Youth Olympic Games Blue Peter

BLUE PETER YOUTH OLYMPIC GAMES CBA V572J/01 BRD000000

Hello and welcome to a very special Blue Peter.

I'm here with Ore at the Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China.

We're going to be showing you around this incredible city

and getting to hang out with some of Team GB's stars of the future.

But this is no school sports day, this is the real deal.

On today's show, I take part in a Chinese fashion show with Team GB.

I get the lowdown on life in the Youth Olympic village.

Like a table!

We get to grips with some

of Nanjing's finest culinary delicacies.

Nanjing is home to over 8 million people

and over the next two weeks,

it's hosting the second summer Youth Olympic Games.

3,500 athletes will be running, jumping,

swimming and performing in 28 different sports.

Team GB's 33 athletes start their Olympic journey right here

and we're going to be there for them every step of the way.

We will indeed.

These Youth Olympics exploded into life with a spectacular

opening ceremony and it hasn't really stopped to take breath since.

One sport that is particularly exciting at any games is gymnastics

and here in Nanjing, there are high British hopes of medal success.

I've come to the gymnastics stadium to meet up

with 15-year-old artistic gymnast, Ellie Downie, to find out

how she's settling in here in Nanjing and more importantly,

what she wants to achieve from her Olympic debut.

Ellie, what's it like to finally be here in Nanjing, China,

ready for the Youth Olympic Games?

It's been quite a long wait since I found out

and it's really good to be here and the experience is really good.

You came off the back of an incredible European Junior

Championships, so how does that make you feel going into these games?

I was quite confident but then nervous as well

because I had a few new skills in my routine

so that could be hit or miss and the bars, I missed a bit today.

I'm hoping to improve on that in the all-around final.

I know your sister is a massive inspiration

so we thought we would show you a little something to give you

that final push going into the competition.

There's a few other faces you might recognise as well. Check this out.

If she keeps going the way I imagine she should, I have no reason

why she won't be better than me when she comes to senior.

I have known that for a long time.

Ellie has done remarkably well so far and if she can continue that

and stay injury free, she's got great support from her mum and yes,

she could be one of the best in the world.

Who knows? Watch this space!

ALL: Good luck, Ellie, at the Youth Olympics.

Everyone here is proud of you. Go, Ellie!

Ellie went on to win an impressive four medals.

Three bronze on the floor, beam and in the all-around final,

and a silver in the vault.

Team-mate Giarnni dominated the competition.

He took two bronze medals in the high bar and parallel bars,

and an amazing three golds on the floor, vault

and in the all-around final.

COMMENTATOR: It's good, in fact, it's great!

Giarnni, congratulations, how does it feel coming off the back of what

has been an incredibly successful Youth Olympic Games for you?

It feels amazing.

Knowing that I put six weeks of hard work into my training

and now that it's all over, the competition is done,

I've walked away with five medals

just to go back to my gym and calm down for a bit.

It's the best feeling in the world.

How would you describe your style when you get out there

and perform, what is different about you to other gymnasts?

I just try to be cool, calm and confident.

When I come away with a smile, I know I've done the best routine I can.

Even if I don't get a medal,

I'm happy with myself because I gave it 100%.

There has been so much success recently, how do you feel

to be part of this new wave of incredibly successful gymnasts?

It's amazing. Since London 2012,

British gymnastics have moved on so much.

The boys getting bronze and now everyone from GB

and the programme and the British Gymnastics Society is moving forwards

and getting more medals than ever.

Seeing as we're here at the Sports Lab, I know the competition

has ended for you, but I thought we could try out a brand-new sport.

-How do you feel about Wushu?

-Sounds great.

-Shall we give it a go?

-Yes.

Come on then!

It might be a new sport to us

but Wushu has been practised in China for many years.

It was developed from traditional martial arts

and is both an exhibition and a full contact sport, combining grace,

strength and technology. Unbelievable!

So, will it prove a challenge, even for a multiple gold medallist?

It was time to find out.

It's fair to say we aren't ready to become Wushu warriors just yet.

-What did you make of that?

-Physically and mentally frustrating.

You're not going to be switching sports any time soon?

Definitely not.

Sticking to the gymnastics for Rio 2016, I like it.

Congratulations on what has been

a phenomenal Youth Olympic Games for you.

Thank you.

The Youth Olympic village, home away from home,

to over 200 competing nations and more than 3,500 athletes,

including of course, Team GB, who,

after the best part of a day's travelling,

have found themselves a long way away from home.

Let's get a little flavour of the mood in camp.

Good luck. Smile, look at the camera!

-It's nice to have that kind of support, isn't it?

-Brilliant.

Treating the flag bearer right!

On the plane coming out here, someone said, who is she?

One of the athletes went, she's the boss.

I thought, oh my goodness, I am.

So, no reference to your culinary skills at all, just to clarify?

Just to clarify, I have cooked nothing so far.

But you know, I will give it a go!

This is a real privilege,

letting us into the hive of the Youth Olympic Games operation.

-Are you going to show us around?

-Yes. This is our apartment.

-Basic!

-Roomy!

You could do what you like in here, sit ups, t'ai chi.

What a group that you've got.

-Diverse, multiskilled, lots of sports.

-And talented actually.

13 sports, 14 disciplines.

Lots in ones and twos so they've had to mix and get to know each other,

which is brilliant to see, especially at this age.

15 to 18 years old, which is quite a span.

A 15-year-old versus an 18-year-old,

your life experiences have moved on a lot but they're just getting on

and they are supporting each other and helping each other.

Where does Jake sleep?

-My room is just here on the left.

-What a wonderful space.

Bright white sheets, right now at least!

It must be pretty interesting seeing a group of teenagers

come together all at once and then just see what happens.

What has that been like to see that develop?

Yeah, what could possibly go wrong!

-Very intimate with your roommate.

-Very close together.

I won't jump on it because it's probably quite fragile

but I will just test the waters. That is like a table.

-Not much give in that, is there?

-No.

I can see it on your face you're looking forward to this.

We are looking forward to it and if you don't mind us

getting in your way, we'll be with you every step of the way.

-You're more than welcome.

-Great, thanks for having us!

This is the second Youth Olympics.

The first was held in Singapore in 2010 and for some, it proved

to be a springboard to success at the highest level at London 2012.

Four years ago, Blue Peter were given unique access to Team GB.

We're heading to Singapore for the first ever Youth Olympic Games.

It's an Olympic Games but for 14 to 18-year-olds.

That's why I said "we" because I'm going with them!

Helen Skelton journeyed with the young hopefuls

halfway around the world for the biggest competition of their lives.

Among them Jade Jones and Sam Oldham.

Jade fought her way to the top and earned gold in Taekwondo.

You absolute legend!

You're the first Brit to win the Youth Olympic gold!

Sam earned himself silver and gold medals in the pommel horse

and horizontal bar.

This is an amazing stepping stone

and hopefully I can carry on in the future.

The games turned out to be a perfect platform for champion diver

Tom Daley, too.

Just two years later,

the three young talents were again to compete on the world stage.

This time at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Their experience at the Youth Olympics had prepared them well

and all three went on to secure medals in their sports.

Jade earned gold, Tom gained a bronze medal in the diving pool,

and Sam secured bronze in the gymnastics team event.

This really is a dream come true.

We've been working so hard for so many years, it's just unbelievable.

Absolute proof that the Youth Olympic Games

is the perfect preparation for sporting excellence.

It is amazing to think how quickly that Tom, Jade and Sam

all made that jump from junior to senior competition.

There was another youth Olympic champion who made

a big splash in London.

South Africa's Chad le Clos is back

giving his tips to the next generation of swimming superstars.

Chad won gold at the 2012 Olympics.

He's such an inspiration to me and the whole of the GB swimmers.

I think it will be amazing to meet him.

It's his determination, his technique, everything,

it's just on point.

I'll race you down the side!

Chad, thank you so much for being here today

and spending some time with Team GB.

How important is the Youth Olympics as a warm-up to the senior Olympics?

I think the Youth Olympics is hugely important,

especially in my preparation.

It prepared me for things I wasn't used to.

To come here and to be on a big stage.

If you look at the stadium, it is quite big,

a lot bigger than what most of the youngsters have prepared for.

To get a bit of a taster for four years.

The main thing for me in butterfly is, I like to focus on my hips

and legs so that is what I practise in training a lot.

It's all about feeling the rhythm.

I compare butterfly to dancing, even though I'm a terrible dancer.

I mess up my finish sometimes, I finish on a half stroke.

In training, you have to make sure you practise putting your head

down at the finish, that is what I've always done.

I always make sure I finish hard at the wall, butterfly especially.

People are dropping their hips a lot

so you've got to work on your legs at the finish.

It's not really your arms that finish you,

it's your legs that come through at the end.

COMMENTATOR: Chad le Clos has won the gold. Look what that means!

The biggest honour for me is to wear the South African cap.

I'm sure it's the same for you guys, to wear Spain and GB.

It's a great feeling.

You wear that with pride and swim for your country.

Are you worried about any of us up and coming swimmers at Rio?

No, I think you definitely you have to keep your eyes open.

Four years ago, nobody knew who I was going into London

and nobody gave me a chance of even winning a medal in the butterfly.

There are a lot of youngsters here and around the world,

that are looking at me and saying, I want to beat him.

I've got to be on my game and make sure I keep practising hard

and watching out for you guys.

Do you have any pre-race rituals?

I have a few.

I always do the same ritual over and over again before a big race.

I always have a lucky charm from my brother, he gives it to me.

It's not something in particular,

it's just a little something I always carry with me before I race.

I always do the same warm-up routine.

I usually like looking at my competitors before I swim.

I don't know why I do that.

Who was it that originally got you into swimming,

-what got you into the pool?

-My dad actually.

When I was really young,

he used to spray me with the water from the tap.

I used to say, "Stop it, Dad!" and he used to keep spraying me.

The first time I swam, I was really, really young.

He actually taught me to swim so everything goes back to him.

While Lindsey was with the swimmers, I was across town

at the Nanjing Expo Centre, preparing to take in some Taekwondo.

In a few moments, Abigail Stones will kick-start her Youth Olympic career.

I can tell you as one of the favourites,

there is a bit of nervous energy here in the arena

but before she came out to China, Abbie got a few pointers

from Singapore Youth Olympic gold medallist

and Olympic Taekwondo champion, Jade Jones.

When I went, I didn't really know what to expect

but it's definitely like a real Olympics,

that is what was amazing about it.

Was there a more pressure on you than a normal competition

and how did you deal with it?

Yeah, before I felt pressure but when I got there,

I just realised that, it's amazing to even get there.

I just tried to enjoy the experience

and realise that the pressures you're putting on yourself,

you can only do your best because you cannot control winning

and especially in Taekwondo,

you can get kicked in the head in the last second or anything.

You've just purely got to focus on your plan

and what you can do in the ring.

What are your hopes for the Youth Olympics?

I want to go out there and I do want to get a medal

but I just want to go and give it my best.

I want to enjoy the experience and give it 100%.

First round of three done and dusted and Abbie leads by 2-0.

She's looking good but I will tell you,

there is a long way to go in this semifinal.

That round was definitely more cagey than the first.

She's getting us nervous up here in the stands.

Still shrieking.

Hopefully she can turn those shrieks into points because right now,

Abbie is trailing.

Oh, that's not good, that is not good.

Come on, Abbie, come on!

Come on, Abbie.

Oh!

Oh, she is absolutely gutted.

You feel for her, you really feel for her.

She has a bronze medal but that is not what she came to China for.

Not a bad result whatsoever

but she knew in herself that she was going for gold.

I just tried my best, there was nothing else I could have done.

I was trying things but we fight the same

so we couldn't get around each other's legs and it was just hard.

It wasn't the result I wanted.

What can you take away from this experience?

The experience has been absolutely amazing.

I will just reflect on what has happened here

and improve on my next performance whenever that is.

You might not think it but you've done Liverpool proud,

-you've done Great Britain proud as well, so well done!

-Thank you.

Most athletes here at the Youth Olympic Games have to concentrate

on one sport but the modern pentathletes have to focus on five.

It is hard to imagine they have time for anything else.

I've come to meet fashionista Frankie and her team-mate, Henry.

I'm guessing you're not into fashion, are you?

No, I'm definitely not a fashion guy. I'm more of a science type.

What's it like to be here in Nanjing finally, there must have been

quite a build-up for the past few weeks and months in your head?

I've known I've been selected for three months and since then

it's just been training and hard work, trying not to get injured.

What has it been like between you and Frankie?

It's really good because she's my training partner

and we'll support each other on the competition days.

Henry, good luck with the competition.

We know you can do it for Team GB.

On a more serious note,

-have you ever taken part in a Chinese fashion show?

-No.

-You're quite into fashion, aren't you?

-Yes, I am.

-You're about to go to Paris to study at the American Academy?

-Yes.

Look at these ones. There's a lot of colour in here.

-Is Henry trendy or fashionable?

-Yes, he's pretty trendy.

I wear blues and whites and stuff like that

and Henry dresses like that, so I'm a fan.

-No, definitely go red.

-You think?

-That one.

Since you've been here in Nanjing,

what have you picked up about Chinese fashion? Do you like it?

It's a bit different. Different to European fashion.

-Quite floral, colourful.

-Lots of good patterns as well.

Yes, like these sequins-y patterns,

we don't really have that in England.

-It's quite brave, isn't it?

-Definitely.

They are a lot braver than us.

That's quite nice, that suits you but it would not suit me.

But you don't like flowers.

-I've fallen at the first hurdle, haven't I?

-No, but that suits you.

Flowers are fine on other people but on me, flowers are a no-no.

You saved it, don't worry. I'm not offended!

Out of the whole GB team,

is there anyone that you see their clothes and you think, no, no?

Anyone who is not so trendy?

Well, to be honest, here, everyone is wearing the same kit

and there's no socks with sandals or anything like that

so everyone is pretty good.

If it was up to you, if it was a gold medal

or you could have a line at Paris Fashion Week,

-which would you choose?

-Gold medal all the way.

Pentathlon sport is my number one.

My passion is also fashion so if I could put them together,

that would be great but I would go gold medal any day.

We've seen a lot of outfits here, a lot of patterns.

Let's go and try some on.

That's nice, it suits you.

Thoughts, Henry?

-They're OK.

-They're OK!

-Are you not into the Chinese fashion?

-No.

Henry went on to finish in a creditable 11th place.

Meanwhile, Frankie secured Youth Olympic silver.

Now from fashion to food.

Lindsey and I caught up with judokas Pete and Lulu

at Nanjing's food market to sample some of the local Chinese cuisine.

We know you spend a lot of time at the canteen in the Olympic village

but we know you need to eat.

Why is it that everyone likes to know what kind of food is on the village?

I think as an athlete, you've got to have a good diet

so everyone wants to have the best preparation

so you don't want the eating junk food the whole time.

You want it to be nice and healthy.

Are you staying disciplined in that regard, Pete?

Yes, it is important to have good nutrition.

It helps your performance and we do a weight controlled sport as well

so you need to have good food.

Speaking of good nutrition, we're here in the market today

and we want to put some of your filming skills to the test.

We want you to capture on camera a few Nanjing delicacies.

Are you up for it?

-Yes, definitely.

-I don't know about you but I am absolutely famished.

Why don't we boys treat you girls for lunch?

-Shall we do the same, go and find them some lunch?

-Yes.

Here's lunch, Nanjing style.

Do you want to smell it? It's a little bit like it's gone off.

-Wow, that is slippy.

-Slimy.

Immediately, Pete, we've got ourselves,

I've never seen that before in my life.

-Get a nice close-up on that yolk.

-That's like a mouldy egg.

-That's got to be a trotter, hasn't it?

-It looks like a foot.

I love Pete Miles, he says it how it is. It looks like a foot.

It probably is a foot.

I am going to hazard a guess at someone's or something's tongue.

Do you reckon the girls would fancy that?

They would love that, wouldn't they?

-I think that's right up their street.

-We need to step up our game.

-We need to find something a bit more gross.

-That is disgusting.

It smells a bit like something that has gone off.

Wow, I've never seen a pig's stomach before.

I've never seen a stomach of any kind!

How about some live fish for you, my friend?

Get your camera in there. Oh, my God!

SHE SCREAMS

Use the power of the judoka.

Oh, what did he do, what did he do?

One for Pete and one for Ore.

I don't think that's gross enough, I think they would like that.

Oh!

Oh, my God!

I don't know what just happened, Pete, but I didn't like it.

I did not like it one bit.

Oh!

Girls, grub's up! OK?

-See you soon.

-Ciao.

OK, ladies, we weren't exactly sure what this was,

which is why you're here.

Here's our first offering. Get stuck in.

Get it down you, get it down you!

Just imagine it's confectionery.

That was honestly disgusting!

Tuck in, boys, there you go.

Eggy weggs!

I think Pete's feeling a little sick.

Ore, you seemed all right with that.

You OK, mate?

The question is, which came first, the chicken, claw, or the egg?

Careful of the nails.

Stop it, Ore, stop it!

The texture is awful, but the flavour is not bad.

-How is it?

-Just the fact that I know it is a duck's brain!

That is gross.

-A bit of eyeball stuck in your tooth?

-Yes.

You don't say that every day!

That stinks of post-judo feet!

Three, two, one, pop it!

No!

I can feel it my breath just immediately smell horrible.

Guys, I think we should get you back to the Youth Olympic village

for food you're a bit more used to. Come on!

Personally, there is a lot more food here that I would like to try.

Stinky tofu anyone?

It smells like feet!

Lindsey and I have had an incredible time here at the Youth Olympics,

meeting some of the sporting superstars of the future.

The experience has been absolutely amazing.

I've walked away with five medals

and it's just the best feeling in the world.

They've given us unique access to their journey through the Games.

Together we've not just enjoyed the sport,

we've loved our time in Nanjing too.

Oh! What did he do?

Yes! He's won!

Team GB secured 24 medals in eight different sports, an impressive

collection and so much exciting sporting action in just 11 days.

The athletes are making their mark with their eyes set on Rio 2016.

Don't be surprised if they are the sporting heroes of the future,

just like Jessica Ennis-Hill, Louis Smith and Tom Daley.

If the Youth Olympics games have inspired you to try a new sport,

why not take a friend or family member along too

and you could earn yourself a 2014 sport badge. Check this out.

Inspire someone to get into sport and earn yourself one of these.

My name is Sophie and I inspired Katie

to take up pole vaulting for my Blue Peter sport badge.

My dad inspired me to pole vault

because I found out he won a Commonwealth gold medal in Edinburgh.

That is how I earned my sport badge.

Hi, I'm Ben.

I earned my Blue Peter sport badge by inspiring my best friend, Sam,

to take up tennis.

My granny inspired me to take up sport

because she is the oldest person in Britain to complete an ironman

and that is pretty impressive considering she is pretty old.

It's a great feeling to know that you have earned this badge

and it's wonderful to know you have helped so many

take part in a new sport.

That's how I earned my sport badge.

My name is Holly and I inspired my brother

to do wheelchair basketball to get my sport badge.

It's really fun to get somebody inspired and hopefully

they could help you with it and you can compete against each other.

My dream is to be a Paralympian and hopefully get into Tokyo's Olympics.

That's how I earned my sport badge.

My name is Hamza and I earned by sports badge inspiring my friend,

Luke, in cricket.

One day I am going to be a cricketer and I am going to play for Pakistan.

Go on.

Get inspired.

And you...

Could earn yourself...

ALL: A Blue Peter sport badge.

So, that's the end of the second summer Youth Olympic Games

here in Nanjing and what an amazing time we've had.

Seeing all these athletes compete at such a high level

and having a good time with it.

Absolutely and what a great job the host city has done.

Nanjing has been gripped by these Games

but even though that is the end of the action,

that is not the last you'll see of these young athletes.

Watch this space and until next week, see you later, bye!