Athleteshead to India

(CNS): The Cayman Islands Olympic Committee (CIOC) will be sending a team of young athletes, all aged 18 years old or less, to compete in the 3rd Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune, India, from 12 to18 October. The sports events for these Games include Athletics, Swimming, Badminton, Men’s Boxing, Shooting, Table Tennis, Tennis, Weightlifting and Men’s Wrestling. (Left: Richard Parchment and Joel Francis)

According to CIOC, Cayman was limited to eight athletes to participate in the Games. As some Sports Associations chose not to participate in the Games, the Cayman Team will compete in Track & Field only and consists of the following athletes:

Ashleigh Nalty – long jump, high jump, 4×100 relay
Alexandra Terry – discus throw
Gizelle Wright – 100m, 200m, 4×100 relay
Jahzenia Thomas – long jump, 4×100 relay
Chantelle Morrison – 100m, 200m, 4×100 relay
Joseph Suberan – 100m, 200m
Steven Reid – 100m, 200m
Travis Webb – long jump, high jump

The CIOC team leader / Chef de Mission will be Richard Parchment. The Athletics team manager is Sana Tugman and the Athletics coach is Tyrone Yen. CIOC President Donald McLean will also be in attendance, and a few parents are planning to support the athletes in Pune.

The Commonwealth Games Federation will be assisting CIOC with some of the costs for airfare and accommodation for the delegation. The delegation has been outfitted with the excess gear from Puma that was donated for the Beijing 2008 Games and additional items have been sourced locally from Island Embroidery Ltd.

A send-off meeting with the delegation was held on Tuesday, 7 October, at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex. Parents were in attendance with the athletes to receive information on travel and the Games. The Ministry for Sports was represented by Assistant Chief Officer Joel Francis, and apologies were received from Honorable Minister Alden McLaughlin and Chief Officer AngelaMartins.

Francis presented the Cayman flag to the Chef de Mission Richard Parchment. CIOC and the Ministry for Sports wish the team all the best in their travels and in their competition.

The team departs on October 10th and returns on October 20th. Please see the attached competition schedule for the Cayman athletes; and log on to www.cygpune2008.com for more information on the Games.

The CYG Pune 2008 delegation, L-R:
Richard Parchment, Sana Tugman, Chantelle Morrison, Ashley Nalty, Gizelle Wright, Steven Reid, Jahzenia Thomas, Travis Webb, Alexandra Terry, Tyrone Yen, Joseph Suberan.