Dubai: The Chief Executive Officer of the Singapore Youth Olympic Games is convinced that the country's global appeal will be a true testimony to its capabilities as an organiser.
"For us, staging the World Youth Olympic Games is like catering to a newborn baby as this is the very first time that these Games are going to be held," Brigadier General Goh Kee Nguan told Gulf News on the sidelines of the SportAccord International Convention 2010 Dubai which ended Friday.
"Staging the Formula One race is different as it is an established brand. Hence our challenge is unique because this is the first time that the IOC has decided to stage these games for the youth of the world," Nguan added.
The inaugural edition of the World Youth Olympic Games will be held in Singapore from August 14-26. The entire attention of the sporting world will be on the tiny Asian nation as more than 5,000 athletes between 14-18 years and representing the 205 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) descend there this summer.
Olympic pole-vaulting legend Yelena Isinbayeva was recently appointed the official Ambassador of the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Encouraging youth
The athlete joined swimming superstar Michael Phelps, who was named ambassador in February. Their role is to support the YOG by encouraging the participation of young people in sport globally. "The challenges have always been there and they will always be there. But the IOC has always believed in our capabilities and we in turn have proved to them that we are doing a good job. The stage is now set and we are all ready to welcome the youth of the world to Singapore," Nguan said.
The Singapore Games will feature a sport programme similar to that of the 2012 London Olympic Games with 26 sports disciplines comprising 201 events.
Each of the events will be conducted in three group categories, namely 15-16 years, 16-17 years and 17-18 years. But perhaps the highlight of the Singapore Games will be the participation of the youth in a unique Culture and Education Programme (CEP) that is being started for the first time by the IOC.
"The Singapore Games is about youth and it is about sport, and both these go hand in hand if we are to seek a better world for the future," Nguan said.
Singapore has already started testing its venues for this event.
