Understanding Young Athletes’ Learning at the Youth Olympic Games: A Sport Development Perspective

Abstract

This paper examines young athletes’ experiences, perceptions, and learning derived from participating in the Youth Olympic Games (YOG). We draw from Lillehammer 2016 YOG Games-time field notes, observations, and interviews with 36 young athletes to demonstrate young athletes learning about important aspects of the Olympic Movement through first-hand experience. Young athletes focused on their competition and performance, while benefitting from their interactions with other athletes and with the context, as they engaged in formal and informal learning activities. Findings demonstrate progressive degrees of young athlete learning particularly from a development of sport, but also a development through sport perspective. Our study contributes to the examination of Games-time activities, logistics, and processes experienced by the athlete who benefits from a sport (athletic) and social (lifelong) development perspective.