The International Canoe Federation in collaboration with the International Olympic Committee has been running an education and awareness program for young athletes ahead of this week’s Youth Olympic Games qualifiers in Barcelona.

The program tackles many of the major issues in modern sport – anti-doping, sexual harassment and bullying are all covered – and organisers are thrilled with the response from the athletes.

“For the IOC this is a very important presence, because we are here to demonstrate our athlete education programs and to raise awareness on a couple of very important topics,” the IOC’s Nicolas Chamerois said.

“We are looking at anti-doping, abuse in sport, and also the current athlete’s program. We are testing some new ideas that we want to introduce in Buenos Aires with some of our partners, like performance analysers.

“These are very serious issues, but we are trying to do it in an innovative and fun way for the athletes. They are answering a quiz on anti-doping, and there are activities raising questions about abuse in sport.”

Only 58 of the more than 200 athletes competing in Barcelona this week will qualify for the YOG in Buenos Aires, but the program is not just designed for those athletes.

Nicolas Chamerois said the Barcelona project is testing the water ahead of possible future expansion.

“We know that not all of the athletes here will go to Buenos Aires, so it is important for us to reach as many athletes as possible,” Chamerois said.

 “What we are doing here is really a pilot. The feedback has been really good. As of today we have about 150 athletes who have been through the lounge here.

“We will not go to all of the qualifying events. We went to Rosario last year for the World Archery Youth Championships. We may go to other events, but for now this is a test for the future.”

The ICF Youth Olympic Games canoe qualifiers begin in Barcelona on Thursday.

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