President of the Jamaica Olympic Association, Mike Fennell, has sought to clear the air regarding selection of Jamaica’s team to the Youth Olympic Games this summer in China, noting the process is being done through qualification.
Jamaica will be represented in four sporting disciplines at the games, track and field, beach volleyball, fencing and swimming.
Speaking with RJR Sports Online, Fennell explained that each athlete selected would have earned a place in the squad on merit.
“Each International Federation for the sport set their own criteria as approved by the IOC for how you qualify”, Fennell commented. “You will recall that last year we had the qualification of the two young beach volleyball players, the fencer qualified by competing in England, the track and field athletes qualified through the Junior Carifta Championships and the swimmers also”, Fennell further added.
Noting that plans have been going well for the Games with a youth ambassador also to be included on the team, Fennell says the athletes will be involved in more than just sports at the Games.
“The Youth Olympic Games has some special features,” Fennell said. “It is not just a sports competition, but it also has a cultural and educational component which is compulsory for all participants”, Fennell highlighted. “So any athlete going to the Games, has to take part in the cultural and educational programme, because the IOC in its prescription for the Games are quite clear that they want this to be about the development of the whole person and no just your physical ability to win medals in a sport” the JOA head noted.
Jamaica’s team to the second Youth Olympic Games set for August 16 to 28 in Nanjing China, will be announced next week.
Sprinter Odean Skeen won Jamaica’s lone medal, at the inaugural Games in Singapore in 2010 taking gold in the boys 100 meters.
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JOA President clears the air about team selection for Youth Olympics
