Youth Olympics Games 2010
Youth Olympics Games, the first of its kind has found its first place to be organized. And Singapore is the first country to be organizing the first Youth Olympics in 2010, beating its closest rival, Moscow. It was truly a historic moment for Singapore and for the rest of the world, as this is the first time Olympics is being organized in such a small country.
On the day of the release of the results, 13 000 students from all over Singapore gathered at Padang to support Singapore for its bid to host the first ever Youth Olympics Games. When the live announcement from Switzerland revealed that Singapore won the bid to host the Youth Olympics 2010, cheers rang across the whole of Padang.
In November 2007, the International Olympic Committee announced the last 5 candidates that will compete for the bid to host the Youth Olympics Games in 2010. They are Athens, Bangkok, Singapore, Moscow and Turin. Finally, after much intense competition from the respective cities, the 5 candidates were further cut to the final 2 cities which were Singapore and Moscow. On 21st February 2008, Singapore beat Moscow to host the first Youth Olympics. Singapore attained 55 votes from the IOC compared to the 44 votes for Moscow.
The aim for the creation of Youth Olympics is to complement the Olympic Games. Youth from between the age of 14 and 18 will be invited to join. Sports events would be different from the Olympics Games to protect and ensure the safety of all young athletes.
Water polo and synchronized swimming will not be included in the YOG. And in basketball, some of the games will be held outdoors and may involved lesser players. In the list of sports that will not be included other than water polo are baseball and softball.
The Summer and Winter Youth Games would alternate every four years. The first Summer Youth Olympics will be held in Singapore in 2010. There will be an estimated 3000 people participating in the event for Summer Youth Olympics giving smaller countries chance to experience the spirit of the Olympics.
Sergei Bubka, former Olympic vault champion will be the in charge in monitoring the preparations for the Summer Youth Olympics in Singapore. President of IOC, Jacques and Sergei Bubka will visit Singapore in April.
Singapore is the first city to host the Youth Olympics and also the first South-east Asian city to ever host such a major sporting event. Certainly, Singapore will do its best to uphold the vision for Youth Olympics Games which is to inspire young people around the world to participate in sport and adopt and live by the Olympic values. I wish you all the best Singapore!