Traleeteamtoflygreen andgoldinLithuania
EIGHTEEN young Kerry athletes are getting ready for the trip of a lifetime as they prepare to set off for this year’s International Children’s Games in Lithuania.
This will be the 13th year the Tralee team has taken part in the games which are essentially a mini Olympics for children and teenagers.
The 2017 games take place in Lithuania’s second city Kaunas and run from July 4 to 9.
Tralee will take part in the girls’ three versus three basketball; boys’ six a side soccer, judo and track and field athletics. Teams from 90 cities, representing 40 countries will compete at the games.
“The children are very excited at the prospect of competing against international opposition for the first time in their lives and there is no doubt that impending challenge will bring out the very best in our young representatives,” said Tralee ICG Secretary Mike Culloty.
“The international aspect of the event is most exciting for everyone involved. It presents our young athletes with a fresh and exciting challenge in their sporting life and the experience can only benefit them in the long term,” said Mr Culloty.
“We are very proud that we are again able to participate and represent Tralee and we offer our sincere gratitude to all who have helped and supported our fundraising activities in recent months, without which this would not be possible,” he said.
The young athletes who will represent Kerry in Kaunas are as follows. Soccer: Sean McGrath (Park FC), Philip Evans, Leo Gaxha, Junior Ankomah, Sean Kennedy, Soni Rramani, (Tralee Dynamos), Padraig Hilliard, (Castleisland FC), Kevin Goulding (Ratoo Rovers). Basketball: Rachel Kilgallen, Aoife Dillane, Mary O’Connell, Rebecca Conway (Tralee Imperials).
Judo: Chris Palmer, Sean Murphy, Marco Antonio Kauric (Kerry School of Judo) Athletics: Basit Oyejambi, (Tralee Harriers), Sean and Tim Pollmen-Daamen (An Riocht)