ethics of sport, workshops on teamwork and sustainability, and dialogues with Olympic athletes who share their own experiences from competition.
The focus varies depending on institutional priorities. Camps organised by the IBU-IOC or the OCA tend to emphasise technical skills and athletic development. Others, such as those held by China, France or Greece, highlight intercultural education and civic learning through sport. In recent years, several initiatives — including the COC Youth Camp — have introduced themes of technological innovation, such as the use of artificial intelligence in sport, broadening the educational scope beyond physical training.
The evolving Chinese model
Since its first edition in 2013, the COC Youth Camp has expanded both in scale and diversity, growing from 18 National Olympic Committees in the eighth edition to 24 in the tenth. The programme has evolved from a traditional format of lectures and cultural visits to a more participatory model featuring group projects, youth presentations and discussions on current sports topics.
Beyond its educational role, the camp has strengthened its international dimension, becoming a platform for learning and intercultural dialogue. The addition of new subjects — including artificial intelligence in sport and environmental sustainability — reflects the COC’s commitment to modernising Olympic education while remaining true to its core mission: transmitting values and nurturing the Olympic spirit among new generations.
