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Kate is passionate about contributing to public debate on a wide range of important issues. Here are some of the issues she has touched on in the past.
- Should successful athletes have to pay back the AIS 10 Jun 2009
- Let's give youth voice now for a better future 12 Oct 2008
- Organ donation it's the greatest gift of all 21 Sep 2008
- Is safe sex message falling on deaf ears 31 Aug 2008
- Grassroots funding is key to Olympic glorys 10 Aug 2008
- Easy to overlook big issue of homelessness 20 Jul 2008
- Trailblazer Natasha leaves lasting legacy 29 Jun 2008
- Heavy hitters boost our World Cup hopes 01 Jun 2008
- Youth Forum Discussion Paper 17 May 2008
- We can't take sport for granted 11 May 2008
- Women truly can do anything be anything 20 Apr 2008
- Let the Games begin with all our athletes 30 Mar 2008
- Proud past but future a challenge for women 09 Mar 2008
- Young people will be heard at highest level 17 Feb 2008
- Our nation has changed dramatically in three weeks 16 Dec 2007
- Mobile Phone Towers 23 Sep 2007
- Bradken Foundry 01 Jul 2007
- Full Fees 03 Jun 2007
- Eating Disorders 17 Dec 2006
- Iraq 27 Jul 2006
- Electoral Laws 26 Jun 2006
- Dental 08 Jan 2006
- Make Poverty History 18 Sep 2005
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Media Releases
2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 200824 May 2008 - Future sport stars to shine in India
Australia's campaign for the Commonwealth Youth Games, to be held in India in October, was officially launched today by the Minister for Sport and Youth, Kate Ellis.
PDF printable version of Future sport stars to shine in India (PDF 30 KB)Ms Ellis said the Commonwealth Youth Games - for athletes 18 and under - was an important event for Australia's future stars.
"The young athletes in our Youth Games team will be Commonwealth and Olympic Games medallists of the future," she said.
"The Youth Games are a great opportunity to visit another nation, live in an athletes' village, mix with other young athletes from around the world, and most importantly gain the experience we hope will motivate them to represent Australia for many years to come."
Australia's team members will be chosen over the coming months. Some successful Australian athletes who have competed at past Youth Games include:
- swimmers Jodie Henry, Nick Ffrost, Linda McKenzie, Meagen Nay
- track and field athletes Sally McLellan, Dani Samuels, Chris Noffke
- female hockey player Rebecca Sanders
- female gymnast Monique Blount
The 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games will be the third event of its kind. The first Youth Games were in Scotland in 2000 and the second in Bendigo in Australia in 2004.
Ms Ellis said the Commonwealth Games were widely and aptly known as the friendly games and the same spirit of co-operation and unity bridging many different races, religions and cultures would be evident at the Youth Games.
"That does not mean the competition is not fierce - of course it is," Ms Ellis said.
The 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games will be held in Pune in the western Indian state of Maharashtra, from 12 to 18 October. All 71 members of the Commonwealth are expected to field teams, with a total of 1,300 athletes and officials likely to take part.
They will compete in nine sports - athletics, badminton, boxing, shooting, swimming, table tennis, tennis, weightlifting and wrestling.
Australia's team of 140, including 102 athletes, will compete in all of these sports and will be the biggest team after the host nation's.
Petria Thomas - a swimming legend with nine Commonwealth Games Gold Medals and eight Olympic medals - will again be the general manager of the Australian team.