The Principality of Monaco took part in the EYOF for the first in 2005 at the 7th edition which was held in Monthey in the Valais in Switzerland from 22nd to 29th January and at the 8th edition in Lignano Italy from 3rd to 8th July.

These Games aroused similar sensations in the young Monegasque representatives as they discovered the rituals, values and ideals of Olympism, and dreamed of taking part one day in the "grown up" Games.

• In Alpine skiing, Olivier Jenot, starting in 30th position in the giant slalom, finished 18th out of over 80 contestants.
• In athletics with Antoine Berlin in the 1500 m race and Sébastien Garo in the 800 m race.

Two years later, from 18th to 23rd February 2007, a Monegasque athlete, one of the Monegasque Skiing Federation’s young hopes, Yoann Orecchia, accompanied by his coach, Marc Faraut and the Head of mission, Jacques Pastor, took part in this Festival which was held in Jaca in Spain.   

He took part in the slalom and giant slalom events. The Monegasque delegation took part in various official ceremonies according to the following programme :

• Sunday 18th February at 7 p.m. in Jaca : Opening ceremony
• Monday 19th February : Freestyle skiing on the slalom slope,        
• Tuesday 20th February : Slalom in Astun,       
• Wednesday 21st February : Freestyle skiing on the slalom slope,        
• Thursday 22nd February : Giant slalom in Candanchu,       
• Friday 23rd February : Closing ceremony in Jaca.

   

  

  Yoann Orecchia with Jacques Pastor, Head of Mission

During the events, Yoann achieved a very good ranking considering the high standard of the participants :

• 47th  in the slalom out of 110 competitors,  

• 33rd in the giant slalom with the same number of competitors at the start, proving that he made his very best effort  to represent the Principality.  

Yoann returned to Monaco enriched by this experience and all the more motivated to continue his sports career and improve his results. As his predecessor Olivier Jenot who represented the Principality at the previous edition in Monthey, Yoann felt and appreciated the Olympic spirit and now dreams of taking part in the “real” games…  

- From 15^th to 20^th February 2009 the 9th edition of the European Youth Olympic Festival took place in Śląsk-Beskidy (Poland). A young Monegasque from the Monegasque Ski Federation, Arnaud Alessandria, took part in the Festival.

The 10^th European Youth Summer Olympic Festival was held in Tampere (Finland) from 19^th to 24^th July.