By Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports.
Raffles Ballroom, Swissotel the Stamford, Tuesday, July 7, 2009 - As the curtains to the inaugural Asian Youth Games drew to a close, we give you a peek into the closing ceremony held to mark the successful completion of the games.
After 7 days of pulsating competition, it was time for the athletes to let their hair down at the closing ceremony. (Photo 1 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
Over 5,500 volunteers were involved in this inaugural AYG, and they were definitely an integral part in its success. (Photo 2 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
Singapore’s Chef de Mission Lee Wung Yew cracks a little joke with the athletes before the start of the ceremony. The Singapore contingent won 9 gold medals, 6 silvers, 15 bronzes. (Photo 3 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
Singapore’s football team crashed out of the football tournament without one win to their name but they were still in high spirits at the closing ceremony, as they displayed the values of the games – excellence, friendship and respect. (Photo 4 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
Singapore’s next swim queen Quah Ting Wen was awarded the MVP (female) award for her haul of 4 gold medals and 1 bronze.(Photo 5 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
Basketballer Hannah Ng. After being away from family and friends, who could resist some text messaging during some free time? (Photo 6 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
“Maybe she’s messaging me!” Singapore’s basketballer Russel Low peeps over at team mate Goh Kong Tat’s mobile phone. (Photo 7 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
Showcasing a cultural performance for the athletes and officials. The AYG was attended by all 45 members of the Olympic Council of Asia. (Photo 8 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
“Over already?” After the formal portion of the closing ceremony was over, many tables were emptied out even before the second course of the dinner. (Photo 9 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
But for those that remained, it was a fun time for them as host “The Flying Dutchman” got them on their feet participating in various games. (Photo 10 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
Singapore’s beach volleyballer Qing Shan most probably found love during the games as he reads a letter left behind by a Japanese beach volleyballer who had already returned home and was not at the closing ceremony. (Photo 11 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
Plucking up his courage, he goes over to the table where the Japanese athletes were sitting and bravely asks for a translation. (Photo 12 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
The AYG saw the participation of almost 1,400 athletes, and a representative from each of the countries present was called on stage to participate in a multi-national percussion performance. (Photo 13 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
Our Singapore footballers also had a time of their life as they beat along with fellow athletes from the other countries. (Photo 14 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
Beach volleyballers Tan Yi Ting and Qing Shan participate in a game where string was thrown all over the ballroom… (Photo 15 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
… linking all the athletes and officials together. All of them played a part in making this inaugural AYG a success. (Photo 16 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
With 90 events from 9 sports, held at 10 venues, the AYG was largely seen as a test event for next year’s Youth Olympic Games in Singapore. (Photo 17 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
The reserved North Koreans took part quite readily in the activities and behaved like every other teenager in the room. Sport really brings everyone together. (Photo 18 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
Live streaming proved a success during the games, with the Top 5 user countries being Singapore, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan and The Philippines. Even faraway countries such as the United States, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom had users tuning in. (Photo 19 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
Basketballer Russel Low takes a picture with schoolmate and volleyballer Tan Yi Ting. The Organising Committee was proud to announce that out of the 150 doping tests conducted for athletes from 29 different countries, there was not a single positive result, indicating their success in keeping doping away from the games. (Photo 20 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
The AYG had a budget of SGD 15 million, with SGD 8.4 million from sponsors. (Photo 21 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
With the Youth Olympics consisting of 26 sports, 205 National Olympic Councils, and approximately 3,000 athletes, it will definitely be of a different scale compared to the AYG. (Photo 22 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
Even then, the athletes will certainly have time to make friends with each other, as Qing Shan poses for a picture with the Chinese Taipei beach volleyballers Chen Che-Ming and Juan Shang Hsuan. (Photo 23 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
At the end, it was one whole big party for everybody to rock the night away… (Photo 24 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
… for everyone to celebrate their success, and the friendships made during the games. (Photo 25 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
Singapore’s bowlers dance with their Bangladeshi counterparts. (Photo 26 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
The athletes from Kazakhstan were definitely a draw with the guys, as everyone queued up to have a dance with them. (Photo 27 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
The venue of the next AYG 2013 is still under negotiation with 3 cities – South Korea, Bahrain and an unnamed city – in the running. (Photo 28 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
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