By John Kwoba
NAIROBI, Sept. 8 (Xinhua) -- Kenya will throw its support behind Senegal in its bid to host the 2022 Summer Youth Olympic Games.
Nigeria, Botswana and Tunisia have also bid to stage the Youth Games, which are held every four years.
The winner will be revealed at a session of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Buenos Aires in October, where this year's Youth Olympic Games will be taking place.
Speaking in Nairobi on Saturday, Paul Tergat, the president of the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK), said it will be a great honor for Africa to host the prestigious competition.
"The Youth Olympics Games are important in nurturing tomorrow's sporting stars and Africa will now prove it is capable of hosting the main Olympics soon. We support Senegal."
The host country will be selected based on a report from the IOC Evaluation Commission, chaired by IOC Vice-President Ugur Erdener.
IOC President Thomas Bach has backed the idea of Africa hosting the next edition of the Games after Buenos Aires.
"It is time for Africa. Africa is the home of many successful and prominent Olympic athletes. Africa is a continent of youth. That is why we want to take the Youth Olympic Games 2022 to Africa and to Senegal," said Bach in a statement to media on Saturday.
"Senegal offered a project based on a strong vision for youth and sport. There are many opportunities, and we will endeavor to deliver together, as part of a strong partnership, a visionary, responsible and inspiring Youth Games".
Erdener added that Botswana, the smallest of the four candidate countries, proposed a compelling project based in the capital Gaborone that would help achieve the country's long-term vision for young people and sport.
"Nigeria proposed a very solid and compact project in the capital Abuja, a project also fully aligned with the national sports and youth strategy, while Tunisia presented a robust project involving Tunis, La Soukra, Rades and the seaside tourist resort of Yasmine-Hammamet."
