15 Reasons why we love Buenos Aires 2018: No.3 – A city transformed
As the countdown to the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) Buenos Aires 2018 continues, we are highlighting 15 reasons to get excited ahead of the 3rd Summer YOG…
For 13 days next October, the YOG Buenos Aires 2018 will capture the attention of the sporting world, when the best young athletes from all across the globe deliver inspirational performances in the Argentine capital. However, their legacy will last far longer.
Construction of the venues is well under way, and many of the buildings are already finished or nearing completion. During Games time, the Youth Olympic Village will be home to over 6,000 people from up to 206 National Olympic Committees.
After the Closing Ceremony, the site will then be transformed into social housing as part of a large regeneration scheme in the south of Buenos Aires. The YOG will continue to revitalise the city by providing access to affordable and modern housing, interspersed with new green spaces and extended transport links.
Horacio Rodríguez, the Mayor of Buenos Aires, has revealed that the redevelopment will be the biggest ever undertaken in the city. “What we’re building has been conceived as a new neighbourhood for the city, which will promote integration and equality,” he said. The scheme represents the Olympic values of “teamwork, effort and overcoming adversity”.
The Youth Olympic Centre, which will host 12 different sports during the YOG, will also be redeveloped. Surrounded by parks and open spaces, the complex will become the new headquarters of Argentina’s national high-level sports centre, ensuring that aspiring young athletes can continue to reach the top of their sport.
These initiatives will ensure that the Olympic legacy continues to be felt long after the YOG have ended, providing a new home where people can live, connect and be inspired.