National Youth Games

1.1. The UMFÍ National Youth Games are a drug- and alcohol-free family festival to be held every year over the Verslunarmannahelgi weekend. Every effort shall be made to offer participants a wide range of sports, and to offer them and their families good facilities, healthy activities and entertainment to suit as many people as possible.

1.2. The aim of the Games is to reach as many young people as possible, encourage their participation in sport and strengthen their social solidarity, guided by honesty, consideration and the joy of play. Emphasis shall be placed on a varied programme that appeals to participants and other guests alike. UMFÍ’s values shall guide the Games, with emphasis on good conduct, realism and consideration.

1.3. The organiser shall strive to give the opening and closing ceremonies, as well as the rest of the programme, a dignified and festive character aimed at young people. Emphasis shall be placed on a varied programme that appeals to participants and other guests alike.

2.1. The UMFÍ Board shall seek organisers among the member federations. It shall be ensured that the municipality at the venue has given its consent. The choice of venue shall be announced at the National Youth Games each year at least two years in advance.

2.2. An executive committee shall be appointed to prepare and run the Games. The committee shall consist of representatives of the organiser, the municipality concerned, the UMFÍ Board and the UMFÍ Youth Council. In the event of a tie, the chair has the casting vote. It is desirable that a youth representative from the venue works with the committee.

2.3. UMFÍ shall conclude written agreements on the Games and how they are run. The parties to the agreement are UMFÍ, the organiser (member federation) and the municipality concerned.

2.4. UMFÍ, together with the organiser and the municipality concerned, shall work jointly on the profile of the Games, including their funding and promotion. UMFÍ provides the Games Director and a project manager at its own expense.

3.1. The UMFÍ National Youth Games shall take place over the Verslunarmannahelgi weekend every year. The Games shall last three to four days. The Games shall be opened on Friday evening and closed on Sunday.

3.2. All young people aged 11–18 in the calendar year are entitled to take part.

3.3. Registration closes at midnight on the last Sunday before the Games. The executive committee may extend the registration deadline in individual sports if it considers it necessary.

4.1. The participation fee shall be decided by the UMFÍ Board together with the organiser each time.

4.2. Games packs are only handed out to those who have paid the registration fee.

5.1. Every effort shall be made to provide the best possible competition conditions for all sports, and to offer participants and their guests the best possible facilities for accommodation and activities at the Games.

5.2. The organiser is responsible for providing staff/volunteers for all sports and events at the Games.

5.3. Member federations are encouraged to appoint a contact person whom the executive committee can contact.

5.4. The organiser shall provide external security at the participants’ campsites and also set rules of conduct.

5.4. Sports games for children aged 10 and under shall be part of the activity programme of the Games, where everyone receives recognition for taking part without it being a competition.

6.1. The sports shall be varied and appeal to as many people as possible. There shall always be competitions in glíma, athletics, football, basketball and swimming.

6.2. The organiser shall ensure that the competition facilities in all sports meet the rules of the national sports federations. The organiser shall announce the final list of sports no later than 1 May.

6.3. Competitions shall follow the rules and age group divisions of the national sports federation concerned. However, the National Youth Games committee may change the age divisions, competition rules and facility requirements if necessary, and this shall be announced before the competition begins, cf. Article 3.2.

6.4. The final timetable for the sports shall be available the evening before the Games begin. The organisation of each sport shall be available no later than the evening before the competition.

6.5. The top three in each individual event receive prizes, as do the individuals in the top three teams in team competitions.

6.6. Participants may only compete with one team in each sport at the Games. If a participant is found to have played with a team other than their own, the team they played with illegally shall lose the match in question and cannot win a prize.

7.1. The UMFÍ National Youth Games Role Model Cup is presented at the closing ceremony to the regional sports federation that has shown exemplary conduct at the Games, both on and off the field.

7.2. The organiser appoints a three-person jury to choose the regional sports federation that receives the cup, and UMFÍ shall nominate one member of the jury.

7.3. There is a separate regulation on the Role Model Cup that sets out what the role model club must fulfil to receive the cup.

8.1 Before the competition begins, the UMFÍ Board shall appoint a three-person jury. The jury shall deal with all disputes that arise before or during the competition and rule on them in accordance with this regulation and, where applicable, the rules of the national sports federation concerned. Appeals shall be in writing and must reach the Games management no later than one hour after the end of the competition being appealed. Appeals shall be signed by the representative of the team or individual concerned. The jury’s rulings cannot be appealed.

Amendments to this regulation shall be approved by the UMFÍ Board.

This regulation enters into force immediately, and all previous regulations of the Games are repealed.

This regulation was last updated at a board meeting in March 2025.