The International Children's Games (ICG) is an International Olympic Committee-sanctioned event[1] held every year where children from cities around the world and between the ages of 12 and 15 participate in a variety of sports.
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The Slovenian sports instructor Metod Klemenc founded the International Children's Games in 1968 with the aim to promote peace and friendship through sports to the world's youth. He organised the first International Children's Games and Cultural Festival in 1968 with the participation of teams from nine European cities.
Since that time, 37,000 children aged 12 to 15 have been in competition at 43 Summer Games and 4 Winter Games. 411 different cities, 86 countries and all 5 continents have participated. The International Children's Games and Cultural Festival has become the world's largest international multi-sport youth games, and is a recognised member of the International Olympic Committee.
The International Children's Games in 2012 will be held in Daegu, South Korea, followed by Windsor-Essex, Canada in 2013[2] and Lake Macquarie, Australia in 2014[3]. Tralee/Kerry, Ireland, are preparing a bid to host the International Children's Games in 2015 [4].
| Games | Year | Host City | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1994 | Ravne na Koroskem | Slovenia |
| 2nd | 1995 | Prakovce-Helcmanovc | Slovakia |
| 3rd | 1999 | Maribor | Slovenia |
| 4th | 2009 | Montreux and Vevey | Switzerland |
| 5th | 2011 | Kelowna | Canada |
| 6th | 2013 | Ufa | Russia |