Day 1 Highlights

5 August 2023, a day young athlete across the Commonwealth have been waiting for. The 7th edition of the Commonwealth Youth Games is being held across the twin Islands of Trinidad and Tobago until the 11th of August, bringing 71 nations and territories together across 7 sports for the first time since the last Youth Games in the Bahamas, 2017. 

The Caribbean Islands have welcomed 1,000 athletes and para-athletes between the ages of 14-18 over the last week, with seven sports dominating the sporting calendar;  

Swimming, Athletics and Para Athletics, Cycling (Road Race, Time Trial and Track), Triathlon, FAST5 Netball, Rugby Sevens and Beach Volleyball. 

Wales will be competing in four sports; Athletics, Swimming and Cycling in Trinidad and Women’s Rugby Sevens over in Tobago. 

Trinbago 2023 began with a spectacular opening ceremony at the Hasley Crawford Stadium in Trinidad, with a carnival style celebration dominating the colourful event. Team Wales flagbearers, Storm Evans and William Bishop lead the team which marked the beginning of an exciting six days of competition ahead. Local band, Freetown Collective performed their Games theme song ‘Stay Ready’ to the crowd, and Cocoyea, Trinbago’s Games mascot, a leatherback turtle, entertained the crowd to close the evening against the beautiful sunset backdrop in Port of Spain. 

Day one saw Cyclist Lowri Richards becoming the first athlete to fly the flag for Wales in the Women’s Time Trial, finishing in a strong 6th position with a time of 15:15.52. The men’s race quickly followed with Max Bufton and Sam Fisher finishing 4th and 6th respectively. Max crossed the line with a time of 19:50.24 with Sam close behind in 19:59.99. 

Team Wales’s schedule for Day two include the Women’s Rugby Sevens launching their campaign at the Shaw Park recreational field, with matches against Canada and Fiji. The Sevens team made history at the last youth games, winning Wales’ first ever team medal at a Games. Team Wales will also have swimmers in the heats at the National aquatics centre, with the finals later in the evening.