Team Ireland EYOF met recently to finalise their operational plans for the up-coming European Youth Olympics in Utrecht, July 13-20th, 2013.
Ireland will be represented in Athletics , Cycling, Gymnastics, and Swimming. For the first time female events have been added to the cycling programme.
OCI Sports Director Martin Burke recently attended the final EYOF Seminar for National Olympic Committees and also met with officials from the revamped Sports Institute facility in nearby Papendal.
He has arranged for the Irish delegation to have their pre Games training camp at Papendal, situated on the outskirts of the city of Arnhem. It offers superb outdoor and indoor training facilities and has an onsite sports hotel.
In addition to being the home base for Dutch NOC, Papendal also houses the Sports and Innovation Centre. This Centre consists of the Sports Medical Centre Papendal (SMCP); ISA (Institute for Sport Accommodations); as well as InnoSportNL (Innovation and Sport). Also located at Papendal are the Netherlands Paralympic Committee (NPC); the headquarters of the Royal Dutch Athletics Association. The National Sports Centre Papendal is also an official Centre for Elite Sports and Education (CEE).
The OCI have arranged for a team day at Athlone Institute of Technology in early July, for briefing sessions with athletes, parents, coaches, and support staff. The Team performance and village clothing will be distributed here.
