Jamaica seek glory at Youth Olympics

Ryon Jones, Gleaner Writer

The inaugural Youth Olympic Games, which runs from August 14 to 26, will get under way today in Singapore. Swimmer Kendese Nangle will carry Jamaica's flag during the opening ceremony.

All 26 Olympic sports will be contested at the Games, but Jamaica will only feature in three sporting disciplines - athletics, badminton and swimming.

The small contingent consists of 12 athletes, one badminton player and two swimmers.

Sixteen-year-old Nangle will be the first Jamaican athlete to bow into action when she takes to the pool at 11:24 Jamaica time tonight. She will swim out of lane two in heat two of five in the 100m backstroke. Dennis Coke, two years Nangle's senior, will go up against Phetphanom Keophiachan of Lao in badminton men's singles action at 12:50 Sunday morning.

Nangle will return to the pool on Wednesday when she competes in the 50m backstroke. She will, however, be preceded by Jamaica's other swimming representative, Brian Forte, who will contest the 50m freestyle on Tuesday and the 100m freestyle on Thursday.

The 12-member athletics team will take to the track on Tuesday, August 17.

The team originally had 13 members, but was reduced after track and field athlete Julian Forte pulled out because of injury.

Despite being such a small team, it has a great deal of depth as Jamaica will be represented in six field events.

Jamaica were forced to send a small contingent to the Games after a number of their athletes failed to meet the International Association of Athletics Federations and the International Olympic Committee qualifying standards.

To secure qualification to the youth Olympics, athletes had to compete in a number of junior meets across the region. They were then selected, based on their performances.

Jamaica had originally qualified athletes to participate in only athletics and swimming, but the way was open for Coke's participation when an athlete from another country withdrew from the badminton tournament.

The Games are not just geared towards testing the youngsters' athletic prowess, but have huge cultural and educational significance. All participants are required to take part in the culture and education programme, which is divided into seven different themes, five of which will take place in the village itself and two outside.

Culture and education

"You can't go there and compete and leave, you have to take part in the culture and education programme. The youth Olympic Games has deferent objectives from a normal sports event," Mike Fennell, president of the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA), stressed while speaking at a press briefing at the JOA headquarters before the team's departure.

There will also be a great deal of interest surrounding the relays, as the relay teams will comprise various athletes from across the region.

Nangle ... Jamaica's flag bearer.