Youth Olympic Team going for gold

New Zealand’s Youth Olympic team depart for the 2010 Singapore Youth Olympic Games

All 80 members of New Zealand’s first ever Youth Olympic team today left for Singapore to take part in the inaugural 2010 Youth Olympic Games.

New Zealand’s 80 strong Youth Olympic Team includes athletes from a range of 16 sporting disciplines, including rowing, athletics, badminton, cycling, wrestling, equestrian, hockey, judo, shooting, table tennis, aquatics, basketball, boxing, sailing, triathlon and weight-lifting.

Accompanied by Chef de Mission and former New Zealand Olympian, Robyn Wong the team is setting its sights on Gold.

“Each member of the team is excited and proud to be representing New Zealand on the world stage. The Youth Olympic Games is an incredible opportunity for our young athletes to compete internationally and to be the best that they can be. Everyone is in high spirits and the Games are helping to inspire our youth team to continue with their chosen sport and we are hoping to bring home some medals,” says Robyn Wong.

Triple Olympic and World Championships gold medallist Usain Bolt, American swimmer Michael Phelps, and New Zealand’s very own Barbara Kendall and Hamish Carter are among the ambassadors for the Youth Olympic Games.

The Youth Olympics will feature athletes between age 14 and 18 competing in 26 sporting disciplines.
ENDS –

Notes to editors:
Singapore will be hosting the inaugural Youth Olympic Games from August 14 to 26. The Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games will receive 5,000 athletes and officials from the 205 National Olympic Committees (NOCs), along with an estimated 1,200 media representatives, 20,000 local and international volunteers, and more than 370,000 spectators. Young athletes - aged between 14 and 18 years - will compete in 26 sports and take part in the Culture and Education Program.