Youth Olympics hopefuls playing to win

Gregory English hears the whispers about the Youth Olympics being staged primarily to promote friendship, peace and education, a way for the International Olympic Committee to show it also cares about the athletes, not just what they accomplish on the field.

He isn’t buying it. He’s a competitor, and every time he fights, he wants to win.

“Since it’s the first one ever, it’s going to be pretty serious,” English said Friday after he triumphed at the U.S. Youth Olympic taekwondo trials at the Olympic Training Center.

Even with a limited team, even minus participants in marquee sports, the U.S. will make a strong push to win the total-medal count at the inaugural Youth Olympics in August in Singapore, where competition could be high and intense or low and laidback.

About 3,590 athletes (boys ages 16-18 and girls 15-17) from an estimated 170 countries will compete in 26 sports, most notably 3-on-3 street basketball and beach wrestling, with mixed-gender team events in cycling, swimming and track and field.

The IOC capped participation at 70 individual athletes and two teams per country. Three national governing bodies – USA Cycling, USA Shooting and USA Swimming, all based in Colorado Springs – informed the U.S. Olympic Committee it’s not enough athletes, so they’re staying home. The IOC asked the USOC last month to reconsider its decision.

“Something like this is important, and there is value,” USA Taekwondo chairman Kevin Padilla said. “There’s exposure. There’s the Olympic movement. … It’s a big thing.”