Youth Olympic Games - Future Olympic champions ready for Games

by Australian Olympic Committee on 14 Jul 2010 One month today the next generation of Australian Olympic champions will march in a spectacular Opening Ceremony at the Float Marina in Singapore for the first ever Youth Olympic Games.

The composition of the 100-strong team to wear the green and gold is now finalised. To celebrate the final selections and the countdown milestone Team members and Chef de Mission Nick Green gathered in Melbourne today.

Australian Youth Olympic Team members Olivia Bontempelli, Rosemary Fadljevic and Hannah Kaser took on Mark Bradtke, Allison Tranquilli and Matt Burston in a 3-on-3 basketball demonstration at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre. Basketball like many of the sports at the YOG will take on an exciting, modified youth format.

Aged 14 – 18 years, the 2010 Australian Youth Olympic Team will compete in 20 of the 26 sports on the 2012 London Olympic program and is the maximum size allowed by the IOC.

'There are some outstanding medal prospects on the Team,' Chef de Mission and two time Olympic champion Nick Green said.

'We have selected the best athletes from a range of disciplines to compete at the Youth Games.'

Among them are junior world champions and national champions, 48 percent are women and 19 have competed at Australia’s very own Youth Olympic Festival, organised and funded by the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC).

To date, two athletes (Elizabeth Parnov, Athletics and Damien Hooper, Boxing) have been selected to compete at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi after the Youth Olympics.

'The Youth Olympics will offer our young athletes an experience which proves a valuable step in their journey to represent the country at the Olympic Games,' Green said.

'Accompanying them are 27 coaches, 10 of whom are Olympians or have Olympic experience.'

The AOC has made a significant investment spending $647,000 to prepare, manage and outfit the Team.

The Australian Team will form part of 3,600 athletes descending on Singapore to compete in a multi-sports environment, live in an Olympic Village, undergo drug testing and learn about the Olympic values in a Culture and Education program.

'The Culture and Education program will teach our athletes about important Olympic traditions, such as sportsmanship and friendship, respect and tolerance, the environment and sustainability,' Green said.

Olympic sailing gold medallist Elise Rechichi will travel to Singapore with the Team as its Young Ambassador. She will play an important role as mentor and motivator to the young athletes.

Joining her will be Australian Olympians Andrew Gaze, Michele Timms (basketball), Andrew Smith (hockey) and Daniel Trenton (taekwondo) who together with the likes of Usain Bolt and Michael Phelps will meet and encourage the young athletes.

The Youth Olympic Games will create a lasting sport, culture and education legacy for young athletes around the world.

For more information, please go to: singapore2010.olympics.com.au