Athletes from Ghana participated in the Opening Ceremony of the Commonwealth Youth Games at Apia Park on Saturday, 5th September, in Apia, Samoa.
The joyous celebration of impactful sporting performance, personal development and international friendship featured 904 athletes from 66 Commonwealth countries, mostly aged 14-18, aiming for 107 Gold Medals in 9 sports from05-11 September.
The 7-member Ghanaian team, made up of four athletes, two coaches and an official, will be taking part in athletics and swimming during the Games.
While the athletics team is made up of 2014 African Youth Games participant Richard Seklorwu, Salomey Agyei, Hellen Maasotuo and Coach Salamatu Musa, young swimming sensation Jackson Abeiku Gyekye and his coach Mr. Kwodwo Abbiw Jackson lead Ghana’s campaign in the pool.
Addressing the crowd, and asking the young athletes to show themselves as stars of the Young Commonwealth by raising their smartphones in to the air, Commonwealth Games Federation President Louise Martin CBE said: “It gives me the greatest of pleasure to stand here before you at the Opening Ceremony of the Vth Commonwealth Youth Games – a joyful celebration of impactful sporting performance, personal development and new Commonwealth friendships made on the level playing field of sport. Having been involved with the very first Commonwealth Youth Games back in the year 2000, I am so pleased and proud to see this very special event now taking place on your wonderful Pacific island nation”.
The team left Accra for Samoa on Monday 31st August and is led by the Deputy Secretary General of the Ghana Olympic Committee, Rev Richmond Quarcoo.
The Ghana Olympic Committee and the Commonwealth Games Association are funding Team Ghana’s participation in the Games.
GOC
