The Young Warriors will join five other teams representing the six FIFA confederations at the games scheduled to run from August 14 to 26. The games will also see upcoming triathlon star Andrea Brown, fly the Zimbabwean flag high as one of Africas representatives after her impressive performance at the Triathlon African Youth Olympic Games qualifying competition in Pretoria last November 2009. The Asia Football Confederation will be represented by hosts Singapore in the mens competition and Iran in the womens showcase while CAF will be represented by Equatorial Guinea in the womens section.
Cuba will represent the Football Confederation (CONCACAF) in North and Central America and the Caribbean in the boys showdown as Trinidad and Tobago battle it out for honors in the girls competition, while South Americas CONMEBOL will be represented by Bolivias boys team and Chilean girls. Republic of Montenegro boys and Turkey girls will stand for Europes UEFA and the OFC in Oceania will be represented by Vanuatu boys and Papua New Guinea girls. Teams to the Singapore Youth Olympic Games were nominated by the respective football confederation and confirmed by FIFA from countries which never or rarely had the opportunity to participate either in Olympic Games or World Cups, said Sports and Recreation Commission general manager, Stanley Mutoya, in a press statement.
The Zimbabwe Olympic Committee (ZOC) and Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) have already met to discuss preparations for participation at the tournament. Team selection and preparation plans are being finalised to ensure availability of the team well on time in order to provide adequate preparations. The Youth Olympic Games are unique both as an offering and in their structure, with special focus being placed on exposing athletes to Olympic Values Education through a well designed culture and education programme (CEP). The CEP seeks to empower youths from around the world with positive knowledge, attitudes and values through sport, based on the Olympic spirit.
Post published in: Zimbabwe Sports News