Singapore students raise their voices in support of city's Youth Olympic Games bid

Story by Laura Reid. © Red Sports

Pearlyn Tan of Jurong Junior College gets the crowd going with singing and chanting. A superb emcee who whipped the crowd up into a fever, she and her JJC team made Hall 601 a rocking house of fun. (Photo © Leslie Tan/Red Sports)

Suntec Convention Centre, January 12, 2008 – Teo Ser Luck had a simple request for the 3,000 students at a rally today at Suntec City to support Singapore's bid for the inaugural Youth Olympic Games and to promote Olympic Education in the local school system.

Noise. Make lots of noise.

And that's exactly what the students, teachers and principals from Singapore's elementary, secondary and tertiary schools delivered at the three-hour event held by the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Community Development, Youth & Sports (MCYS), the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) and the Singapore Sports Council (SSC).

"We need to make some noise to show the world that a small city like Singapore can host the Youth Olympic Games," urged the parliamentary secretary for the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports.

Singapore's bid made the short list of candidate cities in late 2007, and final voting by the members of the International Olympic Committee will begin January 21st. Hosting the Youth Olympic Games may come "only once in a lifetime," added Mr. Teo. "So let's make some noise for Singapore and for all the small cities in the world."

The students didn't waste any time, roaring back their approval for Singapore's bid to host the Youth Olympic Games in 2010. Led by an exuberant Pearlyn Tan and 150 other students from Jurong Junior College, the crowd twisted and shouted their support for Singapore's bid for the Games.

The Youth Olympic Games will bring together some 3500 athletes between the ages of 14 to 18 years old, from 205 countries around the world. For 12 days, the athletes will compete in 26 sports, including new generation events such as 3-on-3 basketball, BMX cycling and beach wrestling.

At the same time, the world's youth will also be taking part in education and cultural programmes to help create a better understanding of athletes who come from very different cultures, often speak different languages but share a love of sports. One of the underlying themes of the Olympic movement is that athletes can be adversaries on the field, but friends in life.

That message hasn't been lost on Singapore's young athletes. For 15 year-old Nicholas Wong, a sailor from Mayflower Secondary School, hosting the YOG will be important to Singapore because the Olympic movement inspires "unity among people. We hope to promote this spirit of Olympism among Singapore's youth and among the youth who come to Singapore."

"If Singapore won the rights to host the Youth Olympics, I would be so proud," said 12 year-old Cindy Tan from Opera Estate Primary School, who attended the rally with fellow Opera Estate student Katerina Stastna, a Singaporean permanent resident originally from the Czech Republic. "It would make me happy, too," she said.

Working with the MOE, the Singapore Olympic Academy (the education arm of the National Olympic Council) plans to roll out in September an Olympic Education programme in the schools to help reinforce the values of Olympism. Eileen Chai, a teacher from CHIJ St. Theresa's Convent was looking forward to the renewed focus on the Olympic movement. The most important contribution that the Olympic movement has made to the world was "teamwork," she said succinctly. "People learn to work together, in sports, in life."

The JJC team spread themselves out among the crowd to lead the way in singing. The team were genuinely infectious, which made the atmosphere rock. (Photo © Leslie Tan/Red Sports)

Teo Ser Luck drums up support for the Youth Olympic Games with the students. (Photo © Leslie Tan/Red Sports)

Cindy Tan (left) with schoolmate Katerina Stastna, a Singaporean permanent resident originally from the Czech Republic, enjoying the atmosphere at the event. (Photo © Leslie Tan/Red Sports)

A student from Chung Cheng High (Main) shows off some wushu moves. (Photo © Leslie Tan/Red Sports)

Veerappan Shanmugam, 18, of JJC, a second-year student. He said that JJC has a tradition of the J2 seniors passing on the passion of cheerleading on to their J1 juniors. (Photo © Leslie Tan/Red Sports)

Olympian C Kunalan giving a speech to the students. (Photo © Leslie Tan/Red Sports)

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For a related story, go to: Singapore schools to play host to visiting countries if Youth Olympic Games come to Singapore