Team Lake Mac Set for Jerusalem


13th June 2018
By Bianca Smith
Eleven young athletes who will represent Lake Macquarie at the International Children’s Games in Jerusalem next month were guests of honour at a ceremony at Lake Macquarie City Council on Tuesday 12 June 2018.

Image: Team Lake Mac with Mayor Kay Fraser (centre)

 

Eleven young athletes who will represent Lake Macquarie at the International Children’s Games in Jerusalem next month were guests of honour at a ceremony at Lake Macquarie City Council on Tuesday 12 June 2018.

 

The members of Team Lake Mac attended a reception hosted by the Mayor of Lake Macquarie, Councillor Kay Fraser, before being introduced and presented with their team kits at the Council meeting.

 

The team of swimmers, track and field athletes and tennis players will participate in the Games from 29 July to 3 August.

 

The team members are:

  • Millie Warham (Tennis)
  • Erica Wattus (Tennis)
  • Bryce Webber (Athletics)
  • Travis Petersen (Athletics)
  • Benjamin Roberts (Athletics)
  • Jasmine Roberts (Athletics)
  • Jemma Pollard (Athletics)
  • Caleb Baker (Swimming)
  • Dillon Siv (Swimming)
  • Emily Dobbins (Swimming)
  • Skye Southam (Swimming)

 

As part of their preparation for the Games, the athletes have undertaken education sessions provided by Hunter Academy of Sport consultants. Liam McCudden spoke to the athletes about nutrition while travelling and competing, Fiona McCarthy presented about psychology and setting goals and Anthony Webb about strength and conditioning and preparation before and after competing.

 

The education sessions were introduced this year to complement the team members’ physical preparation and help them perform at their best as travelling athletes.

 

Team Lake Mac is managed by the Hunter Academy of Sport and will be accompanied by coaches Mavis Godber, Karen Leth, Warren Peterson and Christina Laurie. Cr Fraser will join the team in Jerusalem as the Council’s representative and Karen Turner, from the Academy of Sport, is the Head of Delegation.

 

The International Children’s Games is one of the biggest multi-sport events in the world. The annual event for children aged between 12 and 15 is staged in a different city each year and was hosted by Lake Macquarie in 2014.

 

Cr Fraser said Lake Macquarie had been sending teams of young athletes to the Games since 2008.

 

“It is a unique opportunity for young athletes to compete at a high level, make new friends and, through a shared love for sport, develop an understanding of and respect for people from other cultures,” Cr Fraser said.

 

“This is reflected in the theme of the Jerusalem Games, which is, ‘Play fair, win a friend’.”

 

Hunter Academy of Sport Chief Executive Officer, Brett O’Farrell, said the Children’s Games offered emerging young athletes a valuable opportunity to gain experience competing at international level.

 

“Our athletes love the experience of representing their city and country and mixing with competitors from all over the world in the athletes’ village,” Mr O’Farrell said.

 

For more information on the 2018 International Children’s Games, visit icg-jerusalem2018.com/.

<< Previous | Next >>