Bartamaha (Nairobi):- The Somali National Olympic Committee (SNOC) on Saturday disclosed that the war-ravaged country will participate in the upcoming World Youth Olympic Games in Singapore, the first ever such competition for youths organized by the International Olympics Committee (IOC).

The chairman of the Athletics Commission of the SNOC Mr. Hassan Ahmed Barre told journalists in a press conference in Mogadishu Saturday that two athletes and three officials under his leadership will represent Somalia in the Singapore games slated for 10-28-August 2010.

“Although Somalia is currently experiencing a very critical moment, but we have decided not to miss the youth Olympic games, the first of its kind ever organized by the IOC which Somalia is a full member,” Hassan Ahmed Barre said during the press conference.

Somalia is among the 205 IOC member-nations who will be represented in the 2010 Singapore Youth Olympic Games and the country’s Olympic committee is very jubilant at being invited at such level in the IOC.

“While Somalia is still in one of the most dangerous situations in the world—we are very proud of what we have been doing in the past and we are going to the Youth Olympic Games to share our experiences with the rest of the world,” the Somali NOC chairman added.

Mr. Hassan Ahmed Barre participated in a seminar held in Singapore in March this year, during which the delegates from around the world were given lessons about how to prepare young people for the youth games.

According to the laws of the Youth Olympic Games, only people under 18 years of age are allowed to take part in such competition.

Somalia has not had a functioning central government for the past two decades during which the Somali National Olympic Committee and other sports federations of which football is the major one, continue to represent the chaotic country in international sports gatherings.

—————————-

Source:-APA.

Comments

comments