BLACKPOOL basketball player Mark Cowell, who took part in the British Airways Olympic Futures Camp in Orlando, has been chosen to join a high flying Great Britain Olympic youth team to represent his town and country in Denmark.

Mark is one of 61 athletes chosen by the British Olympic Association for the Great Britain Youth Olympic Team for the European Youth Olympic Days (EYOD), which takes place in Esbjerg, Denmark between July 10-16.

The team will travel under the direction of Louise Ramsay, Chef de Mission, with the aim of continuing Britain's incredible run of success in this event, which introduces talented young athletes to Olympic-style competition.

Over a period of six days of the Youth Olympics they will take part in eight of the eleven programme sports, including athletics, badminton, basketball, cycling, gymnastics, judo, swimming and tennis.

In March this year Mark was one of 34 athletes who travelled to Florida for the British Airways Olympic Futures Camp (BAOF).

They met up with Olympic silver medallist Sharron Davies who spent time with the athletes preparing them for the competition in Denmark.

The multi-sport training camp was organised by the British Olympic Association and supported by British Airways. Commenting on Mark's selection, Sharron said: "Mark has done remarkably well to be selected for the Great Britain Youth Olympic Team.

"This is a unique opportunity to sample the atmosphere of Olympic competition at a multi-sport event. I am sure that Mark will gain valuable experience as a result of attending EYOD which will inspire him to try and carry on with the aim of competing at an Olympic Games. I wish him the very best of luck."

Britain currently lies third overall in the medal table for EYOD and hosted the event in Bath in 1995.

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