Youth Olympics Kick Start in Nanjing， China without Ebola-struck Nations

Youth Olympics kicked off in Nanjing， China’s southern region without Ebola struck nations Guinea， Liberia， Sierra Leone， and Nigeria. The International Olympic Committee （IOC） said last week they had banned three West African athletes from competing in combat sports and pool events in China as a precaution after the world's worst outbreak of Ebola which has claimed the lives of more than 1，000 people in the region.

IOC President Thomas Bach said on Saturday that following the move， taken after discussion with the World Health Organization， the governments of Liberia， Nigeria and Sierra Leone had opted against allowing their athletes to compete in the 13-day multisport event.

Youth Olympics provide opportunities for youth from around the world to compete in a range of competitions and raise their countries’ flags high. It also demonstrates importance of youth in world of sports but calamities like Ebola virus outbreak are， of course， misfortune for the youth from above mentioned banned countries.

President Xi of China visited Olympic Village in Nanjing and expressed his best wishes for Chinese athletes. He also mentioned how important sports are for youth and youth for a country.