LAUSANNE/GENEVA (Youth Olympic Games) - For the first time ever, the Youth Olympic Games will be held in Singapore in 2010… And for the first time ever, the International Basketball Federation will endorse FIBA 33, a new version of the 3-on-3 basketball game, played on one basket by youngsters of less than 18 years of age. 20 boys' teams and 20 girls' squads from as many as 35 countries could compete for the medals in the beautiful Asian island nation.

Indeed, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) today announced that Singapore will host the first Summer Youth Games in 2010. The result was unveiled by the IOC President, Jacques Rogge, at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland. Singapore beat Moscow in the final by 53 votes to 44.
 
When the IOC came forward with the idea to organize Youth Olympic Games (YOG), FIBA instantly began thinking of a new and more youth-driven discipline for its inclusion in these new Games. FIBA started testing with the 3-on-3 game in 2007 and worked on worldwide unified rules following a successful Test Event held in Macau, in November, during the Asian Indoor Games. The IOC embraced and encouraged the concept as did the FIBA Central Board in December. Today, with the decision on the host for the first Youth Olympic Games taken, the way is now free for this new discipline to emerge.
 
The rules of FIBA 33 are quite simple. A team consists of four players (three players are on the court and one is a substitute) and one coach. The game is played on a half court, on one basket, in three periods of five minutes each. Most of the FIBA rules regarding scoring and fouling are valid. The team scoring first 33 points or leading the game after the regular game time is the winner.

The FIBA 33 rules will continue to be tested at various events throughout 2008 and 2009 and may eventually be modified taking into account the latest trends in youth and at other similar events. For the complete Draft Rules of the FIBA 33 Game, please refer to the following link:

http://www.fiba.basketball/downloads/Rules/DraftRulesFIBA33Feb2008.pdf

"FIBA 33 offers us and our member federations an exciting new tool to promote the sport especially amongst youngsters, both within our own countries and internationally," said FIBA Secretary General and IOC member Patrick Baumann. "The test event in Macau showed us how much fun the young players had, but also how spectacular and competitive the new game can be. The 3-on-3 concept is certainly not new, but what is new is that it will be played on a national team level, with worldwide valid rules, in top-class international competition, and the whole FIBA structure and family can participate in it. The 3-on-3 concept has all the elements and skills required for basketball, it has inspired and will continue to inspire many great players in the future. At the same time, it is the easiest and one of the most effective ways to bring youngsters to basketball, keep them and promote our game. Finally, FIBA 33 can and will promote key educational and social values to the next generations."

There are many more arguments for FIBA to start this initiative. It seems that the game format will allow small basketball countries to be very competitive on the highest level. FIBA 33 will enable emerging basketball nations from all continents to be involved in top international competition and develop successful youth programs. In addition, the simple format will also allow the practice of the game in international competition, but also on grassroots level.
 
The next test events for FIBA 33 will be held in April 2008 in Boca Chica, Dominican Republic, and in October 2008 in Bali, Indonesia, with the respective collaboration of the local national federations, FIBA Americas, FIBA Asia and the Olympic Council of Asia.
 

The Vision of the Youth Olympic Games (YOG)

The vision of the Youth Olympic Games is to inspire young people around the world to participate in sport and adopt and live by the Olympic values. It was during its session in Guatemala in July 2007 that the IOC decided to create a new sporting event to educate, engage and influence young athletes inspiring them to play an active role in their communities.
 
What are the YOG?

The Youth Olympic Games are a sporting event for young people, balancing sport, education and culture. These Games work as a catalyst in these fields throughout the Olympic Movement.
 
The YOG's objectives are

1. To bring together the world's best young athletes and celebrate them
2. To offer a unique and powerful introduction to Olympism
3. To innovate in educating and debating Olympic values and challenges of society
4. To share and celebrate the cultures of the world in a festive atmosphere
5. To reach youth communities throughout the world to promote Olympic values
6. To raise sports awareness and participation among young people
7. To act as a platform for initiatives within the Olympic Movement
8. To be an event of the highest international sporting standard
 
Who? What? When?

The Youth Olympic Games aim to bring together talented athletes -- aged from 14 to 18 - from around the world to participate in high-level competitions, but also, alongside the sports element of the event, to run educational programmes on the Olympic values, the benefits of sport for a healthy lifestyle, the social values sport can deliver and the dangers of doping and of training to excess and/or of inactivity.

The first ever Summer Youth Olympic Games will bring together approximately 3,200 athletes and 800 officials in 2010. The sports programme will encompass all 26 sports on the programme of the 2012 Summer Games, with a limited number of disciplines and events. The first Winter Olympic Youth Games will bring together around 1,000 athletes and 500 officials. The athletes will compete - for the first time in 2012 - in all seven Olympic Winter Sports. The YOG follow the traditional cycle of four years, with Summer Games in 2010, 2014, 2018, etc. and Winter Games in 2012, 2016, 2020, etc.