It has been held every four years since then and was given its current name from 2015 onwards, matching the nomenclature for the newly launched Youth Olympic Games.
[3][4] The purpose of the games was to improve the performance of China's best young athletes and promote widespread involvement in sport.
[5] Following on from revelations of doping in China, the competition incorporated its first blood tests in the 1999 edition.
[5] This trend continued, with over 1200 out-of-competition drug tests happening as part of the 2007 City Games.
[6] The athletics competition has provided high level performances including a women's 5000 metres world junior record by Jiang Bo in 1995, and another in the women's javelin throw by Xue Juan in 2003.