From the YOG News Room
Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games organising committee chairman Ng Ser Miang holds the Youth Olympic Flame after arriving at Changi Airport, Singapore on Aug 5. (Photo © SPH-SYOGOC/Samuel He)
Singapore, Thursday, August 5, 2010 — On July 23, the Flame for the Youth Olympic Games was lit in front of the Temple of Hera in Olympia, Greece. For the first time in history, the flag of Singapore was flown at Olympia Stadium – home to the ancient Olympic Games – to the strains of our national anthem “Majulah Singapura”.
On August 5, the flame arrived in Singapore after a 15-day journey around the world. The arrival of the YOG flame in Singapore was celebrated with great fanfare the next evening by an exuberant 3000-strong crowd at the National University of Singapore’s Kent Ridge Campus.
Vice-President of the International Olympic Committee and Chairman of the Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee (SYOGOC) Mr Ng Ser Miang arrived aboard an open-top vehicle with the Youth Olympic Flame in a safety lantern. The torch was lit and handed to President of Singapore, Mr S R Nathan, who lit the cauldron for the first time in Singapore under a shower of fireworks, marking the start of the Journey of the Youth Olympic Flame (JYOF) in the host city.
More than 700 performers put up a spectacular line-up of mass display performances which traced the Flame’s journey from Olympia to Singapore. Dancers were dressed in colourful costumes derivative of the cultures of each city on the route, expressing the spirit of international friendship in the Youth Olympic Games.
President Nathan remarked, “The Youth Olympic Games has been about individuals and organisations stepping forward, actively participating, and in the process realise what they can achieve when there is commitment, dedication and passion. Singapore’s successful bid for the YOG has created many opportunities for the community to be part of the YOG, and make it possible for the best young athletes from over 200 National Olympic Committees to gather in Singapore to compete at the highest level in their age group.
In our YOG journey, let us remind ourselves that it is not just about hosting a successful event; it is also about pursuing our passions, be the best in whatever we choose to do and make a difference in our own lives as well as that of others around us.”
Over the next few days, the Olympic Flame will travel to all parts of Singapore in a traditional torch relay before the cauldron is lit at the Float@Marina Bay on August 13 to mark the opening of the Youth Olympic Games.
The YOG flame being lit by President S R Nathan (3rd from right), accompanied by swimmer Amanda Lim Xiang Qi, and hockey player Silas Abdul Razak. With them are Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Youth and Sports Mr Teo Ser Luck (L), Minister for Community, Youth and Sports Dr Vivian Balakrishnan (3rd from L) and Mr Goh Kee Nguan (R), CEO Singapore Youth Olympics organizing commitee. (Photo © SPH-SYOGOC/Joseph Nair)
The crowd cheering the arrival of the Youth Olympic Flame during the Flame Arrival Celebration at the National University of Singapore on August 6. (Photo © SPH-SYOGOC/Kent Chow)
Hockey player Silas Abdul Razak (right) and swimmer Amanda Lim (second from right, partially hidden) passing the YOG Torch to President S R Nathan (left) to light-up the Cauldron. (Photo © SPH-SYOGOC/Kent Chow)
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