Team GB Youth Olympic Festival Players Selected - Hoopsfix.com

Team GB Youth Olympic Festival Players Selected

Josh Steel

Josh SteelEight young British basketball players have been officially selected to compete for Team GB at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival (AYOF) in Sydney from 16-20 January 2013.

England Under-16s Dwayne Lautier-Ogunleye (’96) and Josh Steel (’97, pictured above), and Scotland’s Malcolm Winning (’96) and Gregor Gray (’96) will represent the Team GB boys in the tournament, which will take the rapidly growing 3 v 3 format. Whilst for the girls, Rihanna Mae-Lang (’97), Shanice Norton (’97), Rebecca Taylor and Savannah Wilkinson (’98) have all made the cut.

The AYOF will see approximately 1,700 athletes aged 13-19 from 30 nations competing across 17 Olympic sports in many of the venues used to host the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. Team GB will compete in 11 of those Olympic sports, including basketball.

Inspired by Team GB’s at this summer’s London Olympic Games, the young athletes will be aiming to use the AYOF experience as a springboard in their development towards fulfilling their aspirations of representing Team GB at future Olympic Games.

Mark England, Team GB Chef de Mission said:

“Following the inspirational achievements of Team GB’s athletes this summer at the London 2012 Games it is an exciting time to lead this group of exceptionally talented young athletes to the Australian Youth Olympic Festival.

“The AYOF will play an important role in introducing these athletes to an environment reminiscent of the Olympic Games and providing them with a taste of a multi-sport competition. They will also have the opportunity to develop their understanding of the Olympic ideals of excellence, friendship and respect. I’m confident the AYOF will prove to be an invaluable experience in progressing their international sporting careers as they aim to bridge the gap between youth and senior international representation. The statistics show what a crucial springboard the AYOF has been for many of our successful London 2012 Olympians.”

As part of its commitment to develop and nurture future British Olympic talent for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and beyond, the British Olympic Association will be taking Team GB delegations to seven Youth Olympic events over the next four years, beginning with the 2013 AYOF.

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