Rankin Inlet (Nov 06/06) - Canadian Olympian Charles Allen was immediately interested when he heard about the chance to come to Rankin Inlet to participate in the Nunavut Youth Academy.

Allen wants to make a difference with youth, and he exhibits the same enthusiasm for motivating the kids as he does for clearing hurdles on an Olympic track.

He said his visit to Rankin was a special experience that he'll cherish for a long, long time.

"It isn't lip service when I say the kids I met in Rankin, from across Nunavut, were great," said Allen, a hurdler and a member of the Canadian 4x100 metre relay team at the Summer Olympics in Athens in 2004. "I'm impressed by how interested they are in all kinds of sports.

"There needs to be more people come this way to tell them they're doing excellent and encourage them to continue on."

Allen said he takes speaking to the youth very seriously.

He said you never know when you'll say something that motivates a youth to reach greater heights.

"Being involved in sports can take you places.

It's taken me to the Olympic Games and how great is that?

"It would be fantastic to think, even for a second, I may have come here and influenced one of these kids to do the same thing I did."

Allen said he felt connected to the Nunavut youth because he was once in their position, trying to find his identity and way through life.

He said when he talks about his past and how he got to where he is today, kids feed off the positive energy.

"The ones who truly want to, start believing and that's a wonderful thing.

"When you see kids starting to believe in themselves, that's all good."

Amber Tagalik of Arviat was one the Kivalliq youth to attend the Nunavut Youth Academy.

Tagalik also signed up to take part in the torch relay as it came through Rankin on its way to the Canada Winter Games in the Yukon.

She said the weekend was a good learning experience and a lot of fun.

"How often do you get a chance to run with the torch from the Canada Winter Games," she asked.

"No way I was passing that up.

"We learned a lot during the weekend, especially about how much effort goes into organizing an event.

There's a lot of hard work involved."