Northern Ireland hopefuls are on track for 2008 Games

Sports Minister Gregory Campbell met Northern Ireland's Commonwealth Youth Games Team on Friday 26th September ahead of their trip to India next month. The 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games will take place in Pune, India from Sunday 12th October to Saturday 18th October 2008.

Visiting the team, at a pre-Games training camp at the University of Ulster, Jordanstown Campus, Minister Campbell said: "I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the 19 young hopefuls who have been selected to represent Northern Ireland and wish them all well for the 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games.  This is a wonderful acheivement and one of which the team should be very proud." 

"I hope the team have been inspired by the most recent Olympic and Paralympic Games, as now we move towards the next Olympic Games in London 2012.  I wish them well and hope that their aspirations about getting to the 2012 London Games fulfilled."

The pre-Games weekend at the University of Ulster provided the team with an informative and practical programme to prepare the Northern Ireland Team for their forthcoming trip to Pune.  Over 1,300 athletes and 350 officials from 71 countries will participate in the Games in 9 disciplines - athletics, badminton, boxing, table-tennis, tennis, shooting, swimming, weightlifting and wrestling.

Pictured: Professor Alastair Adair, Pro Vice Chancellor of the University of Ulster at Jordanstown; Dame Mary Peters, Commonwealth Games record holder in the Pentathlon; Sports Minister Gregory Campbell and Robert McVeigh, Chairman of the Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games Council along with the athletes and their parents, coaches and officials during the team reception at the University of Ulster on Friday 26th September 2008.