West Africans Banned from Some Youth Olympics Events Over Ebola Fears

Young athletes from West Africa will be prohibited from participating
in certain events at the Youth Olympics, organizers saidFriday, in an
effort to protect all participants from the Ebola outbreak in the
region.

The gamesare set to kick off this Saturday and run until Aug. 28 in
Nanjing, China.

Athletes from West Africa, where Ebola has spread rapidlyover the
past several weeks, will have their temperature and wellbeing checked
throughout the 12-day games. The prohibition will also directly impact
three West African athletes who will not be allowed to compete in
combat sports and events in the pool to prevent potential infection.

"We regret that due to this issue some young athletes may have
suffered twice, both from the anguish caused by the outbreak in their
home countries and by not being able to compete in the Youth Olympic
Games," the International Olympic Committee and the Nanjing Youth
Olympic Organizing Committee said in a joint statement. The
committees also said countries are free to decide on their own whether
or not to attend.

The Olympic committees said the World Health Organization had been
working with the Chinese government in preparation for the games in
light of the largest Ebola outbreak in history, but that these
policies will serve as an extra precaution.

The Youth Olympic games started in 2010 and are held every four years.