“We are impressed with how the preparations have advanced. SYOGOC is very much on track”, said Sergey Bubka, Chairman of the Coordination Commission, at the end of the visit. “We can count on the full support of the whole of Government and all Singaporeans, as well as on a highly dynamic team committed to serving our vision for these Games”, concluded SYOGOC Chairman and IOC Executive Board member Ser Miang NG.
The Coordination Commission had the opportunity to visit various venues that will stage the 200 events in 26 sports. A master plan proposal for the venues for the 1st Youth Olympic Games was put forward by SYOGOC for approval.
The seven members* of the Coordination Commission were highly impressed by the Youth Olympic Village based at the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) campus. This site offers not only the capacity to host the 5,000 athletes and team officials expected to participate in the Games, but also training facilities for many sports and excellent facilities for the culture and education programme.
The Organising Committee emphasised in its presentations the importance of the culture and education programme. In order to match the different origin and languages of all participants, most of these activities would be centred on experience-based education, allowing the athletes to experiment and learn at the same time. The project also includes well targeted communications initiatives, including a specific youth website and other digital applications to reach out to young people all over the world.
”Presentations were of a high standard and we can return home with the feeling that our partners in Singapore have well understood the mission entrusted to them, and that they can cope with the considerable time pressure. We just have to keep up the same pace and vigilance for the remaining 22 months until the opening of the inaugural Youth Olympic Games”, concluded Sergey Bubka.
The Youth Olympic Games in Singapore, to be held between 14 and 26 of August 2010, will bring together 3,500 athletes between 14 and 18 years of age from all 205 National Olympic Committees to compete in the 26 sports on the London 2012 Olympic Games programme. fully fledged education programme will raise participants’ awareness of the Olympic values and topics like healthy lifestyles and the fight against doping. A number of communications initiatives will link the youth of the world with the event. A culture programme will ensure a festive and pleasant atmosphere within the host city.
*Members of the Coordination Commission: Sergey Bubka, IOC member and Chairman; Nat Indrapana, IOC member; Syed Shahid Ali, IOC member; Raja Randhir Singh**, IOC member; Frank Fredericks, IOC member and Chairman of the Athletes’ Commission; Rania Elwani**, IOC member; Guido de Bondt, NOC representative; Andrew Ryan, IF representative; and Gilbert Felli, Olympic Games Executive Director. The Coordination Commission is the group of representatives from the IOC and the Olympic Movement who will be monitoring the Youth Olympic Games preparations and guiding the Singapore Organising Committee.
