Celebration of the best youth sport

Australian Youth Olympic Festival Opening Ceremony at the Sydney Entertainment Centre / Pic: Mark Evans Source: The Daily Telegraph

Track cyclist Kelsey Robson led the Australian team out for the parade of nations / Pic: Mark Evans Source: The Daily Telegraph

AUSTRALIAN kayakers won gold medals on the water in the morning and organisers last night won accolades for the stunning ceremony that opened the sixth Australian Youth Olympic Festival in Sydney.

The five-day sporting extravaganza involving 1700 athletes from 30 nations was officially opened at the Sydney Entertainment Centre, with cycling sensation Kelsey Robson leading the Australian team into the arena.

Basketballer Lauren Jackson described carrying the flag into the London Olympics as one of the great moments of her life - and two-time world junior champion Robson was just as honoured last night.

"I was really surprised and excited. I was like 'Oh, my God!'," Robson said.

That was a sentiment echoed by rugby sevens player Charlotte Caslick, who read the Olympic Oath.

"My role isn't just on behalf of Australians, it is on behalf of all Olympians, which is special," she said.

Hockeyroo Jordyn Holzberger led a procession of eight torchbearers, and rower Alexander Hill was chosen to light the cauldron.

Holzberger, Hill, Robson and Caslick were the centre of attention in the ceremony, which featured nearly 1000 performers from 80 NSW schools, including aerialists, Pas de Deux dancers, rhythmic gymnasts and a 400-voice choir.

But before the event kicked off last night it was 18-year-old paddlers Bill Baines and Jordan Wood who were stealing the limelight.

Baines claimed the honour of being the first Australian to win a medal at the festival, which has helped to launch some of the biggest names in Australian sport, including hurdles world champion Sally Pearson and cycling star Anna Meares.

The 18-year-old beat teammate Wood in the K1 1000m before the pair combined to win gold together in the K2 kayaking event.

"What a way to start. We are so proud to have won gold," Baines said.

More medals are expected to come Australia's way over the next four days as locals compete against young stars from top sporting nations that include China, the UK and US across 17 sports.

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