Lexington, KY - The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has named Eirin Bruheim to represent the United States at the first Youth Olympic Games in Singapore August 14-26, 2010.

The Youth Olympic Games will feature 3,000 athletes from 205 nations in 26 different sports, including Equestrian, which will be represented by Jumping. Like the Olympic Games, athletes will participate in Opening and Closing Ceremonies, and live in the Youth Olympic Games Village.

The Youth Olympic Games will be a cultural as well as a sporting event. Athlete and staff will stay for the whole YOG sojourn (August 14-26), regardless of when their events take place. They will participate not only in their own sport, but will also attend the various cultural activities being planned. And in Equestrian, instead of each country fielding a team, the five member teams will come from six geographical areas (Europe, North American, South America, Asia, Australasia, and Africa).

The North American team will have athletes from Canada, the United States, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean Islands. Riders will compete on borrowed horses which are currently being trained in Australia. The courses will be up to 1.20m in height and medals will be given in both Team and Individual competition.

Bruheim, who turned 18 in February, will be traveling from her family's Nordic Lights Farm in Houston, TX to Singapore to represent the United States. Selection was based on this ranking list.

Alternates (in order):

Katie Dinan, New York, New York
Victoria Birdsall, Topsfield, Massachusetts
Catherine Pasmore, Crozet, Virginia
Julianna Fischer, Wellington, Florida
Paulena Johnson, Wellington, Florida

For more information about the Youth Olympic Games, please visit: www.singapore2010.sg.

ENDS

For more information, please contact Sally Ike at [email protected].