Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games



Singapore Infopedia

Background

Singapore hosted the inaugural Youth Olympic Games (YOG) from 14 to 26 August 2010.1 During the event, an estimated 3,600 athletes from 205 countries, aged between 14 and 18 years, competed in 26 sports events.2 The Games involved some 20,000 local and international volunteers, and attracted about 370,000 spectators.3

Background
The YOG was first mooted in 2001 by International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Jacques Rogge, and approved in 2007 by IOC members.4 Its aim was to inspire youths to spend more time on sports, and less on the Internet and television, as well as to promote cross-cultural interaction, understanding and learning among young athletes.5 Like the Olympics Games, the YOG is held every four years; the summer YOG takes place in the same year as the winter Olympics, and vice versa.

Bid to host the Games
When the IOC launched the YOG bid process in 2007, Singapore was one of the 11 cities that indicated an interest in hosting the Games.7 The other candidate cities included Kuala Lumpur, Athens, and Moscow.8 In October 2007, Singapore submitted its bid package comprising 50 bid books, 25 CDs containing branding videos and pictures, and a file containing photographs, maps and letters of guarantee from various government agencies.9 Singapore was subsequently chosen in February 2008 to host the YOG, beating rival candidate Moscow by 53 to 44 votes. The announcement was broadcast live from IOC headquarters, and was received with great fanfare in Singapore.10

Organising the Games
The Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee (SYOGOC) was set up in March 2008 to oversee preparations for the event. Brigadier-General Goh Kee Nguan was appointed the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SYOGOC, while Ng Ser Miang was Chairman of the SYOGOC Board.11 The rest of the board was made up of members from the private and public sectors and included former and current athletes such as president of the Singapore Hockey Federation and former hockey player Annabel Pennefather, former Olympic sprinter C. Kunalan and national sailor Koh Seng Leong.12 It was aided by a panel of advisors comprising Senior Parliamentary Secretary Teo Ser Luck, and Ministers Teo Chee Hean, Ng Eng Hen and Vivian Balakrishnan.13

A budget of S$106 million was initially set aside to cover the cost of staging the Games, but by 2010, spending had more than tripled to S$387 million.14 The increased budget was due to a rise in the costs of logistics and transport, security and upgrades of the various sports venues and technology.15

The international exposure and economic benefits that Singapore gained from the event were considerable.16 The Games were expected to attract up to 40,000 foreign visitors, and generate an estimated $57 million in tourism.17 About S$260 million worth of contracts, some 70 percent of the total budget, were awarded to local providers of services such as food, transport, security and exhibitions.18

Games facilities
Both the opening and closing ceremonies were staged at The Float@Marina Bay, the world’s largest floating stage, located on the waters of Marina Reservoir and against the backdrop of architectural icons such as the Marina Bay Sands Integrated Resort and Helix Bridge.19

Athletes were housed at the Youth Olympic Village located at the Nanyang Technological University.20 Competition events took place at venues around the island, including the Singapore Sports School, International Convention Centre, and National Sailing Centre.21 To facilitate the transportation of athletes between the Olympic village and competition venues, the Olympic logo was painted on the second left-most lane of selected roads so that motorists would give way to vehicles decked with YOG liveries and licence plates.22

Promoting the Games

The YOG had a number of elements that created a distinct youthful profile for the inaugural event, such as the mascots Lyo the lion cub and Merly the Merlion.23 Lyo was an abbreviation for “Lion of the Youth Olympics”, while the name Merly was derived from the Malay word “mer”, or sea in English, and the letters “l-y” taken from the words “liveliness” and “youthfulness”.24 Further, the Singapore 2010 “Spirit of Youth” logo featured a lively design in vibrant shades of red, purple, blue and green. It represented the vision of Singapore 2010 – Inspiring Youth, Sporting Singapore.25

As Singapore was the first host of the YOG, the words “Singapore 2010” was featured on the Olympic Flag for subsequent handovers between future YOG organisers.26 The official YOG theme song, “Everyone”, was sung by artistes representing five continents, and written and produced by local record producer Ken Lim.27

As part of the IOC’s Culture and Education Programme, 14-time Olympic gold medallist American swimmer Michael Phelps, 100m and 200m Olympic champion Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt and two-time Olympic gold medallist Russian pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva were appointed as ambassadors to promote the YOG in their countries, along with 46 athlete role models.28 In addition, athletes had the opportunity to mingle with current and former Olympians at the “Chat with Champions” sessions.29

To create greater awareness of the event, particularly among a young, Internet-savvy audience, the IOC launched an extensive campaign using interactive websites and social media.30 Other public education efforts included the establishment of a YOG Learning Centre at the SYOGOC headquarters, and the creation of a documentary, “Beyond Gold: The Journey to The First Youth Olympic Games”, which chronicles the training of three local athletes competing in cycling, judo and fencing.31

Preparations for the Games
The official Games timekeeper, Omega, installed two countdown clocks – one at the historic City Hall building, and the other at the ION mall at Orchard Road.32 Building and lamppost banners, billboards, pillar wraps and posters were put up in public areas, and road shows featuring performances, games and the YOG mascots were held at various locations.33 Tickets went on sale in March 2010, and were sold out within weeks, prompting organisers to resell tickets for previously sold-out events if there are no-shows during the Games.34

The Olympic flame was lit in Greece in July before travelling to cities representing five continents. To mark its arrival in Singapore on 5 August 2010, a celebration was held the following day at the National University of Singapore. Over the following six days, 2,188 Singaporeans carried the flame to all parts of the island in a traditional torch relay, before sailor Darren Choy finally lit the cauldron at the Games Opening Ceremony.35 

Olympic honours for Singapore
The Singapore Olympic contingent was led by Chef-de-Mission James Wong, a nine-time Southeast Asian Games Gold medallist. A total of 130 athletes represented Singapore across all 26 sports events.36 Singapore finished the Games with six medals – two silver medals for swimming and table-tennis, two bronze medals for taekwondo, and one bronze medal each for archery, sailing and football.37

The IOC conferred upon then President S. R. Nathan and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong the Olympic Order in Gold for successfully hosting the inaugural YOG.38 The Olympic Order in Silver was conferred on eight officials, among them were Teo Chee Hean, then Deputy Prime Minister and president of the SNOC, and Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, then Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports.39

Timeline
6 Jul 2007: IOC approves the creation of the Youth Olympic Games.40
24 Oct 2007: Singapore submits a bid to host the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in 2010.41
21 Feb 2008: IOC announces that Singapore will host the YOG in 2010.42
Mar 2008: Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee is established.43 
10 Jan 2009: Official YOG logo is launched.44
12 Mar 2010: YOG torch and community cauldron are unveiled.45 
31 Mar 2010: Tickets for opening and closing ceremonies go on sale.46
5 Aug 2010: Olympic flame arrives in Singapore for a six-day tour of the island.47 
14 Aug 2010: The lighting of the Youth Olympic Flame at the Opening Ceremony marks the commencement of the 2010 Youth Olympic Games.48 
26 Aug 2010: The Youth Olympic Flame is extinguished and the Olympic flag lowered at the closing ceremony to mark the end of the 2010 Youth Olympic Games. The flag is handed to the mayor of Nanjing, China, the host city for the 2014 YOG.49



Author

Joanna HS Tan



References
1. Andrew Duffy, “A Closer Look at the Youth Olympic Games,” Straits Times, 8 February 2010, 11. (From NewspaperSG)
2. Duffy, “A Closer Look at the Youth Olympic Games”; “’Yes’ to Olympic Games for Youth,” Today, 6 July 2007, 77. (From NewspaperSG)
3. Duffy, “A Closer Look at the Youth Olympic Games”; “YOG by the Numbers,” New Paper, 15 February 2010, 47; Frankie Chee, “Nail-biting Finish to YOG’s Final Clash,” Straits Times, 27 August 2010, 16. (From NewspaperSG)
4. Peh Shing Huei, “S'pore Will Give Youth Olympics Bid Its Best Shot, Says PM Lee,” Straits Times, 8 October 2007, 3; “'Yes' to Olympic Games for Youth.” (From NewspaperSG)
5. Duffy, “A Closer Look at the Youth Olympic Games”; Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee, Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games Official Report: Blazing the Trail (Singapore: Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee, 2010), 13. (Call no. RSING 796.48 SIN)
6. International Olympic Committee, "Youth Olympic Games," accessed 12 September 2023.
7. Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee, Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games Official Report, 13; Peh, “S'pore Will Give Youth Olympics Bid Its Best Shot, Says PM Lee.” 
8. Peh, “S'pore Will Give Youth Olympics Bid Its Best Shot, Says PM Lee.” 
9. Lee U-Wen, “To Lausanne Goes Singapore's Hopes,” Today, 24 October 2007, 77. (From NewspaperSG)
10. Carl Skadian, “It’s Singapore 2010,” Straits Times, 22 February 2008, 1. (From NewspaperSG)
11. Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee, Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games Official Report, 21.
12. Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee, Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games Official Report, 21; Marc Lim, “Government Wants All to Be Involved,” Straits Times, 25 March 2008, 32. (From NewspaperSG)
13. Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee, Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games Official Report, 21.
14. Tan Yo-Hinn, “Hard Work Has Begun,” Today, 23 February 2008, 56 (From NewspaperSG); Parliament of Singapore, Youth Olympic Games: Impact, Expenditure and Future Plans, vol. 87 of Parliamentary Debates: Official Report,15 September 2010 (Singapore: Government Printer, 2010), col. 1028 (Call no. RSING 328.5957 SIN); Jonathan Wong, “YOG Budget Triples to $387m, Local Firms Get Lion's Share,” Straits Times, 7 July 2010, 6. (From NewspaperSG)
15. Parliament of Singapore, Youth Olympic Games, col. 1029–32; Wong, “YOG Budget Triples to $387m, Local Firms Get Lion's Share.” 
16. Parliament of Singapore, Youth Olympic Games, col. 1029–34.
17. Robin Chan, “Youth Olympics a Boost for Local Economy and Business,” Straits Times, 20 August 2010, B11. (From Newslink via NLB’s eResources website)
18. Parliament of Singapore, Youth Olympic Games, col. 1034; Wong, “YOG Budget Triples to $387m, Local Firms Get Lion's Share.” 
19. Public Order (Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games Opening and Closing Ceremonies) Declaration 2010, S 416/2010, Government Gazette. Subsidiary Legislation Supplement, 30 July 2010 (Singapore: Government Printer, 2010), 2091–99 (Call no. RSING 348.5957 SGGSLS); Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee, Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games Official Report, 72, 112–13.
20. Tan Yi Hui, “Get Ready for the Village, People,” Straits Times, 8 August 2009, 110. (From NewspaperSG)
21. Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee, Official Spectator Guide: Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games (Singapore: Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee, 2010), 34–35. (Call no. RSING 796.48 OFF)
22. Frankie Chee, “Motorists, Give Way to YOG vehicles in Special Lane,” Straits Times, 19 June 2010, 30. (From NewspaperSG)
23. Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee, Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games Official Report, 24.
24. Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee, Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games Official Report, 24.
25. Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee, Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games Official Report, 23.
26. Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee, Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games Official Report, 116.
27. Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee, Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games Official Report, 33.
28. International Olympic Committee, “Usain Bolt Joins Star-studded List of Youth Olympic Games Ambassadors,” 1 July 2010,https://olympics.com/en/news/usain-bolt-joins-star-studded-list-of-youth-olympic-games-ambassadors-1; Tan Yo-Hinn, "A Bolt of Inspiration," Today, 2 July 2010, 44; Tan Yo-Hinn, “Swim Sensation Phelps and Lightning Bolt Will Miss Youth Olympics,” Today, 31 July 2010, 39. (From NewspaperSG)
29. Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee, Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games Official Report, 100–101. (Call no. RSING 796.48 SIN)
30. Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee, Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games Games Impact Study, 22–23, accessed 14 September 2023, https://stillmed.olympic.org/Documents/YOG/2010/Singapore_2010-Games_Impact_Study.pdf; Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee, Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games Official Report, 13.
31. Low Lin Fhoong, “Economic Crunch Won't Slow Youth Olympics Preparations: Organisers,” Today, 31 October 2008, 56; Royston Sim, “Documentary Chronicles Athletes’ Journey,” Straits Times, 24 July 2010, 39. (From NewspaperSG)
32. Chuang Peck Ming, “Omega to Keep Watch on Youth Olympic Games,” Business Times, 28 August 2009, 55; Tan Yo-Hinn, “Ion Clock Ticks Down to August’s Youth Olympic Games,” Today, 12 February 2010, 39. (From NewspaperSG)
33. Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports, “MCYS Building Dressed Up to Celebrate Inaugural 2010 Youth Olympic Games,” press release, 30 April 2010. (From National Archives of Singapore document no. 20100507006)
34. Patwant Singh, “Already, Some ‘Hot’ Tickets for Youth Olympics,” Today, 1 April 2010, 74 (From NewspaperSG); “YOG: Sold-out Events See Spike in Fans Getting Last-minute Tickets,” Channel NewsAsia, 19 August 2010. (From Factiva via NLB’s eResources website)
35. Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee, Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games Official Report, 35, 43; Terence Voon and Leonard Lim, “Big Secret Is Out: Darren Lights Flame,” Straits Times, 15 August 2010, 3. (From NewspaperSG)
36. Han Keong Chia, “James Wong Takes His Turn to Inspire YOG Athletes", MyPaper, 21 July 2010, A18. (From Factiva via NLB’s eResources website)
37. Leong Wee Keat, “Look Out For a New Generation of Singapore Sports Stars,” Today, 27 August 2010, 27; Jeff Ang, “An Incredible Ride for James Wong,” Straits Times, 28 August 2010, 38. (From NewspaperSG)
38. Teo Wan Gek, “Olympic Honour for PM, Special Flag for S’pore,” Straits Times, , 14 August 2010, 18 (From NewspaperSG); "2010, IOC Olympic Order," Singapore National Olympic Council, accessed 7 August 2023, https://www.singaporeolympics.com/singapore-sports-awards/ioc_trophy/.
39. “Olympic Awards,” Straits Times, 27 August 2010, A6. (From Newslink via NLB’s eResources website)
40. “’Yes’ to Olympic Games for Youth.”
41. Lee, “To Lausanne Goes Singapore's Hopes.” 
42. Skadian, “It’s Singapore 2010.”
43. Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee, Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games Official Report, 21.
44. Jeanette Wang, “Sports Carnival Marks YOG Logo Launch,” Straits Times, 11 January 2009, 35. (From NewspaperSG)
45. Terence Voon, “2,400 Places Available, 560 via Online Ballot,” Straits Times, 13 March 2010, 10. (From NewspaperSG)
46. Serene Tan, “YOG Ceremony Tickets on Sale,” Straits Times, 31 July 2010, 36. (From NewspaperSG)
47. Leonard Lim, “YOG Flame to Ignite Local Olympic Spirit,” Straits Times, 6 August 2010, 15. (From NewspaperSG)
48. Voon and Lim, “Big Secret Is Out: Darren Lights Flame.”
49 Leonard Lim, “Hail YOG Singapore Spirit,” Straits Times, 27 August 2010, 1; “Nanjing Promises Bigger and Better,” Today, 27 August 2010, 33. (From NewspaperSG)



The information in this article is valid as of September 2023 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.


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