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Emma Snowsill Selected to Mentor at the Youth Olympics

Photo by ITU/Delly Carr
Photo by ITU/Delly Carr

The ITU and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that Beijing Olympic gold medallist in triathlon,  Emma Snowsill, has been selected as an Athlete Role Model (ARM) for the second Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China from August 16 to 28, 2014.

Snowsill joins 36 other Athlete Role Models (ARMs) who will be mentoring 3,800 young athletes who will be participating in the Games before their hopeful appearance at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

“I’m absolutely honoured to be an Athlete Role Model for the Youth Olympics,” said Snowsill. “Competing as a youth is when I truly got my first taste of the Olympic movement and what it was like to compete for your country on the world stage. I feel that sport has made me who I am and  I am excited to pass on my experiences to the future generation of Olympians.”

ARMs will conduct educational activities and workshops that will focus on  skills development, how to lead healthy lifestyles, social responsibility and Olympism.

“Having such a successful and experienced athlete like Emma in Nanjing will be a great learning experience for all of the up and coming triathletes competing at the Youth Olympic Games. I have no doubt she will make a large impact on both their lives and their careers,” said ITU President and IOC Member Marisol Casado.

Claudia Bokel, Chair of the IOC Athletes’ Commission and Olympic silver medallist in fencing, explains the endeavour: “The Athlete Role Model programme is a really unique element of the Youth Olympic Games. The ARMs have so much valuable information to pass on to the younger generation. They will really inspire and empower the athletes long after the Games conclude to not only be great ‘Youth Olympians’, but to share the skills and values learnt at the YOG with their communities and peers.”

The women’s triathlon takes place on August 17 with the men’s race the following on the 18th.  The Mixed Relay competition will take place on August 21.

Qualification for Nanjing is already underway, with Australia and New Zealand having qualified their allotment of one female and one male for the individual races. The next YOG qualifier will be held by the African confederation on March 23 in Buffalo City, South Africa.