The British Olympic Association (BOA) is proud to announce that Olympic rowing bronze medallist and BOA Athlete Commission Chair Sarah Winckless has been appointed Chef de Mission for Team GB for the 2014 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in Nanjing, China.
From 16-28 August, Winckless will take charge of a team of approximately 60 athletes aged between 14 and 18 years as Nanjing hosts the second summer YOG. Team GB will compete across 20 of the 28 Olympic sports on the programme. The inaugural Games in Singapore in 2010 launched the careers of four Team GB London 2012 Olympians; Olympic taekwondo Champion Jade Jones, Olympic diving bronze medallist Tom Daley, Olympic gymnastics bronze medallist Sam Oldham and swimmer Ellie Faulkner.
Winckless, a three time Olympian, (Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008) directed the Team GB Ambition Programme at the London 2012 Olympic Games which involved working with aspiring Olympians and their coaches by providing a practical insight into the unique aspects of the Olympic Games environment.
Commented Team GB Chef de Mission Sarah Winckless:
Said BOA CEO Bill Sweeney:
Later this month, Winckless and other National Olympic Committees (NOCs) head to Nanjing for the Chef de Mission meeting. It is hoped all 204 NOCs will take part in the Games.
During the session Winckless will learn how the Games will be run and what progress the Organising Committee has made with their preparation. Venue tours will take place in all the facilities that will host the 28 sports and the Culture and Education Programme (CEP) which is integral to the success of the YOG. As part of its commitment to develop and nurture future British Olympic talent for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and beyond, Nanjing 2014 represents the fourth out of seven Youth Olympic events that the British Olympic Association will be sending Team GB to since London 2012 Olympic Games.