One month to go until Team Wales compete at Trinbago 2023
With just one month to go until the Trinbago Commonwealth Youth Games 2023, Team Wales are gearing up to showcase the youth talent of Welsh sport on the international stage.
Originally due to be held in 2021, the Games were postponed due to the pandemic. Now set to set to bring together young athletes from across the Commonwealth from the 4th August to 11th August 2023, they will be held in Trinidad and Tobago.
Trinbago 2023 will see more than 1,000 athletes and para-athletes, between the ages of 14-18, from the 72 nations and territories, participate in a total of seven sports:
Aquatics (Swimming), Athletics and Para Athletics, Cycling (Road Race, Time Trial and Track) and Triathlon, as well as FAST5 Netball, Rugby Sevens and Beach Volleyball.
Team Wales will compete in four of the sevens sports (Athletics, Swimming, Cycling and Women’s Rugby Sevens) and for the first time in Commonwealth Youth Games history, para-athletes will compete in Athletics.
Team Wales Chef de Mission, Matt Cosgrove, said:
“The final planning for Trinbago is going really well; we’ve announced the Athletics and Swimming athletes which has been great, and we’ll follow shortly with Women’s Rugby Sevens and Cycling.
“The athletes will be going through their final preparations over the next few weeks ahead of travelling early next month. We have a strong team of athletes across the four sports and I’m looking forward to supporting each and every athlete that will represent Tîm Cymru.”
Supporting Matt at the Games will be Anna Stembridge as Deputy Chef, Cathy Williams as Head of Engagement and Village Lead, and Katy Guy as Chief Medical Officer. Lauren Scobie (Operations support), Hannah Llewellyn (Physiotherapist) and Kate Edwards (Dr) will complete the HQ team for Team Wales.
Each sport will have a team leader, managing the athletes.
Rhys Williams, a former Commonwealth athlete who also competed at the first ever Youth Games in 2000, will be Team Lead for athletics; experienced Performance Coach Graeme Antwhistle will lead the swimmers; Wales’s Sevens Coach Jonathan Hooper returns to the youth Games with the Women’s team; and Academy Coach Rob Partridge will be the Cycling team leader.
Team Wales will have 39 athletes and 20 members of staff travelling to the Games.
Since its launch in 2000, the Youth Games has continued to grow to provide a unique opportunity to experience elite sport on the international stage, promote cultural understanding and create lifelong friendships across the Commonwealth.
CGW President Helen Phillips added:
“‘It has been great to mark the countdown to the youth games in Trinidad & Tobago, especially after it was postponed in 2021 due to the worldwide challenges of COVID-19.
“Our athletes and sports were great ambassadors for Wales on and off the field of play in Bahamas and brought home some fantastic results. We will all be supporting these young athletes as they embark on their Commonwealth journey. I am particularly thrilled with the inclusion of para athletes in our team and it’s great to see the Youth Games starting to offer a more inclusive programme.
“Good luck everyone in your final month of preparations.”
The Welsh Sports Association (WSA) is thoroughly excited to see Wales once again compete on the international stage, showcasing the depth in sporting talent the nation has to offer.
We wish all athletes and members of staff the best of luck as they prepare for and travel to Trinbago 2023!
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