The Austrian Olympic Committee gathered 18 athletes and delegation officials in Spital am Pyhrn for a two-day kick-off camp ahead of the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Judo Austria reported. The event featured official kit distribution, lectures, and preparation sessions for the upcoming multisport competition running from October 31 to November 13.
Spital am Pyhrn Kick-Off Brings Delegation Together
Delegation members arrived in Spital am Pyhrn for briefings and official Olympic clothing fittings ahead of the journey to Senegal. The gathering marked one of the initial official duties for Markus Moser in his new role as Austrian Olympic Committee sports director, transitioning from his longtime post as sports director for the Austrian Judo Federation.
Among the attendees were judo competitor Selina Wögerer and national coach Lisa Dengg. Wögerer, a 17-year-old athlete from Upper Austria competing in the under-78kg category for Fairdrive Leonding, participated in the multi-day orientation alongside athletes from nine other sports represented by the Austrian team.
Olympic Champion Valentin Bontus Shares Practical Advice
Delegates received firsthand insights from kite-surf Olympic champion Valentin Bontus during the seminar sessions. Wögerer highlighted the practical value of his advice regarding major international competitions.
“The meeting with kite-surf Olympic champion Valentin Bontus was really cool,” Wögerer said, as reported by Judo Austria. “He drilled into us to always make sure that you don’t compulsively try something new at major events and that you don’t let the fun fall by the wayside. Whoever stays relaxed, tries to enjoy the competition a little bit too, usually has success.”
Nutritional Guidelines for the Dakar Delegation
With the games taking place in Senegal, medical and logistical briefings emphasized strict nutritional and health precautions for the 41-person Austrian contingent. Wögerer noted the specific adjustments required for the African climate and infrastructure.
“Africa is uncharted territory for all of us. Naturally, a certain caution is sensible,” Wögerer stated. “Tap water is definitely taboo, even for brushing teeth. I certainly won’t be trying local dishes before my competition day on November 3. But I knew that beforehand. It’s also certainly important to make sure you drink plenty of fluids at temperatures around 30 degrees. Best of all right when you wake up.”
Coach Dengg Limits Opponent Scouting to Competition Day
National coach Lisa Dengg confirmed that pre-competition preparation deliberately excludes scouting opponent draws in advance.
“With Seli, we will only talk about the respective next opponent and the tactical concept on the day of the competition,” Dengg said. Wögerer added that avoiding early bracket research keeps her mindset focused on performance rather than external pressure.
Austria Sends 41 Members to Dakar Games
Austria sends a total of 41 delegation members to Dakar, featuring 18 athletes split evenly with nine female and nine male competitors. The team spans ten distinct sports out of the 35 disciplines featured at the Games.
The Austrian Olympic Committee designated table tennis competitor Nina Skerbinz and beach volleyball athlete Paul Hohenauer as the country’s flag bearers for the opening ceremony. Skerbinz captured the European Youth Olympic Festival singles title last year in Skopje, while Hohenauer enters the event following an under-18 European championship victory.
Youth Olympic Games Context in Dakar
The Dakar event marks the fourth edition of the Youth Olympic Summer Games, following previous iterations held in Singapore in 2010, Nanjing in 2014, and Buenos Aires in 2018. The upcoming competition holds historical significance as the first Olympic event hosted on the African continent, drawing approximately 2,700 athletes aged 15 to 18 to the capital of Senegal.
Austrian Delegation Departs November 30 for Competitions
Following the conclusion of the Spital am Pyhrn orientation, the Austrian delegation scheduled its departure for November 30. Selina Wögerer enters the competition arena in the under-78kg judo category on November 3, with competition events across various sports running through November 13.
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