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The Minister for Sport and Youth, Kate Ellis, today wished the Australian team good luck for the 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games which start in Pune, India, tomorrow (Sunday).
PDF printable version of Aussie team all set for Commonwealth Youth Games (PDF 28 KB).
"The Australian team, which flew to India last Friday, will be one of the largest contingents at the Youth Games, with 102 athletes and 37 coaches and support staff taking part," Ms Ellis said.
"No doubt some of these rising stars will form part of future Australian Commonwealth and Olympic Games teams."
The Commonwealth Youth Games are for athletes aged 18 years and under. The 2008 Youth Games will involve about 1300 competitors from 71 Commonwealth nations who will compete in nine sports - athletics, badminton, boxing, shooting, swimming, table tennis, tennis, weightlifting and wrestling.
"It's an exciting time for these competitors on the eve of a major event and it will be the first time many of them have experienced elite international competition," Ms Ellis said.
"I wish them all the very best for the Commonwealth Youth Games; I'm sure they will represent Australia proudly and continue our reputation as one of the most successful sporting nations in the world."
Former Australian swimmer and Commonwealth and Olympic Games gold medallist, Petria Thomas, will again be General Manager of the Australian team.
The Commonwealth Youth Games has produced several Australian athletes who have continued their success into senior competition including Olympic swimming medallists Jodie Henry and Nicholas Frost, and sprint hurdler Sally McLellan, who won a historic silver medal for Australia at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Other successful athletes who competed in past Commonwealth Youth Games include: