[{"type": "heading", "level": 1, "children": [{"text": "Olympic competitions", "type": "text"}]}, {"type": "paragraph", "children": [{"text": "", "type": "text"}]}, {"type": "paragraph", "children": [{"text": "European Youth Olympic Festivals (YUF)– are complex competitions held under the patronage of the International Olympic Committee and the European Olympic Committees (EOC) with the participation of all European countries.", "type": "text"}]}, {"type": "paragraph", "children": [{"text": "", "type": "text"}]}, {"type": "paragraph", "children": [{"text": "The nomination and selection of the city-organizer of the festival takes place in accordance with the procedure established for the Olympic Games. In advance, cities wishing to host the Festival submit their applications. The EOC commission evaluates them and carries out visits to the applicant cities. The final decision is made at the EOC General Assembly 5 years before the festival.", "type": "text"}]}, {"type": "paragraph", "children": [{"text": "", "type": "text"}]}, {"type": "paragraph", "children": [{"text": "Competitions are held in odd-numbered years in winter and summer sports and are regulated by the Charter of the EUOF, approved by the General Assembly (EOC) on December 13, 2003. The age of the participants, depending on the sports, is 13-17 years.", "type": "text"}]}, {"type": "paragraph", "children": [{"text": "", "type": "text"}]}, {"type": "paragraph", "children": [{"text": "It should be noted that the word «Olympic» in the name of the Festival is not accidental. All attributes and rituals of its holding fully correspond to the «adult» Olympic Games.", "type": "text"}]}, {"type": "paragraph", "children": [{"text": "", "type": "text"}]}, {"type": "paragraph", "children": [{"text": "Participants are accommodated in the Olympic Village, which should accommodate 3,300 people (including officials) for summer festivals and 1,300 people – for winter festivals.", "type": "text"}]}, {"type": "paragraph", "children": [{"text": "", "type": "text"}]}, {"type": "paragraph", "children": [{"text": "The opening ceremony, which is usually attended by the President of the IOC, includes a parade of participants. Delegations, as at the Olympic Games, are held in alphabetical order of the language of the participating country, with the exception of Greece, which leads the parade, and the hosts of the Festival, who close the parade.", "type": "text"}]}, {"type": "paragraph", "children": [{"text": "", "type": "text"}]}, {"type": "paragraph", "children": [{"text": "During the performance of the Olympic Anthem, the Olympic flag is brought and raised to the stadium, the Olympic flame is lit, which burns throughout the entire period of the competition, the participating athlete and the judge of the host country take the Olympic oath. The Olympic torch relay is also held. The fire is lit in Greece, and then passes through the country hosting the Festival.", "type": "text"}]}, {"type": "paragraph", "children": [{"text": "", "type": "text"}]}, {"type": "paragraph", "children": [{"text": "During the award ceremony, national flags are raised in honor of the prize-winners and the national anthem is performed in honor of the winner.", "type": "text"}]}, {"type": "paragraph", "children": [{"text": "", "type": "text"}]}, {"type": "paragraph", "children": [{"text": "Doping control of participants is also carried out during the European Youth Olympic Festivals.", "type": "text"}]}, {"type": "paragraph", "children": [{"text": "", "type": "text"}]}, {"type": "paragraph", "children": [{"text": "The festival has not only sports significance, but also plays a significant role in the education and communication of young people through and thanks to sports, the Olympic ideals are popularized and the Olympic movement and healthy lifestyle are promoted.", "type": "text"}]}]