Developing the Albanian NOC strategic plan to enhance young athletes’ participation for the Youth Olympic Games

Abstract

This study is an attempt for the NOC of Albania to adapt and adjust its actions and policies in compliance with new trends in the Olympic Movement. Youth Olympic Games is a new world event in the Olympic Movement and for that 
reason the NOC of Albania should review the strategies and priorities, bearing in mind changes, challenges, and/or opportunities which might be taken into consideration. This is a new approach to establish a new culture for the young generation related to sport, by fostering and activating the proper resources, creating new ways to support involvement of the youth through a synergy of sport institutions and sport organizations. This study is an endeavor to identify the pathway of how the Albanian NOC should work on displaying a better perspective to support young talented athletes as crucial source to build a sporting career. Through this study, the NOC of Albania brings into focus the importance 
of closer attention for young athletes using the Olympic events as high peak targets to seek for, and also to explore what can be enhanced in our sporting system in order to have well trained and healthy athletes. In this study the main objective was to identify through methodological approach (questionnaires, interviews focus group etc.) which are the problems for better results of young athletes in international competitions, therefore this would allow the NOC of Albania to have a better perspective of representation in Olympic events in quality and quantity. The aim of this study is to contribute to the development for a long term strategy, which touches the importance of YOG, the awareness of it and the education of the Albanian young generation to bring the YOG spirit to youth and promoting the Olympic Values.