Sydney | Australia - Four years since winning gold at the 2009 Australian Youth Olympic Festival, slalom kayaker Jessica Fox will return to the Festival for its sixth edition in 2013. Only this time she’ll be putting aside the paddle to play an official role.

Fox will be one of 20 athlete ambassadors who will live in the Village with the athletes inspiring them as they forge their own Olympic pathways.

As Australia’s first athlete to win a medal at the AYOF, the Youth Olympics and the Olympics, Fox was deemed the perfect choice to undertake another special task - to officially open the 2013 AYOF at the Opening Ceremony.

“It’s such an honour to be asked to play this role,” said 18-year-old Fox. “I remember taking part in the Opening Ceremony in 2009 and it was such an exciting event. To now be the one who stands up on the stage and opens the next Festival is such a great honour. I’m humbled.”

The Opening Ceremony will take place on Wednesday 16 January at The Sydney Entertainment Centre and will be a thrilling night for athletes and spectators alike.

Produced by The Arts Unit of the NSW Department of Education and Communities, the Opening Ceremony will feature nearly 1000 performers, from over 80 schools from around the state – as far away as Young High School and as close as Darlington Public School.

There will be performers right from Year 1 through to Year 12 including aerialists, Pas de Deux dancers, rhythmic gymnasts and a 400 voice choir. Headline acts will also include School Spectatcular graduates Anja Nissen and Carly Champion.

“This will be an experience for everyone with an Australian flavour infused throughout with a healthy daub of that larrikin sense of Australian humour,” Director Richard Spiewak said.

“There is a palpable buzz throughout the cast and crew as we gear up to the big night. Rehearsals have been occurring around the state and the pieces are slotting together beautifully. Costumes are being pressed, props given that extra love and attention.”

The Opening Ceremony of an Olympic Games is something that an athlete will remember for the rest of their life – and Spiewak and his team hope that the 2013 AYOF will be just that.

“We hope that we ignite a desire in all the young athletes, to strive to be a part of many more Olympic Opening Ceremonies,” he said.

The important Olympic elements of an Opening Ceremony are included in the AYOF production.

Athletes will enter the arena in a parade of nations, with an athlete from each country selected to carry their nation’s flag. A Festival Flame also features in the Opening Ceremony, and an athlete and official take an oath on behalf of all their teammates.

Bringing all this together is a night of entertainment inspired by the colours of the Olympic Flag, the colours and hues of Australia, the colours of the city of Sydney, and the colours and flavours that make up the youth of today.

Event website: http://ayof2013.olympics.com.au

Also: Noemie follows in famous Fox footsteps