First summer Youth Olympic Games to begin in Singapore

SINGAPORE, August 14 (Itar-Tass) -- Approximately 3,600 athletes will
participate in the first summer Youth Olympic Games beginning in Singapore
on Saturday. They will compete in 30 sports - 201 events all in all. The
young athletes' age ranges 15 to 18 years.
Russia has delegated a team of 96 athletes. The Russians are counting
on success in gymnastics, modern rhythmic gymnastics, track-and-field
athletics, wrestling, boxing, shooting, rowing and canoeing, modern
pentathlon, fencing, taekwondo, judo, handball and swimming.
The greatest hopes are pinned on such athletes as Anton Lobanov
(swimming), Maria Kuchina (track and field athletics), Viktoria Komova
(gymnastics), Alexandra Merkulova (modern rhythmic gymnastics), Gulnara
Gubaidulina (modern pentathlon), and Tatiana Segina (archery).
The first Youth Olympic Games will last from August 14 to August 26.

-0-str