THE HON KATE ELLIS MP
MINISTER FOR SPORT
MEDIA RELEASE
Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600 Australia
Tel: (02) 6277 7350 Fax: (02) 6277 4134
11 October 2008
Aussie team all set for Commonwealth Youth Games
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).
“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:
Olympic swimmers Linda McKenzie and Meagen Nay
track and field athletes Dani Samuels and Chris Noffke
female hockey player Rebecca Saunders
female gymnast Monique Blount.
Media contact:
Brent Hooley 0434 561 033
NEWS 
