34 torchbearers for Singapore leg of Olympic torch relay

Contributed by Edel Mooney

Singapore, Thursday, July 1, 2010 — 34 beneficiaries, volunteers and employees of the various Voluntary Welfare Organisations (VWOs) who actively promote community spirit and volunteerism, have been selected as torchbearers for the Singapore leg of the Journey of the Youth Olympic Flame (JYOF). They were introduced by Coca-Cola — Worldwide Olympic Partner and a Presenting Partner for the Singapore leg of JYOF, and the Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee (SYOGOC) today.

To get Singapore geared up to welcome and cheer the Youth Olympic Flame when it makes its way around the island, Coca-Cola Singapore is also coordinating programmes to motivate torchbearers and spectators in the run up to the highly-anticipated torch relay.

The Singapore leg of JYOF will begin with a Flame Arrival Celebration at the National University of Singapore on 6 August after the Youth Olympic Flame has blazed a trail through five cities in five continents. This will be followed by a six-day traditional torch relay from 7 to 13 August (with a break on 9 August) through all five community districts in Singapore.

It will see participation from over 240 Singapore schools; 20 schools and institutions will partner SYOGOC to host the torchbearers, kick off the torch relay or organise community celebrations for the public over the six-day period.

Mr Goh Kee Nguan, Chief Executive Officer of SYOGOC, said: “The torch relay is a major and extensive operation which involves a high level of planning and great amount of resources. We are heartened that these schools and institutions have agreed to partner SYOGOC and offer their facilities and resources for the Singapore leg of the Journey of the Youth Olympic Flame. Their involvement will enable more people, especially the youth, to be connected to the Olympic Movement and have a more personal experience with Youth Olympic Games.”

Each day of the torch relay will begin at the morning launch site to mark the start of the relay, while break and afternoon launch sites prepare for the second half of the day’s relay. To mark each day’s completion, the torch relay will culminate in a Community Celebration in which the public are invited to enjoy a myriad of performances and activities organised by the hosts.

Torchbearers are ambassadors of the Youth Olympic Flame, possessing the Olympic values of Excellence, Friendship and Respect and inspiring others to connect with this ideal. These torchbearers also embody the Coca-Cola values of Respect for the Environment; Excellence in promoting Active Lifestyle and People Development and Friendship through betterment of the Community.

Coca-Cola Singapore has been working with SYOGOC to select torchbearers among the beneficiaries, volunteers and employees of various VWOs. All of the 34 VWO torchbearers have demonstrated their selfless sacrifice and passion in their respective fields through the roles they play in helping the less fortunate in society, inspiring youth, developing life skills or safeguarding the environment.

These VWO torchbearers join the two student torchbearers from NorthLight School — Lee Chuan Jie and Noradlina Bte Abdul Hadi — who were introduced during the unveiling of the JYOF torch and cauldron design in March this year.

To motivate torchbearers and spectators in the run up to the torch relay, Coca-Cola ambassadors will be out in force, giving out Coca-Cola cheering kits and leading spectators in cheering torchbearers on along certain stretches of the route during the torch relay.

The Coca-Cola ambassadors will visit about 30 schools in July through an interactive road-show to give them a taste of the fun and benefits of an active, healthy lifestyle as well as get them excited and ready for the torch relay by learning more about Coca-Cola’s Olympic heritage. Students from these schools can also look forward to learn to dance to an adapted version of Coca-Cola’s ‘Open Happiness’ song and perform the routine when cheering the Flame and torchbearers on during the torch relay.

In conjunction with the road-show, there will be a mobile exhibition featuring a display of torches and other memorabilia from past Olympic Games. Schools interested in participating in this outreach programme organised by Coca-Cola can contact Suzy Goulding at sgoulding@fulfordpr.com or call 63249316.

Commenting on the programme to excite people to cheer the Youth Olympic Flame, Antonio Del Rosario, General Manager of Coca-Cola Singapore said, “Coca-Cola has been involved with the Olympic Games since 1928 and shares a common vision with the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games in its commitment to promoting a healthy and active lifestyle and respect for the environment.

As with past Olympic torch relays, we aim to create innovative programmes that help touch our consumers and leave lasting memories of this unique Olympic experience. This programme to engage the schools will create excitement as the Youth Olympic Flame journeys across the island, passing schools and communities along the way. More importantly, we hope that our activities will create an atmosphere where people move more. You’ve heard the statistics: We’re supposed to take 10,000 steps a day to maintain a healthy lifestyle. The average person today takes less than 3,000 steps a day. As the world continues to become more urban and industrialised, this challenge will only increase.”

Singapore Leg of Olympic Torch Relay
6 Aug (Fri)
National University of Singapore — Flame Arrival Celebration

7 Aug (Sat)
CHIJ Toa Payoh — Morning Launch
Raffles Institution — Afternoon Launch
Nanyang Polytechnic — Community Celebration

8 Aug (Sun)
St Andrew’s Village — Morning Launch
St Patrick’s School — Afternoon Launch
ITE College East — Community Celebration

10 Aug (Tue)
Greendale Secondary School — Morning Launch
Serangoon Junior College — Afternoon Break
Meridian Junior College — Afternoon Launch
Temasek Polytechnic — Community Celebration

11 Aug (Wed)
Hwa Chong Institution — Morning Launch
West Spring Secondary School — Afternoon Break
ITE College Central (Yishun Campus) — Afternoon Launch
Republic Polytechnic — Community Celebration

12 Aug (Thu)
SAFTI Military Institute — Morning Launch
ITE College West — Afternoon Break
Unity Secondary School — Afternoon Launch
Singapore Polytechnic — Community Celebration

13 Aug (Fri)
Nanyang Girls’ High — Morning Launch
Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee Headquarters — Afternoon Launch
Marina Bay Promenade — Community Celebration and Singapore 2010 City Celebration