As Chef de Mission, Levy will act as the Canadian team's representative and spokesperson.

She will be responsible for hosting dignitaries, officials and sponsors, handling media availabilities and supporting the athletes throughout the Games.

"The Youth Olympic Games is centred on sport, culture and education so the Chef de Mission who guides our young athletes through the Games will play a crucial role in the shaping of our future Olympians and, ultimately, the leaders of tomorrow," said Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) President Marcel Aubut.

"Sandra has the passion, the experience and the inherent understanding necessary to excel in this vital position and we are delighted that she will be leading our young athletes through Nanjing 2014."

During her 11 years on the Canadian hockey team Levy was a silver medallist at the 1991 Pan American Games, and a bronze medallist at the 1987 Pan American Games.

She competed for Canada in both the Seoul 1988 and Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games, and went on to be a key member of the "mission team" during the Nagano 1998 Winter Games.

Sandra Levy has remained a key figure in the Canadian Olympic Movement since retiring from hockey and was part of the 2008 Toronto Olympic bid team
©Toronto Star/Getty Images



She has remained a key figure in the strengthening of the Canadian Olympic Movement through her involvement with the COC's Legal Committee, as the director of special projects for the Toronto 2008 Olympic Bid Corporation, and as a member of the board of directors and chairman of Human Resources Committee with the Toronto 2015 Pan American/Parapan American Games Organising Committee.

"This is an amazing opportunity to share what I've learned in sport and in life with some of the most promising young athletes from across our great country," said Levy.

"It is also a chance to give back to the sport community that has helped to make me the person I am today.

"I can't wait to get started."

The 2014 Nanjing Youth Olympic Games are due to take place from August 16 to 28 and will include 28 sports for teenagers aged between 15 and 18.

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