The 16-year-old from Plymouth, Britain’s youngest competitor at the Beijing 2008 Olympics, is undoubtedly one of the team’s brightest medal prospects at the Games which will see 3,600 athletes aged between 14 and 18 years of age compete in all 26 sports on the London 2012 Olympic programme.

British athletes will be competing in 16 of the 26 Olympic sports in Singapore with all 205 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) expected to name participants for the event.

Daley admitted his pride at being selected to represent Britain at the first Youth Olympics and revealed that the event will be an important steppingstone for him on his quest to win a medal at the London 2012 Olympics.

Daley said: "I am very proud and excited to represent Team GB at the first Youth Olympic Games in Singapore.

"It is always a special feeling to put on Team GB kit and compete for your country on the international stage.

"Building upon my participation at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, I am looking forward to gaining further experience of a multi-sport environment and the unique atmosphere of living alongside athletes from different sports and countries in an Olympic Village.

"The Youth Olympic Games are another important step for me on the road to London 2012, where I will do my very best to win gold for Team GB."

As revealed last month on insidethegames, Daley will be joined in Singapore by Victoria Ohuruogu, the 400m England Indoor Under-20 Champion and younger sister of current Olympic 400m champion Christine.

Ohuruogu said: "I am thrilled to be selected to Team GB for the Youth Olympic Games.

"Competing against athletes from all over the world in an Olympic setting is a hugely exciting prospect and I am sure I will gain a great deal from the experience, on and off the track.

"I am fully focused on preparing well over the coming weeks and aim to achieve my full potential for Team GB in Singapore."

The 17-year-old Londoner heads a list of 12 British athletics competitors for the Games, including David Bolarinwa, who impressed at the recent European Youth Olympic Trials in Moscow where he won gold and silver in the 100m and 200m respectively to qualify in style.

Gymnast Sam Oldham (pictured) will be looking to continue his excellent form which saw him achieve a hat-trick of gold medals at the European Junior Championships in Birmingham earlier this year while Northern Ireland’s Mark Nesbitt will be going for gold in the archery competition having claimed two impressive wins at the 2009 Australian Olympic Festival.

On the tennis court, 16-year-old Oliver Goulding will be aiming to build on his excellent display at Wimbledon earlier this month which took him to the semi-final of the junior event.

Goulding, a Junior Davis Cup finalist and the current British under-18 number one, said: "I’ve had a couple of good weeks recently, particularly at Wimbledon, and I hope to continue my good form with Team GB in Singapore.

"I am looking forward to being part of Team GB, as I always play well in a team environment.

"Playing in front of a home crowd at the London 2012 Olympics is one of my goals for the next couple years and the experience gained at the Youth Olympic Games will be of great benefit to me going forwards."

The athletes will be joined at the Youth Olympics, which are due to open on August 14 and last until August 26, by 1,450 officials, 1,500 media representatives, 20,000 local and international volunteers, and more than 370,000 spectators.

BOA chairman Colin Moynihan admitted that he is looking forward to seeing the British team compete at the Youth Olympics and praised the creation of the Games which are largely credited as being the brainchild of International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge.

Moynihan said: "The International Olympic Committee is to be applauded for creating this inspirational youth event.

"The Youth Olympic Games raises the bar in terms of the delivery of educational and sport programmes to young people.

"It will be a celebration not only of sport, fitness and healthy lifestyles, but also of the Olympic values of excellence, friendship and respect."

Jan Paterson, the team's Chef de Mission, added: "It’s a huge privilege to be taking such a talented group of young athletes to compete for Team GB at the inaugural Youth Olympic Games.

"I’m confident that we will see some exciting performances and the athletes will display skill, determination and pride to achieve their personal best for Team GB in Singapore.

"Importantly, the Youth Olympic Games are about more than just sporting competition.

"It will provide the young Team GB athletes with an excellent opportunity to participate in a multi-sport event, and experience living and competing with over 3,500 competitors from across the world."

The BBC will broadcast rolling highlights from the Youth Olympics on BBC Red Button while insidethegames will provide unrivalled written coverage of all the action and breaking news stories from Singapore.

To view the full British team for the Youth Olympic Games, click here.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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July 2010: BBC children's presenters to join British athletes at Youth Olympics
June 2010: Christine Ohuruogu sister among 500 athletes selected for Youth Olympics
May 2010: Victoria Ohuruogu moves closer to joining sister at London 2012