The Ecuadorian Olympic Committee Presents the Young Promises Project 2020
The Ecuadorian Olympic Committee (COE) presented the Young Promises Project 2020, aimed at meeting the different needs of the best young athletes in various specialties, towards future competitions in the Olympic Cycle.
To start with the first phase of the project, sponsored by Olympic Solidarity, the Technical Methodological Department (DTM) of the COE selected 16 athletes from 15 specialties: athletics, badminton, road cycling, artistic gymnastics, sport climbing, fencing, judo, karate, weightlifting, wrestling, swimming, table tennis, archery, triathlon, and beach volleyball.
"As is public knowledge, the Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2022 were suspended, but that does not mean that the COE will stop supporting athletes with potential for the Bolivarian, South American, and Pan American Games. Renewal and supporting youth are very important to us. Ecuador has shown in events of these categories, especially in the Youth Olympic Games, that it has enormous potential and it needs to be cultivated. The only intention is to motivate them, sow a sports and values seed that will bear fruit someday," said COE President Augusto Morán.
"The project will run until November of this year. It has been difficult because we have many young athletes, but after a technical analysis, we have reached these names and we hope they take advantage of this opportunity and develop not only as good athletes but also as good citizens who can contribute positively to society," he added.
Although the Dakar 2022 Games were postponed to 2026, there are other events on the agenda for next year, such as the Bolivarian Youth Games in Sucre, Bolivia, the South American Youth Games in Rosario, Argentina, the Junior Pan American Games in Cali, Colombia, and the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Selected Athletes
The selected athletes are aged between 13 and 16 and they are Saúl Wamputsrik (race walking), Anthony Carapaz (road cycling), Dayana Correa (sport climbing), Doménica Cañizares (fencing), María Daniela Contreras (swimming), Jeremy Cedeño (table tennis), Yvanna Yaguar (archery), and Sthephany Chérrez (beach volleyball).
In addition, Henry Huebla (badminton), Laura Vásquez (judo), Amy López (karate), Jacqueline Calixto (weightlifting), Vicky León (wrestling), Renata Pesantes (triathlon), Fabiana Sadún (artistic gymnastics), and Silvia Salvatierra (beach volleyball).
The COE will provide technical and medical assistance to the athletes. In the technical aspect, a socioeconomic evaluation will be carried out; there will be technical-methodological monitoring; field visits (when permitted) and technical and Olympic culture training. In the medical area, a comprehensive sports medical history will be created, which includes physical tests, physical-muscular assessment and monitoring, blood tests and COVID-19 tests, dental care, anthropometry, deworming, vitaminization, and supplementation.
The idea is to emulate the Assistance Program for the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games, which had great results with seven medals. "Two years ago, for the Buenos Aires Games, it was proposed that in order to have good athletes, the foundation is to modify or improve their health status, help them with their technique, and with everything related to the Olympic ideal. With this, we could have excellent athletes. We want responsible representatives of the country and for that, we need to refine certain qualities," said Pablo Sarmiento, COE sports doctor.
Through monitoring, the COE will consider incorporating other specialties or removing athletes from the program if their sporting performance decreases. "You will understand that due to the competitive nature of sports, there will always be other athletes who are preparing, so this program is dynamic, which means that if any of these sports weaken or do not improve, it could be replaced by another athlete in the same specialty. This is a fair competitive struggle," said Eduardo Barros, head of the DTM.
Reactions
The selected athletes are from Tulcán, Imbabura, Quito, Portoviejo, Guayaquil, Loja, Cuenca, and Riobamba, and they are very motivated to be part of the initiative.
"I want to thank all of you for considering us, thank you for the opportunity you are giving us. I promise to work hard to always represent the country well," said Amy López from Karate.
"It's a challenge for the future, but we have to start working now, be obedient, and follow the instructions of your coaches. I believe you are good athletes, discipline will prevail in this project, have confidence that we will succeed, you are our future," said Miguel Nácer, general coordinator of the project. (D)