DHAKA: The International Olympic Committee announced on Friday that athletes from the Ebola-affected region will be prohibited from participating in certain events at the Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China, which begin next day.

Athletes from West Africa will not be allowed to compete in combat sports or in the swimming pool, as it is impossible to rule out the risk of potential infection, the IOC and the Nanjing Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee said in a joint statement, reports the Daily Mail Online on Friday. 

The rules will prevent three athletes from the region from competing in those events, the statement said.

Those from the affected region competing in other sports will also undergo regular temperature checks and physical assessments throughout the games the two committees said.

The statement added: 'We regret that due to this issue some young athletes may have suffered twice, both from the anguish caused by the outbreak in their home countries and by not being able to compete in the Youth Olympic Games.

'The IOC and Organizing Committee will therefore offer to each of the National Olympic Committees affected, if they wish, that their national flag will be brought into the stadium at the opening ceremony and will be hoisted at the venues.

'The athletes who have not been able to participate, will also receive in the near future an invitation from the IOC and the organizing committee to come to Nanjing to take part in a sporting competition and to experience the welcoming atmosphere and spirit of the city and Jiangsu province.'

However, it comes after it was revealed a fourth victim of Ebola died in Nigeria on Thursday.

The country's Health Ministry said the person was a nurse who helped treat the country's first Ebola case, Liberian-American Patrick Sawyer who flew to the country last month and died.

BDST: 1753 HRS, AUG 15, 2014