Carlingford and Dundalk athletes Estella and Rían to represent Ireland at European Youth Olympic Festival
The EYOF is the largest European multi-sport event for young athletes aged 14-17, typically held every two years. This year it takes place in Skopje, North Macedonia, and will run from July 20–27.
The EYOF is a prestigious event that plays an important role in the overall development of athletes, as it mimics the Olympic Games model, preparing athletes for the nuances of performing in a multi-sport environment. This year's event will see forty-eight countries across Europe participate in the event, with over 4,000 athletes competing.
Announcing the team, Olympic Federation of Ireland Chef de Mission for the EYOF, Gavin Noble said: 'The EYOF is a key milestone on the Olympic pathway, a chance for athletes to gain invaluable experience in a high-performance, multi-sport environment. This is a competitive and ambitious Team Ireland group, and while many are making their debut, they're ready to step up. We are delighted to include a few new sports to this year's programme, like Basketball 3×3, Table Tennis and Taekwondo, and look forward to supporting the whole team.'
The Irish team departs for Skopje on July 18 with competition starting on July 20. Coverage of the Games can be viewed on https://eoctv.org/ with daily recaps and results of the Irish action on the Team Ireland channels.
Rían will represent Ireland in the Road Race and Time-Trial (M). His auntie, and multi-medal winning Paralympian cycling guide, Eve McCrystal, will also be making the trip as coach to the cycling squad.
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