Ward to compete in World Youth Olympics

Moate boxer Joe Ward last week flew out to Singapore to compete in the first World Youth Olympics. Ward, the reigning World Youth champion, competes in the middleweight division and on Saturday last joined Ireland's 25 other competitors in the opening ceremony. Ward will only get into action on Saturday, August 21 at the earliest as he joins five other qualified boxers in an elite six-man event. The others include Damien Hooper from Australia whom he defeated to win the World Youth Championships last year. Ward is ten months younger than the next youngest of the other five and a whopping 20 months younger than the oldest. The other boxers represent Colombia, Hungary, Kazakhstan and Nigeria In a complicated format, each boxer will be guaranteed a minimum of two fights and only one bronze medal will be awarded will represent Ireland in the boxing event at the Games. The Youth Olympics, which will run until August 26th, will feature 3,600 athletes from throughout the world. Speaking at the opening ceremony, International Olympic Committee President (IOC) Jacques Rogge described the event as an historic day for the Olympic Movement. "Tonight we open a new chapter in the history of the Olympic Movement," said President Rogge. "From this moment on, young people around the world have a chance to participate in a global event that combines sport, education and culture."