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Dendrobium Asian Youth Games Singapore 09 – The commemorative Games orchid and inspiration for the torch relay routes. (Photo courtesy of Fulford PR)

Singapore, June 4, 2009 - The 1st Asian Youth Games Singapore 2009 Organising Committee (SAYGOC) will be bringing the Games to the community through the first-ever Asian Youth Games (AYG) Torch Relay. With the theme "Igniting Sporting Passion in Asia’s Youth", the event will be held over two days - the Community Leg on June 28 2009 and the School Leg the next day.

With just 25 days to the Games, SAYGOC revealed its plans for the island-wide AYG Torch Relay today at a dedicated briefing session graced by Guest-of-Honour Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon, Minister of State for Community Development, Youth and Sports. During the event, Mrs Yu-Foo unveiled the commemorative AYG orchid, Dendrobium Asian Youth Games Singapore 09.

The orchid provided SAYGOC with the inspiration for the routes of the Torch Relay. Similar to the three petals of the orchid, the AYG Torch Relay will feature three routes that will cover the entire island via the five districts - Central Singapore, North East, North West, South East and South West.

All three routes will be run concurrently. Each route will represent one of the three Olympic values of Excellence (North East and South East Districts Route), Friendship (North West & South West Districts Route) and Respect (Central District Route). More than 180 torch-bearers and over 70,000 participants from all walks of life are expected to be part of this event.

The torch to be used for the AYG Torch Relay was officially passed to SAYGOC during the event today. The torch was received by Mr Ng Ser Miang, Chairman of Steering Committee, SAYGOC, as he accepted the honour of staging the Torch Relay in Singapore to preface the AYG. Forty five stars were incorporated into the design of the torch to symbolise each of the Olympic Council of Asia's (OCA) Member National Olympic Committees (NOC) who were invited to participate in the AYG.

Taking place on Sunday, June 28 2009, the first day of the AYG Torch Relay will galvanise supporters from the community and the corporate world. As part of the Community Leg of the AYG Torch Relay, each district will be organising a community event to bring residents together to celebrate Singapore's hosting of the AYG. Each of these events will be the exchange points for the relay, and will provide residents of the respective districts with the opportunity to be a part of the AYG Torch Relay.

After covering the heartlands, the flame will be brought to Singapore's retail hub, Orchard Road. There, members of the Orchard Road Business Association and Baywatch Association, and representatives from other corporations will parade the flaming torch through one of Singapore's busiest streets, passing by some of Singapore's retail landmarks including, Tanglin Mall, Ngee Ann City, Centrepoint, Raffles City, Suntec City and Marina Centre.

Day Two of the AYG Torch Relay will feature the School Leg, which will take place the next day on Monday, June 29 2009, to coincide with the opening of the new school term. The three AYG torches will travel to the 45 schools that are under the AYG NOC Twinning Programme. Each school has been twinned with one of the OCA's member NOCs that will be taking part in the AYG.

Once again, the schools will be clustered into three groups, with each group going through one of the three routes as per the Community Leg. Each school will be organising 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, the three torches will return to the Singapore Indoor Stadium, where the Opening Ceremony will be held on 29 June. The three torches will then be used to ignite the AYG Flame, signifying Singapore's coming together as one to welcome youths from all across Asia to the 1st Asian Youth Games Singapore 2009.