Organisers of the Youth Olympics in China have defended a ban on athletes from Ebola-hit nations competing in some sports after Nigeria's withdrawal from the event in protest.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said on Saturday a ban on athletes from affected countries competing in pool and combat sports was aimed at trying to stop the disease spreading to the thousands of young athletes gathered in Nanjing.
IOC president Thomas Bach said local Chinese organisers also wanted to prevent an Ebola outbreak in the world's most-populated country.
"The task of the organising committee and the IOC was to find the right balance between the safety of the athletes present and the safety of the people of Nanjing and China," Bach told a media conference.
The restrictions were announced on Friday, just two days before the opening ceremony and a day after the last of the 3800 athletes, including 89 Australians, arrived in the southern city.
Eight Australians will swim at the Games.
The restrictions were a precautionary measure, Mr Bach said on Saturday, and denied the Ebola-hit countries were banned from the Youth Olympics.
"There is no ban or sanction. We left it then to the relevant countries to make their own decisions," the IOC president said.
Nigerian team officials this week accused the organising committee of treating them unfairly at the Olympic Village.
"Nigerian athletes were quarantined, isolated and barred from training alongside other athletes since they arrived," Nigerian Sports Commission director-general Gbenga Elegbeleye told website Inside The Games.
"Following this discrimination, we have resolved to pull out of the Games."
Mr Bach confirmed Nigeria's departure, but said they had decided to leave voluntarily in conjunction with advice from their government.
"Nigeria wants to go home," he said.
"We were told ... the Nigerian team government have decided this and again we feel very sad for the athletes."
The team had been staying at the athletes village with the rest of the 3800 athletes.
The Youth Olympic Games run until August 28.
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