Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) has today confirmed the nomination of Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu to represent Oceania football at the first ever Youth Olympic Games to be held in Singapore in August 2010.
OFC has made its selection proposal within FIFA parameters which state that Member Associations nominated must represent nations that ‘have never, or rarely, had the opportunity to participate in Olympic Games or World Cups.’
FIFA has also requested that Oceania nominate different countries for the men’s and women’s football tournaments.
Vanuatu has been selected for the men’s side following the establishment of the FIFA Goal Football Program in which players are identified at a young age and housed in an academy where they train together daily. As one of only six countries globally to be chosen for this pilot project, Vanuatu will have an opportunity to show FIFA the success of the program at the Youth Olympic Games next year.
Papua New Guinea have been selected for the women’s draw on the back of strong performances over the past couple of years including a gold medal at the XIII South Pacific Games Samoa 2007 – a competition that is part of the Olympic movement.
The final decision regarding OFC representation at the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games will be made by FIFA at the 59th FIFA World Congress in Nassau, Bahamas, on 30 May.
If confirmed, OFC General Secretary Tai Nicholas says Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu will thrive on the opportunity to test themselves against the world’s best.
“Papua New Guinea have performed consistently in recent women’s tournaments but fallen short of toppling New Zealand for a place at a FIFA event,” says Nicholas.
“Now with a nomination for the Youth Olympic Games they can set their sights on competing at the next level and potentially earning international recognition.”
“Meanwhile Vanuatu is making huge strides in terms of youth development thanks to the newly introduced FIFA Goal Football Program so their selection is also well deserved,” says Nicholas.
The inaugural Youth Olympic Games will be held in Singapore from 14-26 August 2010 and is expected to involve 3,600 athletes aged 14 to 18 from 205 National Olympic Committees. Athletes will compete in 26 sports while also participating in cultural and education programs.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) created the new event in Guatemala in July 2007 with the aim of inspiring young people to participate in sport, play an active role in their communities and live by the Olympic values.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Priscilla Duncan
Oceania Football Confederation
Media & Communications
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Joel Tiller
Oceania Football Confederation
Media & Communications
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