Journey of the Youth Olympic flame begins in Singapore

From the YOG News Room

Singapore, Saturday, August 7, 2010 — The world’s first Youth Olympic Games torch relay got off to a blazing start today as thousands of Singaporeans witnessed the Journey of the Youth Olympic flame through the northern part of Singapore’s Central District, starting a six-day torch relay with 2,400 torchbearers doing the honours of carrying the flame around the island.

With youth making up the majority of torchbearers and supporters, the energetic crowds waved banners and cheered excitedly for the 400 torchbearers and 500m-long torch relay convoy. The route covered Toa Payoh, Braddell, Thomson, Bishan and Ang Mo Kio, passing through the scenic MacRitchie Reservoir along the way.

The day began with Minister for Education Dr Ng Eng Hen lighting the torch at CHIJ Toa Payoh Secondary School. Carefully transferring the Youth Olympic Flame from its safety lantern to the torch, Mr Ng handed it over to the first torchbearer, Tay Shi Pei, 16, a student of the school.

Shi Pei is one of 2,400 torchbearers aged 11 to 82 who were chosen after a three month-long, island-wide search for torchbearers who embody the Olympic Values of Excellence, Friendship and Respect.

The school netball player said: “As a child, I used to watch the Olympic Games on television and had a dream that one day, I may be the one running with the torch into a stadium full of people celebrating the greatness of sports. I am very grateful and honoured to be selected as the first torchbearer of the very first Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games.”

Other torchbearers included Elim Chew, 43, social activist and founder of teenage streetwear chain 77th street; Muhammad Fadylla Rashiman, 27, winner of the Outstanding Youth in Education Award 2010; Joanne Peh, 27, Mediacorp actress; and S Supraja, 17, an Indian classical dancer who organises her own concerts for charity.

In the evening, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong lit the cauldron with the Youth Olympic Flame at Nanyang Polytechnic, kicking off Singapore’s very first community celebration where 2,000 Singaporeans joined in the festivities, and welcomed the arrival of the Youth Olympic flame.