Team Ireland preparations for Nanjing 2014 under the leadership of Chef de Mission Martin Burke are well advanced.
The newly refurbished Hong Kong National Sports Institute , Hong Kong Golf Club, and the Beas River Equestrian Centre will be used to help athletes and support staff prepare for Nanjing in the best possible locations.
Qualification is extremely difficult as only 3,808 athletes from 28 sports qualify through continental championships – 7,000 fewer than in the London 2012 Olympic Games.
For athletes aged 15 to 18 and other youth participants, the Youth Olympic Games are the global highest-level multi-sport event which integrates education and culture inspiring them to live by the Olympic values and become ambassadors of Olympism.
Nanjing 2014 will be staged on 16-28 August this year, with 222 events in 28 sports. 3808 athletes from 204 nations/regions will participate in the Games. (Note: Total number of athletes may slightly vary following confirmation of specific event programme.)
All participating athletes must be 15, 16, 17 or 18 years old on the 31st December in the year of the YOG. Athletes who are 18 years old during the YOG period but who will be 19 years old on the 31st December in the year of the YOG are not eligible to participate.
In regards to attendance at the YOG, participating athletes are required to stay in the YOV for the duration of the YOG (from the Opening Ceremony until the Closing Ceremony), regardless of their competition schedules.
They shall participate in the sports competitions and the culture & education programme. The Culture & Education Programme (CEP) will be valuable for athletes who will benefit from their participation while preparing for their future career. Ireland’s Young Ambassador has already been selected – Singapore Youth Team Member and current Irish International Hockey player Leah Ewart.
Ireland will definitely have athletes qualified in Athletics, Boxing, Canoeing, Equestrian, Golf and Rowing. By end of June the IOC and Nanjing Organising Committee will confirm final athlete entries, but Ireland expect to have a team of 12 athletes from at least 6 sports.
A final team day is planned for July 23rd for selected athletes, their parents/guardians, coaches, medical team, and Team Ireland Young Ambassador.
The will be information talks on YOG in general/ Nanjing sports programme/ Hong Kong training base, medical & physio issues, sports science issues, ad the cultural and education programme (CEP).
Here are some links to the Nanjing website providing detail on competition schedules, sports venues, ticketing and frequently asked questions for spectators.
http://www.nanjing2014.org/en/en_sports/scheduleResults.htm
http://www.nanjing2014.org/en/venue_en/survey.htm
http://www.nanjing2014.org/en/spectator_en/tickets.htm
http://www.nanjing2014.org/en/spectator_en/SpectatorsFAQ.htm
HKSI Track and Field Stadium (above)
Hong Kong Golf Club (above)
HKSI Strength and Condition Centre (above)
