YOUTH GAMES
Commonwealth Youth Games
The Commonwealth Youth Games are held every four years for athletes in the Commonwealth aged 18 years or under. The Games give young athletes the chance to experience a multi-sport Games and meet their counterparts in a friendly environment. The Youth Games are a celebration of Commonwealth values and the seven event includes a Cultural Day reflecting the Host Country's culture.
This is a relatively recent event with Edinburgh hosting the first youth Games in 2000 but the popularity of the event has increased with each Youth Games. The sports programme varies between events as the list is chosen by the host country and comprises 6 to 9 sports.
Edinburgh 2000, over 540 athletes under the age of 18 travelled from 14 countries to compete in Athletics, Aquatics, Gymnastics, Fencing, Hockey, Squash, Tennis and Weightlifting.
Wales won 8 medals in the Edinburgh, 5 silver and three bronze.
Bendigo 2004, 835 athletes from 24 nations competed in Australia in Athletics, Badminton, Boxing, Cycling, Gymnastics, Lawn Bowls, Rugby 7's, Swimming, Ten pin bowling and Weightlifting. Wales sent a small team winning three medals, two silver and a bronze.
Pune 2008 saw Wales enter a full team of 37 athletes in 7 sports finishing a fantastic sixth place in the medal table.The team won 5 Gold medals, 5 silver medals and 6 Bronze medals, in addition there were some outstanding performances in every one of the seven sports.
The next Commonwealth Youth Games will be in September 2011 in the Isle of Man www.cyg2011.com
The following sports are in the programme, Athletics, Badminton, Boxing, Cycling, Gymnastics (artistic), Rugby and Swimming
In 2015 Samoa will host the CYG.
