Inaugural Youth Olympics is a numbers Games
SINGAPORE – The Singapore 2010 Youth Olympics is clocking high scores – some 5000 athletes and officials and nearly 2000 media representatives from 204 countries are in attendance and an additional 27,000 spectators and 5000 performers, including children from 47 Singapore schools, filled the Marina Bay Floating Platform for the opening ceremony alone.
By Pauline Tan
Other significant figures include a S$5.5 million catering budget for participants, 2600 medical personnel deployed; 66,000 audience interaction kits prepared for the opening and closing ceremonies; 1650 bus operators; and, 7200 armed forces, police and Civil Defence Force personnel on standby. Conscious of the knock-on benefits of making a good impression on the young Olympians, aged 14 to 18, who are competing in the Games’ 26 events, Singapore has spared no expense. Some 2000 fireworks synchronised to music and shot from the crowns of various buildings around Marina Bay were used for the opening ceremony.
Senior minister, Goh Chok Tong, said: “Most [Games attendees] probably have heard of our reputation as a clean and green city, our efficient Changi Airport, SIA and our vibrant economy. We are less known for our hospitality, graciousness, and competitive spirit. So let us use this unique opportunity to show the world the spirit of Singapore and the smiles of Singaporeans. Let all athletes, officials and international visitors leave Singapore with wonderful memories of the Youth Olympic Games and fond recollections of Singapore.”
The mega-sports event demonstrates Singapore’s ability to pull together the necessary resources needed to host a world class, large-scale event. It has run a strong race almost a week into the Games, which end on August 26. This is made more remarkable by the fact that little permanent, dedicated sporting infrastructure was built just for the event. Plans for a showcase sports hub with a new stadium were scuppered by the global economic crisis last year, but this has hardly mattered. Modern, international-standard facilities in Singapore schools and clubs expanded the country's inventory of sporting venues.
To ensure Singapore’s renaissance as a sporting events venue gathers momentum, the government committed S$50.22 million early in 2010 to its national sports associations to run their programs, helping build the nation’s sporting culture.
Throwing money at a problem is seldom a long-term solution, but money well spent can ensure strong dividends in the future. Singapore Inc, through its management of the inaugural Youth Olympics so far, is demonstrating a willingness to go the distance to be a prime contender in the race to win the world’s top sports events.
