It’s game on for Cumbernauld duo

A Cumbernauld swimming coach and swimmer will represent North Lanarkshire at this year’s International Children’s Games (ICG) in Canada.

The squad, including coach Tricia Naido of Cumbernauld ASC and Carrickstone teenager Chloe O’Hara (14), met up in Motherwell last week ahead of their trip to Windsor Essex.

The 47th ICG games will take place from August 14 to 19, and Tricia will be mentoring the four swimmers.

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Blane Dodds, chief executive of North Lanarkshire Leisure (NLL), said: “We are delighted to be once again sending a team of the best young athletes from the area to this years’ ICG in Canada.

“With Lanarkshire’s ICG in 2011, followed by last year’s 2012 London Olympics and now that the countdown is on to the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games next year, the profile and importance of international sport has never been higher.

“It is crucial that our young talented athletes from our area are given the opportunity to compete against their peers from the many worldwide cities competing in the games.”

Councillor James Smith, depute leader of North Lanarkshire Council, added: “Hosting the ICG in Lanarkshire in August 2011, was one of the highlights of my political career and certainly helped to raise the profile of the area in a very positive way through excellent sporting competition and cultural exchange.

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“This event created many great international friendships and bonds that will last a lifetime.’’

, both for the young people competing and everyone else involved in supporting such a wonderful event and this really is a priceless outcome. I am pleased that our association with the Games and the ICG committee continues and we are giving our young people the chance to experience and enjoy participating in the games.”

Councillor Jim Logue, chairman of NLL, said: “For many of our promising young athletes taking part in the ICG is the first taste of international sport away from home and has been seen from past teams, this provides the ideal platform to encourage them to work and train hard to become even better at their chosen sport. Many former ICG team participants have went on to represent their country in senior sportcompetition, such as the Olympics and Commonwealth Games or now play with professional sports teams, therefore the value of such an experience cannot be over-stated.”

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