Flintshire athletes to compete in junior Commonwealth Games

Published Date: 25 September 2008 TWO of Flintshire's future sporting champions will put their skills to the test after winning a place in the Wales team to take on Commonwealth opposition.
Matthew James, 18, of Sychdyn, and Thomas Allen, of Hope, Flintshire, have been selected to represent Wales in the Commonwealth Youth Games, which will be held in the Indian city of Pune.Matthew, a tennis player and Thomas, a swimmer, will join a 37-strong team of young Welsh athletes travelling to India for the games, which begin on October 13.Matthew, who has been a keen tennis player since he was seven, said he is delighted to have been selected after devoting most of his time over the last two years to improving his skills.He said: "I have spent a lot of time training and have played all over the world in junior tournaments."Since leaving school, I have done bits of home tutoring here and there but have dedicated most of my time to keeping up with my tennis."My junior ranking was high enough this year for me to be selected and I am really pleased to be given this opportunity."The success of the athletes from Wales at the Beijing Olympics has been a real boost to me too, and I can't wait to get to Pune to compete."In total, 71 countries will be competing and many of the athletes of the future will be taking part.Thomas, a dedicated swimmer, said: "I'm really pleased to have been selected for the team and to be given the opportunity to represent my country."I'm really looking forward to the experience and will be working hard over the next weeks with final preparations for the games."Chris Jenkins, Commonwealth Games Council for Wales director, said: "The Commonwealth Youth Games are very important for young athletes, as it gives them invaluable experience of competing on an international stage."Many of the athletes taking part in the Youth Games will be strong candidates for Delhi 2010 and beyond for London in 2012."
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Don't expect miracle at Olympics: Kalmadi

NEW DELHI, July 21: Choosing not to make false promises to the nation just a fortnight before the Olympic Games, Indian Olympic Association President Suresh Kalmadi has categorically said that sports lovers of the country should not expect any miracle in China. "Our senior team was the runners up in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup and the juniors have won the Asia Cup just a few days back. We have to now sit up and make the roadmap for hockey," he said. "Things are otherwise also moving well in Indian sports but don't expect too many medals in China," said Kalmadi at the book release of 'Olympics: The India Story' by Boria Majumdar and Nalin Mehta last night. "Archers and shooters are looking in good stead though," he said. Kalmadi said the IOA was focussing on the Commonwealth Games to be held in Delhi in 2010 after which 2012 London Olympics would be the target for India. "The Government has sanctioned Rs 700 crore for the 2010 Commonwealth Games which will be used on 310 days of training of athletes. We have to ensure good Games in 2010 in Delhi which will form a base for our performance in the London Olympics. "We've to be at least second in the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi after which we will charge up for London," he added. Kalmadi also appealed to the corporates to come forward and support the Olympic sports instead of going gaga over cricket to realise India's Olympic dream. "The industries should come forward. They don't realise that even one gold medal in Olympics will give them so much mileage," he said. Kalmadi said it was the time to make a roadmap for Indian hockey as the senior and junior teams were doing extremely well. IOA General Secretary Randhir Singh also echoed Kalmadi's sentiments and said cricket hogs all the limelight while it was time that corporates concentrate on the Olympic disciplines. "We are far behind in the Olympic disciplines, the kind of money that's needed is not there as cricket hogs all the limelight," Randhir said. "But we will introduce a value education programme like China and other countries when International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogges arrives in Pune during the Commonwealth Youth Games in October," he said.

Source: http://sports.indiatimes.com/Dont_expect_miracle_in_China/articleshow/3264210.cms

Govt okays Rs 678 cr for Commonwealth Games

Govt okays Rs 678 cr for Commonwealth Games
BS Reporter / New Delhi June 12, 2008, 14:11 IST

The Union Cabinet today earmarked Rs 678 cr for preparing the Indian sportspersons for the Commonwealth Games, 2010. The decision was taken in the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs. The funds would be spent under a new scheme‘Preparation of Indian Team for Commonwealth Games, 2010.'

The comprehensive scheme aims at `` improving India's competitiveness in international sports and enhancing the medals tally in major international events particularly the Commonwealth Youth Games, 2008 and Commonwealth Games, 2010.''

Besides the scheme also seeks to train 1286 elite sportspersons in India and abroad for the commonwealth games. Of the allocated funds, Rs.375.00 crore have been earmarked for training and exposing the medal probables to best standards, Rs 85 crore for upgradation of cocahing and sports centres of the Sports Authority of India and Rs 218 crore for providing sport science back-up/medical facilities to the sportspersons.