TEAM: The nation’s best young athletes, who will represent Australia at the second summer Youth Olympic Games in China this August, are embracing Team values passed on by swimming great Susie O’Neill.
“You have to be your best both on and off the field of play,” said Chef de Mission O’Neill as she goes about instilling values in the Youth Olympians.
“I hope to impart on these young athletes the importance of excellence both inside and outside the sporting arena.”
The culture and the values of the 89 aspiring athletes, who will compete across 23 sports at the YOG, are being proactively addressed through communications, a peer mentor program and a values session at a Team camp prior to the Games.
The aim is to build a healthy culture within the Australian Olympic Youth Team for Nanjing and beyond. It is all about young athletes appreciating the honour of wearing the green and gold.
“The athletes must be proud to wear the Australian tracksuit and must realise that with that, comes a certain level of responsibility,” eight time Olympic medallist O’Neill said.
Since being selected to the Team, athletes have received regular electronic communications from team administrators, which highlight the Team values and link to video messages from Olympian heroes reinforcing the importance of culture during any sporting competition.
The young athletes have also been invited to participate in a peer mentor program, called Champ Connect, which connects them with their Olympian heroes.
More than 60 Olympians, including Olympic medallists Liz Cambage (basketball), Sara Carrigan (track cycling), David Guest (hockey), and Andrew Lauterstein (swimming) are participating in the program and sharing their experiences both on and off the field.
“It is wonderful to see so many Olympians wanting to be involved and support our future Olympians,” O’Neill said.
“I know they will discuss about the importance of not giving up. Giving 100% and knowing at the end of the competition you could not have given any more.”
Then, prior to departing for the YOG, the Australian Youth Olympic Team will participate in a values session called ACTIVE A.S.P.I.R.E.
The session, led by 2012 Olympian Andrew Grant and featuring video messages from Olympic medallists Kim Crow, Steve Hooker, Cate Campbell and Ken Wallace, will explain the A.S.P.I.R.E. values, the soul of any Australian Team when competing at an Olympic Games.
“It’s not just about medals,” O’Neill said. “Athletes must learn to keep things in perspective and know that behaviour is just as important as a gold medal.”
The second summer Youth Olympic Games commence in Nanjing, China on Saturday 16 August and run for 12 days. The Australian Team convenes for the pre departure Champ Camp in Sydney on Tuesday 12 August, prior to departing for Nanjing on Wednesday 13 August 2014.
Frances Cordaro
olympics.com.au
@AUSOlympicTeam
