By Elias Soh
EchoElias@gmail.com
As the year nears its end, anticipation builds as the inaugural Youth Olympic Games (YOG) wait around the corner in 2010.
Held between the 14th and the 26th of August 2010, the YOG will see Singapore play host to an estimate of 3600 young local and international athletes between the ages of 14 and 18.
These athletes will participate in events spanning football, basketball, aquatics and table tennis amongst others.
Singapore was awarded the title of host city for the inaugural YOG on the 18th of August 2008, following a voting procedure conducted by the International Olympics Committee (IOC), coming out on top amongst other cities vying for the similar title.
It will be run by 20, 000 local and international volunteers, with the Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organizing Committee and its Chief Executive Officer Mr Goh Kee Nguan at its helm.
The Games, boasting the participation of 205 National Olympic Committees, will be officiated by an estimated 800 officials from around the world.
Keen heartlanders might find it in their interest to know that YOG venues will include stadiums right at their doorsteps, such as Bishan Sports Hall, Bishan Stadium, Jalan Besar Stadium, Sengkang Hockey Stadium, Toa Payoh Sports Hall and Toa Payoh Swimming Complex.
Other venues include the Marina Reservoir, The Float @ Marina, *scape Youth Space and the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
The International Convention Centre, previously host to the International Monetary Fund World Bank Congress 2006, will play host to the most events held in a single venue.
It will serve as the venue for wrestling, judo, boxing and handball competitions.
Admission tickets have yet to be made available to the public.
Members of the public watching from the comfort of their own homes can expect to see the theme of youth transcend the sporting arenas, as broadcast presenters between the ages of 13 and 29 have been selected to host, announce and commentate during the games.
Their lack in experience will not be an issue.
Miss Cleo Chew, 16, a chosen presenter, said: “Although this is a first for me, I’ve learnt how to handle spontaneous situations and pressure during competitions.”
Mr Goh added: “Training will include how to be effective presenters as well as to equip the presenters with the relevant knowledge in their respective sports by going through National Technical Official courses.”
Sports aside, the YOG also aims to balance culture and education via its Culture and Education Programme.
It is in line with its mission to educate and engage youth athletes with the hopes of inspiring them to play active roles in nurturing their respective communities.
Themes of olympism, skill development, well-being and health, social responsibility and expression are the chosen themes that are set to direct the Culture and Education Programme.
While playing host to the Games has been widely regarded as a great achievement for Singapore, the journey has not been free of setbacks.
In August 2009, the United States announced that its swimmers, shooters and cyclist would refrain from participation as it did not regard it to be a “high-level event”.
Speaking at an event in October 2009, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Community Development, Youth and Sports, Mr Teo Ser Luck, urged the United States to reconsider, saying the YOG requires “the highest level of performance” and is not merely “friendship games”.
The IOC has also urged the United States to reconsider.
EchoElias@gmail.com
As the year nears its end, anticipation builds as the inaugural Youth Olympic Games (YOG) wait around the corner in 2010.
Held between the 14th and the 26th of August 2010, the YOG will see Singapore play host to an estimate of 3600 young local and international athletes between the ages of 14 and 18.
These athletes will participate in events spanning football, basketball, aquatics and table tennis amongst others.
Singapore was awarded the title of host city for the inaugural YOG on the 18th of August 2008, following a voting procedure conducted by the International Olympics Committee (IOC), coming out on top amongst other cities vying for the similar title.
It will be run by 20, 000 local and international volunteers, with the Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organizing Committee and its Chief Executive Officer Mr Goh Kee Nguan at its helm.
The Games, boasting the participation of 205 National Olympic Committees, will be officiated by an estimated 800 officials from around the world.
Keen heartlanders might find it in their interest to know that YOG venues will include stadiums right at their doorsteps, such as Bishan Sports Hall, Bishan Stadium, Jalan Besar Stadium, Sengkang Hockey Stadium, Toa Payoh Sports Hall and Toa Payoh Swimming Complex.
Other venues include the Marina Reservoir, The Float @ Marina, *scape Youth Space and the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
The International Convention Centre, previously host to the International Monetary Fund World Bank Congress 2006, will play host to the most events held in a single venue.
It will serve as the venue for wrestling, judo, boxing and handball competitions.
Admission tickets have yet to be made available to the public.
Members of the public watching from the comfort of their own homes can expect to see the theme of youth transcend the sporting arenas, as broadcast presenters between the ages of 13 and 29 have been selected to host, announce and commentate during the games.
Their lack in experience will not be an issue.
Miss Cleo Chew, 16, a chosen presenter, said: “Although this is a first for me, I’ve learnt how to handle spontaneous situations and pressure during competitions.”
Mr Goh added: “Training will include how to be effective presenters as well as to equip the presenters with the relevant knowledge in their respective sports by going through National Technical Official courses.”
Sports aside, the YOG also aims to balance culture and education via its Culture and Education Programme.
It is in line with its mission to educate and engage youth athletes with the hopes of inspiring them to play active roles in nurturing their respective communities.
Themes of olympism, skill development, well-being and health, social responsibility and expression are the chosen themes that are set to direct the Culture and Education Programme.
While playing host to the Games has been widely regarded as a great achievement for Singapore, the journey has not been free of setbacks.
In August 2009, the United States announced that its swimmers, shooters and cyclist would refrain from participation as it did not regard it to be a “high-level event”.
Speaking at an event in October 2009, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Community Development, Youth and Sports, Mr Teo Ser Luck, urged the United States to reconsider, saying the YOG requires “the highest level of performance” and is not merely “friendship games”.
The IOC has also urged the United States to reconsider.
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