The International Children’s Games, now in taking place in Coventry, will be hosted in Reykjavík 2007. According to Iceland State Radio, RÚV, Reykjavík can expect up to 2000 guests.
800 of those guests will be competitors. Other guests include coaches, team-managers, parents, and event officials.
The games’ events are decided by city officials – depending on facilities. In Reykjavík events will include soccer, handball and swimming. The local sports associations will organize the event, and city officials will look to corporations for funding.
According to the games’ website (http://www.childrens-games2005.org.uk/) “a Yugoslavian professor, Metod Klemenc, had a vision to promote peace and friendship through sports to the world’s youth. Based on this dream, he organized the first International Children’s Games and Cultural Festival in 1968 with the participation of teams from nine European cities. Since that time 27,000 children ages 12 to 15 have participated, representing nearly 200 cities and 50 countries. The International Children’s Games and Cultural Festival has become the world’s largest international multi-sport youth games and is a recognized member of the International Olympic Committee.”
