Goule, Walton depart for Olympic Youth Camp today - JAMAICAOBSERVER.COM KAYON RAYNOR,
NATIONAL junior representatives, middle-distance runner Natoya Goule and swimmer Ramon Walton, leave Jamaica this afternoon to participate in the Olympic Youth Camp (OYC) in Beijing, China, between August 5 and 18.
During the two-week camp some 600 participants from 205 National Olympic Committees and 10 participants with disabilities will be exposed to Olympic sport competition events, get a guided tour of the Games Village, attend the official opening ceremony, among other things.
President of the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) Michael Fennell told Sporting World that Goule and Walton join a distinguished list of past national junior athletes who got the opportunity to learn first-hand about the Olympics.
“This has been part of the Olympic Games for many editions now and we have sent people to the youth camp from way back in Barcelona (1992), in Atlanta (1996), Sydney (2004) and Athens (2004), and we have always had two representatives…one male and female,” Fennell said, indicating that the two youngsters will be under the guidance of national swimming coach Jackie Walter.
Goule, of Manchester High School, represented Jamaica at last month’s IAAF World Junior Athletic Championships in Poland, while Walton, who attends school in the United States, won two individual silver medals in the 100m backstroke and 200m butterfly at the recent Caribbean Island Swimming Championships in Kingston.
“We have briefed these two youngsters on several occasions and they are certainly both excited about the opportunity that they are being afforded and the wonderful experience they will gain,” added the veteran administrator. The youth camp is based 10 kilometres from Olympic Green and 35 kilometres from Beijing Capital International Airport.
“When they return to Jamaica we will have a debriefing and both of them will be asked to write a report on their experience,” Fennell explained.
The OYC is an integral and special part of the Olympic Games with the goal to promote the Olympic spirit and provide a unique Olympic experience for young people. It showcases the culture, history and customs of the host city and country; and fosters cultural exchange and friendship among young people around the world.
Fennell, who also serves as chairman of the Commonwealth Games Federation, explained that both Goule and Walton were nominated by their respective national sporting associations.
“In the past we have gone around, but we felt that as they are two of the sports (swimming and track and field) that are represented on our programme we invited their national federations to nominate their representatives,” he posited.
Jamaica will also participate in cycling and equestrian at the 29th Olympiad, which runs from August 8 to 24.
