Fiji duo prepare for Friendship Camp

Badminton player Norman Bentley, 17, and basketballer Grace Taito, 15, are getting their passports ready, packing their bags and stocking up on Fijian artefacts and souvenirs in preparation for their departure for the Singapore Youth Olympic Games Friendship Camp on December 7.

The Friendship Camp, which runs on December 8-12 in Singapore, is part of the lead up activities for the inaugural Youth Olympic Games which Singapore will host next year. The focus of the camp is to educate young athletes on topics including nutrition and careers in sports, and provide an enriching cultural experience. Participants will meet other athletes from around the world and learn about their countries and customs. As part of this, Grace and Norman have been asked to bring Fijian artefacts and cultural dress.

Norman and Grace were among a large number of athletes nominated by sporting federations to take part in the all-expenses-paid camp, and were chosen for their leadership abilities, maturity and athletic talent.

Grace is currently in the Fiji National Youth Basketball squad, and represented Fiji at U20s level at just 14 years old when she was part of the Team that won bronze in the 2008 FIBA Oceania U20 Youth Tournament in Guam. In August she led her U19 school team to the National Secondary Schools Basketball Girls Championship.

Norman has been in the National Badminton Team since 2008. He took up the sport at the age of 10, and by 12 had won the National Tournament in his age group, and continued to excel at that level. In recent years he has been involved in junior coaching and is president of Thursday Social Badminton, giving him a taste of sports administration.

"I am truly honoured to be given the privilege of representing my country and sport in this Friendship Camp. I hope to return a more experienced player, and contribute to a better sporting nation here in Fiji." Norman said.

"This Friendship Camp is an exciting opportunity for Norman and Grace. I know they are going to be great ambassadors for Fiji in Singapore, and we hope this is something more of our young athletes will get to experience in the years to come". Vidhya Lakhan, FASANOC President

The pair leave for Singapore via Seoul, Korea.

The Fiji Sun Online

Tuesday 24th November, 2009




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