Last night, the 2018 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in Buenos Aires held an impressive opening ceremony in front of an estimated 200,000 people, which took place for the first time-ever on the streets of a city, focusing around the Buenos Aires Obelisk, in the middle of the Argentina capital.

All participating athletes entered the ceremony at the same time, in keeping with the spirit of the YOG, followed by the traditional flag parade, a spectacular light show and the entry of the Olympic Torch and lighting of the Olympic Flame.

As per the Olympic Charter – first published in 1908 and featuring rules written in 1898 by the founder of the International Olympic Committee, Pierre de Coubertin – the protocol of Olympic Games opening ceremonies is “fundamental to the correct communication of the Olympic values and ideals and one of the key elements of the opening ceremony is the three oaths taken by athletes, followed by officials and then the coaches”.

From the 2018 Olympic Winter Games, the three oaths undertaken were merged into one, with the athletes taking the lead, as IHF referee Lorena Mac Coll undertook the oath on behalf of all officials and referees in Buenos Aires on the main stage in front of the packed crowd.

“It was really amazing when I was out there - I could only think of all the work that I had done to be there, and I was so happy,” said Mac Coll, a Buenos Aires native, who lives close to many of the venues. “I also felt very proud, but I also feel a big responsibility of doing the right thing in the name of all referees and officials – especially the beach handball ones.”

Mac Coll was told by the Argentina Olympic Committee (COA) three weeks ago that she would undertake the crucial role after being voted in to the role from a list of all the referees and officials working at the Games by members of the COA.

“Really, I think my nomination was recognition for beach handball, because it really deserves it,” continued Mac Coll to IHF.info. “Beach handball has all the ingredients to be considered an Olympic sport and it being here at the Youth Olympic Games is another brick in the wall and testament to all the great things that the beach handball family has been doing to promote the sport for many years.”

31-year-old Mac Coll has been an IHF referee since she was 28-years-old and whistled at the 2016 IHF Men’s and Women’s Beach Handball World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, and has also taken to the sand at numerous Pan American and South American championships.

For her, to take the stage at the opening ceremony was also a chance to meet some of her own personal sporting idols. 

“I was with lots of important people backstage,” said Mac Coll. “I was with Gabriela Sabatini, who is one of the best Argentinian tennis players of all time, Paula Pareto who won gold in judo at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and Carlos Retegui, who was head coach of the Argentina men’s hockey team who also won gold in Rio – it was amazing.

“I want to thank my referee partner since 2016 and a big friend of mine, Mery Laura Diaz, and with all of the beach handball family here in Buenos Aires, we are going to show the entire world why we are so proud of our sport.”