Five youngsters representing Malta in the Bahamas

• Over 1,300 athletes aged 14 -18 taking part in this edition

The Maltese contingent chosen to compete in the forthcoming Commonwealth Youth Games left for the Bahamas yesterday morning.

The Commonwealth Youth Games will take place between 18 and 23 July and Malta will be fielding five Maltese athletes in athletics and swimming.

Malta will be part of the 70 nations and territories representing the Commonwealth and Team Malta will be joining over 1,300 athletes in what is being billed as the largest ever edition of such Games.

The first athletes to start competing will be the swimming team, made up of - Kristina Fino (50m, 100m Freestyle, 50m, 100m Butterfly), Francesca Falzon Young (50m, 100m, 200m Freestyle) and Thomas Wareing (200m – Backstroke, Freestyle, Individual Medley, 400m Individual Medley). Falzon Young and Wareing have also represented Malta in the Games of the Small States of Europe in San Marino, with Wareing securing a Bronze Medal in the 4x100m Medley.

Competitions will start tomorrow and will take place at the Betty KellyKenning National Swim Complex.

In athletics, it will be the promising duo Nassim Dardouri and Jacob Elaida Chaffey turn to fly the Maltese flag.

Dardouri will be competing in the 100m, 200m and 400m whilst Chaffey will be competing in the 200m. Heats will start on Thursday at the newly launched Thomas A. Robinson Stadium.

Chef de Mission duties will be undertaken by Paul Sultana, Director of the Maltese Olympic Com- mittee, who will be assisted by Team Official Isabelle Zarb, whilst the flag bearer will be the swimmer Francesca Falzon Young.

The Maltese contingent will return to Malta on 25 July.