180 torch-bearers take part in first Asian Youth Games torch relay

By Les Tan

Singapore Indoor Stadium, June 29, 2009 – After travelling across Singapore for two days, the Asian Youth Games Torch Relay finished off at the Singapore Indoor Stadium for the opening ceremony.

The torch relay started on Sunday morning at the Kallang Waterfront with the Flame-Lighting Ceremony in front of a 500-strong crowd. The three torches travelled across the nation to garner support from everyone across Singapore over two days prior to the Opening Ceremony for the AYG.

With the theme, "Igniting Sporting Passion in Asia’s Youth", the two-day event featured more than 180 torch-bearers and over 70,000 participants from all walks of life.

Speaking at the start of this inaugural event, Mr Teo Chee Hean, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Defence and President, National Olympic Council said, "As we send out the three torches this morning, I hope all those with the honour of carrying the torches, as well as those participating in their community and school festivities, will pass on the important values and theme of this torch relay. Now is the time for Singapore to unite behind the Asian Youth Games and all who will participate in it."

The AYG Torch Relay went to the heartlands today covering the five districts across Singapore - Central Singapore, Southeast, Southwest, Northeast and Northwest - with stop-overs at five community events held by the respective districts.

The three Olympic values of Friendship, Excellence and Respect are the title of each of the three Torch Relay routes.

The torch representing Friendship, one of the three Olympic Values, passed through community events at the Republic Polytechnic in the North West then onto the Sports Challenge for Toddlers and Arts Fest at the Jurong Point Mall in the South West CDC.

The northeast and southeast districts were the route of Excellence with the days' highlights being the Pasir Ris West Community Day, graced by Mr Teo Chee Hean, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Defence and President, Singapore National Olympic Council; and the Brisk Walk at East Coast Park attended by the district's Mayor, Mr Matthias Yao.

The main event for the Respect Route was Central Singapore District's Ang Mo Kio - Yio Chu Kang Community Sports Festival at Yio Chu Kang Stadium. The Guest-of-Honour for the event, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, was the first torch-bearer for the route, followed by the Mayor of Central Singapore, Mr Zainudin Nordin, who is also the advisor to the AYG Torch Relay Organising Committee.

Singapore's retail hub, Orchard Road, became the focus in the afternoon as members of the Orchard Road Business Association and Baywatch Association, and representatives from other corporations brought the flaming torch through bustling city centre, passing by some of Singapore's retail landmarks.

Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, had the honour of taking the torch in the final leg of the route from Marina Square to its resting place at the Games Village at Swissotel the Stamford.

He was joined by nine Team Singapore athletes, including Quah Ting Wen (swimming), Shahrir Mohammed Anuar (athletics), Qing Shan (beach volleyball) and Isabelle Li (table tennis). Each Team Singapore athlete is a representative from each AYG sport that Singapore will be taking part in.

After a Torch-Lighting Ceremony at the Games Village on Monday morning, the three torches travelled to the 45 schools under the AYG National Olympic Committee's (NOC) Twinning Programme.

Each school has been twinned with one of the OCA's member NOCs that will be taking part in the AYG. The schools will be hosting a cultural event to showcase the history and culture of the country they are twinned with. This provides the students with the opportunity to learn more about their adopted country, while, at the same time, be part of the sporting action that will be happening at the AYG.

After two days of travelling across the island to rally support among the community, corporates and the schools for the AYG, three Team Singapore athletes, swimmer Tao Li, kegler Remy Ong and shooter Jasmine Ser, were the final torch-bearers to carry the torches into the Singapore Indoor Stadium for the opening ceremony.