Team GB Youth Olympic Games Review
27 Aug 2010
As the curtain is drawn on the first Youth Olympic Games with a spectacular closing ceremony in Singapore, International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge declared the Games to have ‘vastly exceeded my greatest expectations.’
Team GB’s 39 athletes can look back on their achievements over the past 12 days of competition with much pride. British athletes won 13 medals across eight sports, including five gold medals in five sports; taekwondo, rowing, gymnastics, equestrian and tennis.
In addition to the medal winning performances, Team GB athletes recorded a further 25 top ten positions, of which 12 were in the top-six, against the best in the world in their age group.
Many Team GB athletes were inspired by the Olympic stage to achieve new personal bests, including Zak Seddon, Sophie McKinna and bronze medallist Charlie Grice in the athletics stadium, and Team GB’s youngest member, 14-year-old gymnast Jessica Hogg who scored a personal best to finish fifth in the women’s floor final.
Team GB Chef de Mission Jan Paterson said:
“Team GB’s athletes have performed with passion, dedication and great quality here in Singapore. They won medals in half of the sports in which we participated, demonstrating a real breadth of potential, and in achieving 25 further top-ten places, on top of the 13 medals won, our athletes have shown there is a depth of talent ready to be nurtured along the journey towards future Olympic Games.
“I'm delighted that our athletes have fully embraced and enjoyed the wider Youth Olympic Games experience; including the mixed nations sport competitions, and the culture and education programme activities. They have learnt important lessons about the Olympic values of Excellence, Friendship and Respect and taken part in cultural exchanges with 3,600 fellow competitors from around the globe.
“The experience gained at the Youth Olympic Games will greatly benefit the development of these young athletes. I have no doubt they will now be better prepared for the demands they will face in progressing their careers through to senior international, and ultimately, Olympic level.
“Singapore has put on an outstanding inaugural Youth Olympic Games, with fantastic volunteers and great organisation, and Team GB’s 39 young athletes have played their part in making Olympic history with distinction.”