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Singapore-bound for Youth Olympic Games
Athletes from across the world will descend on Singapore next year competing in more than 20 sports as part of the inaugural Youth Olympic Games, to be held in August 2010.
Established to invoke and further develop the Olympic ideals of excellence, friendship and respect in youth athletes globally, the event will bring together more than 5000 athletes and officials from more than 200 nations before an audience of millions.
Athletics Australia Youth High Performance Manager Sara Mulkearns is thrilled by the prospect of the Games and the opportunities it provides for the development young track and field hopefuls.
“It’s a wonderful initiative that could generate wonderful outcomes,” she said.
“The opportunity to compete against some of the world’s best athletes for their age will be invaluable and the development pathways the Games provide both on and off the track are outstanding.”
Australia’s team of 10 will be nominated for selection by the Australian Olympic Committee by Athletics Australia selectors following the Australian Junior Championships to be held in Sydney during March 2010.
To be eligible for selection athletes must win their event at the selection trials and be born between January 1, 1993 and December 31, 1994.
Constraints on the size of the team will mean that many talented juniors will miss selection but Mulkearns importantly recognises that this development pathway is one of many offered by Athletics Australia.
“It’s important that athletes are not discouraged in their endeavours should they not be selected for this team,” she said.
“It’s a small team that will feature only a small segment of our best athletes with those unsuccessful reminded of the 2011 world youth championships and the 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games.”
A glittering opening ceremony will open competition on August 14, 2010 with a fortnight of fantastic competition to follow.
For more information on the Youth Olympic Games CLICK HERE
For more information on selection and eligibility criteria CLICK HERE
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