Team GB Athletes Selected for First Winter Youth Olympics

The British Olympic Association announced today 23 young athletes from 9 winter Olympic disciplines selected to compete for Team GB at the first winter Youth Olympic Games (YOG), which takes place in Innsbruck, Austria, from 13-22 January 2012.

The Team GB delegation will be led by Chef de Mission Sir Clive Woodward and the event will see Team GB’s athletes, aged 14-18, compete alongside over 1,000 of the best young winter sport athletes from around the world in all seven sports on the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games programme.

All six of the bobsleigh athletes selected have already gained senior experience competing for Great Britain at Euopa Cup level, while Jazmin Sawyers has previously represented Great Britain at athletics, including winning a medal at the Youth Commonwealth Games earlier this year.

In creating the Youth Olympic Games, the IOC aims to inspire young people around the world to participate in sport and to embrace, embody and express the Olympic values of Excellence, Friendship and Respect.

The YOG will provide a balance between sport, education and culture. In addition to participating in their sport competitions, athletes will also take part in a Culture and Education Programme (CEP) – which includes a variety of activities focused on five themes: Olympism, Skills Development, Well-being and Healthy Lifestyle, Social Responsibility and Expression.

The competition format at the Youth Olympic Games sees a number of mixed gender and mixed nation competitions taking place in some sports, while Team GB’s two ice hockey competitors will take part in a unique individual skills challenge.

With exactly one month to go until the Opening Ceremony of the inaugural winter Youth Olympic Games, Team GB Chef de Mission Sir Clive Woodward said:
“I am hugely excited to be leading a team of 23 very talented and ambitious young winter athletes to the Youth Olympic Games in Innsbruck. I have no doubt that Team GB’s athletes will compete with great skill and pride to produce some thrilling performances.

“By winning Olympic gold in Whistler last year, Amy Williams demonstrated what can be achieved with dedication, determination and a great support system. Our priority at the British Olympic Association has been to ensure we have left no stone unturned in our preparations to allow every Team GB athlete to fulfil their potential and produce their personal best in Innsbruck.

“Critically, the experience the young athletes will gain in Innsbruck goes well beyond the sporting competition. They will have a very special opportunity to experience the Olympic atmosphere of living in an athletes’ village, competing in a multi-sport environment and participating in the culture and education programmes organised by the International Olympic Committee.

“Innsbruck has a rich Olympic history, having twice hosted the winter Olympics before - in 1964 and 1976 – and I have seen first-hand the fantastic job the organising committee have done in preparing the venues. We are looking forward to a fantastic ten days of competition.”

Commenting on their selection to Team GB:

Frances Slater, bobsleigh, said:
“I am very proud and excited to represent Team GB at the first winter Youth Olympic Games in Innsbruck. It will be a very special feeling to compete for my country in such a big competition, it has been my dream from a young age to represent my country at an Olympic Games.”

Mica McNeil, bobsleigh, said:
“The Youth Olympic Games are an important step for me in my ambition to represent Team GB at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games. I will give it my best shot to win a medal for Team GB.”

Olly Biddulph, bobsleigh, said:
"We have worked hard throughout the qualification period and are well set for a personal best performance at the winter Youth Olympic Games."

Jazmin Sawyers, bobsleigh, said:
"I have represented my country at Commonwealth level but this is now the highlight of my sporting career to date - I can’t wait to put on my Team GB kit and compete for the medals in Innsbruck."

The athletes selected to Team GB for the Innsbruck 2012 Winter Youth Olympic Games are:

 Sport                    Name                          Hometown
Bobsleigh         Oliver Biddulph          Bridgwater, Somerset
Bobsleigh         James Lelliot             Poole, Dorset
Bobsleigh         Mica McNeil               Blackhill, County Durham
Bobsleigh         Jazmin Sawyers         Stoke-on-Trent
Bobsleigh         Kirsten Emery            Dronfield, Derbyshire
Bobsleigh         Frances Slater           Ware, Hertfordshire

Notes to editors:

All Team GB athletes will be available for interview at a media opportunity on 10th January 2012 in London. The team will depart for Innsbruck the following day.

For more information on Innsbruck 2012 please click here.

At the inaugural summer Youth Olympic Games in Singapore in 2010, Team GB’s 39 athletes won 13 medals across 8 sports, including 5 gold, 2 silver and 6 bronze.
For further information and interview requests please contact BOA Communications Officer Phil Wilkinson on philip.wilkinson@boa.org.uk / 0207 842 5721.

The British Olympic Association (BOA) is the National Olympic Committee for Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Its mission is to transform British lives through the power of the Olympic values and the success of Team GB. The BOA’s role is to prepare the ‘Best of British’ athletes for, and lead them at, the summer, winter and youth Olympic Games. The BOA delivers extensive support services to Britain’s Olympic athletes and their National Governing Bodies to enhance Olympic success and is responsible for championing the Olympic values and brand in the UK. The BOA receives no funding from the lottery or government, has no political interests and is completely dependent upon fundraising income to achieve its mission. The BOA is the strong, independent voice for British Olympic Sport.

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