Over 2000 young elite athletes from more than 20 nations competed in 21 Olympic sports at the 2009 Australian Youth Olympic Festival last week
Team GB finish Australian Youth Olympic Festival with 68 medals!
20 Jan 2009
A team of young British athletes left the Australian Youth Olympic Festival with 68 medals this weekend!
Over 2000 young elite athletes from more than 20 nations competed in 21 Olympic sports at the 2009 Australian Youth Olympic Festival last week.
A team of young British athletes aged 13 – 19 years left the competition with 68 medals! Their impressive tally of 26 gold, 16 silver and 26 bronze medals beat the Team GB 2007 result.
The Festival aims to provide a true Olympic experience for competitors and the Opening Ceremony incorporates the traditions of the Olympic Games with an athlete’s parade, athletes and official’s oath, lighting of the festival flame and raising of the Olympic Flag.
Mark England from the British Olympic Association said: ‘This is a very talented group of young athletes. To come to the other side of the world, and to compete in temperatures over 40 degrees, against top class opposition is a huge undertaking. To do that and win 68 medals is exceptional.
Some of these athletes will make the transition to the senior ranks in their sport quite quickly. For others the journey will be more measured, but when you look at these performances the future is extremely bright, which means we’re in good shape for the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games.’
Find free images of the Team GB athletes at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival.
