TEAM Singleton's athletes and coaches for the 2014 International Children Games at Lake Macquarie were announced at the Singleton Youth Venue Tuesday afternoon.
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“What an opportunity for these athletes to compete against people from around the world,” Mayor John Martin said to the audience.
“Singleton has always had a sporting affinity and has an Olympian in Kevin Hallett who swam in the 1948 Olympics and hopefully these young people can go on to greater things as well.”
The competition starts on December 6 and finishes on December 11 and Australia’s athletes will be comprised from 13 town or city teams.
Singleton Council is one of six Hunter Councils who have entered a team in the competition, held for the first time in the southern hemisphere.
Council require $20,000 to enter the team into the competition and are looking for donations and sponsorship to make it all happen.
Council will unveil unique uniforms for Team Singleton at the end of October.
Cooperation has been the key for the formation of the team with local schools and sporting clubs working together to create a competitive team for the games.
Coaching the young athletes aged 12-15 is head coach John Watson, athletics coach Sue Sylvester and swim coach Melisa Geale.
Head of the Singleton delegation is youth worker Reina Stalker.
The coaches have selected the athletes based on how consistently they have performed over the past couple of years and their top performances.
Speaking on behalf of the athletes Flynn Lefmann said that it was a great opportunity to compete at an international event.
“Hopefully we can come home having beaten some personal bests and with a couple medals in hand,” he said.
“It’s going to be interesting we haven’t seen the athletes before like at state level competitions so we’ll have to make sure we’re well trained.”
Both the swimmers and athletes are now training six or seven times a week as part of their preparation for the children’s games.
Swimming coach Melisa Geale said that the times posted at previous ICGs are world class and they will receive tough competition from nations such as Japan and China.
Singleton Council general manager Lindy Hyam said the games were an opportunity not only for the children but the town to promote itself as a tourist destination.
Competing in athletics are Isaac Barry (100m and boys relay), James Bradley (1500m and boys relay), Flynn Lefmann (100m and long jump), Tristan Muir (1500m and boys relay), Tm Ryan (shot put), Nick Watson (long jump and boys relay), Kristina O'Brien (800m and girls relay), Tess Orton (100m, long jump and girls relay), Adelaide Sylvester (800m and girls relay), Saffron Sylvester (100m, long jump and girls relay).
Swimming for Singleton are Sean Beverley, Elliott Earnshaw, Harrison Geale, Noel Woods, Maddison Berry, Shanae Howard, Paige McHattie and Chantelle Smuts.
All the swimmers compete in four individual swims and two relays.
To view full proflies on the athletes or to leave a message of support like the Team Singleton Facebook page facebook.com/SingletonTeam or visit the www.singleton.nsw.gov.au/teamsingleton
