A YEAR away from the third Commonwealth Youth Games, Guernsey’s voice at the Commonwealth Games Federation has questioned arrangements for the four-yearly event. Peter Sirett, chairman of the Guernsey Commonwealth Games Association, said changes need to be made for the event to flourish.
‘In my opinion the Youth Games must grow or it will simply fade away as developing nations realise the limitations the entry process imposes.’
The next Games are to be held next October in Pune, India.
‘We are in the process of selecting a team of under-18 athletes to attend,’ said Sirett.
‘The problem is that the host city allocates places purely based upon the size of the teams at the previous main Commonwealth Games, with a maximum entry of 1,200 spread over six sports.
‘This means that it is not possible to increase participation at what must be seen as the grass roots level.
‘For example, somebody who is a promising 15-year-old now is probably not capable of competing against 17-year-olds in Pune next year, but for the following Youth Games in 2011, he or she will be too old.
‘That seems a poor recipe for developing athletes who will eventually compete in a Commonwealth Games, a point that I intend to make at the general assembly.’
As things stand Guernsey are limited to 10 places in Pune and David Harry, vice-chairman of the GCGA, said yesterday that they did have 10 names in mind to travel, having sought nominations from the member sports.
It is understood four sports are represented among the 10 in line for the 2008 event following on from just the two athletes - Erica Bodman and Kylie Robilliard - who travelled to Bendigo, Australia, two years ago.
Sirett and Harry will be attending the general assembly in Sri Lanka next month where it will select the 2014 venue.
Each member CGA has a vote and the selection process is believed to be finely balanced between Glasgow and Abuja, the capital of Nigeria.
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