It's the closing ceremony for the Youth Olympic Games tonight. The Olympic Flame for the Singapore 2010 Games will be extinguished during the ceremony.
I realized I have not seen the flames at the venue.
So I took leave today off work to go take a look.
It's not a good day to go near the Floating Platform today. Security is so tight for the ceremony tonight. All routes are blocked.
I could only get to see it from the Esplanade. Well, good enough I guess.
Two weeks are over so fast!
You want to see the YOG Medals up close? I saw it at the International Convention Centre, Level 3.
I am not sure if it's the real medal or the replica, but there was a security guard nearby, so maybe it's the real thing.
This is the Gold Medal.
I like the design, do you? I like the side that has the 1st Summer Youth Olympic Games.
The Bronze medal.
The silver medal did not come out clear on my camera.
If you thought they were designed in Singapore like me, we were wrong.
Reading the below will tell you the story.
The medals are entitled "Yes, Youth Can".
Designed by Setsuko Fukuzawa from Montreal, Canada.
Go take a peek at the medals upclose.
While there, you can also take a look at Singapore's medals from the Beijing Olympics too.
And also Singapore's 1960 Rome Olympics.
The Olympics is not only about the athletes who compete and learn more about other cultures.
It's also about the officials from the IOC (International Olympic Council), the various National Olympic Councils and all the different sports International Federations (eg, FIFA being one of the famous ones, International Sailing Federation, International Weightlifting Federations etc) These folks accredit the athletes so that they can participate representing their countries and sports and also play according to the rules.
But the most important people would be the Volunteers! Without them, how can the games even operate. In the Singapore Youth Olympic Games, there are over 20,000 volunteers!
With over 20,000 volunteers, you can be sure some are not happy at all. You can read about it in the news. In Singapore, other than queuing, the other national hobby is to complain! The people who complain also happens to be people who use their mouth and nothing else, they don't contribute themselves but want to be heard. (Recently in Singapore, it was reported that there are two sisters who earn their living by complaining! yes, laugh!)
But there are many volunteers who genuinely want to help. They use up their precious annual leave so that they can volunteer. They also have to burn away their weekends attending the various protocol, etiquette and many other training. They meet up to do menial stuff like packing welcome packs etc for officials and athletes. They do research about other countries so that they know to welcome their visitors and make them feel at home right here in Singapore.
Here are two examples of the volunteers. Whether you are 16 or 66 years old, you can contribute to make the Games a success.
To the complainers, complaining doesn't help. Do something and help! Lift your fingers to do something, not to type your complain letters. Use your brain to think how to improve things and not to think of everything nasty.
To all the genuine YOG Volunteers, you are doing a great job!
When you see the smiles and appreciation of all athletes and officials that you serve, it's all worth it, ain't it?
It's the Olympic Season in Singapore, so there's lots of Olympic related posts. I hope no one is bored with all my YOG posts.
If you happen to be at the International Convention Centre (ICC) what we usually call the Suntec Convention Centre, on the 3rd level, you will be able to see Tan Howe Liang's leotard and Silver Medal.
He wore this when he won the weightlifting for the Rome 1960 Olympics.
Hmmm the leotard and Silver medal is so much older than me!
A new habit for many these days during lunch time.
Flipping out mobile phones to watch the Youth Olympic Games!
One of the mobile phone telco in Singapore provides 3 free streaming channels of the Youth Olympic Games. The same telco also provides free channels on cable to watch at home. ;-)
For different phones, you access it differently. For my phone, I view it via the iPhone App provided by the telco. I am surprised it is so clear and fast.
It drains your battery, so bring along a battery pack!
What's your must watch event?
A few weeks ago, Momo and I got a chance to attend the Youth Olympic Games Opening Ceremony Rehearsal. We were told, please do not post the photos before the event. Help keep it a secret. But I guess the audience that night and on other rehearsals have posted it all. LOL
Well, I guess I am one obedient boy and waited till today, two days after the real thing have passed before I posted anything.
Did you all enjoy the Opening Ceremony?
I did! In fact, watching the real thing on television on High Definition was better!
On TV, we would see up close the facial expressions and view the event from different angle as the camera changes from one to another. But we could not feel the 'energy' if you were physically there.
I was so glad I had two options to watch it on TV. There was a free-to-air broadcast and a cable company's broadcast.
The free-to-air broadcast had a commentator that was so irritatingly chatty. He was speaking when there was live speech on. Good thing, the commentator on the cable TV knew when to keep quiet. :-p
Overall, it was great! I loved the lighting of the Olympic Flame!
It suddenly daunt on me that Singapore's an Olympic City! We have known it for some time we are hosting it, but it just did not sink in until everything is up and ready to welcome visitors.
To feel the Olympic mood, I finally walked in the Olympic Superstore! The temporary store has been around for weeks. But as you walked in, you suddenly feel like a tourist and you are here for the Olympics! LOL
You can see the Olympic Merchandise is sold right in front of Salvatore Ferragamo, Tod's and Prada!
Before it's all gone, you might want to buy some souvenirs to remind yourself that Singapore hosted the Olympic Games, though it's the Youth Edition. ;-)
Why do they call it the superstore? Is it because it is very long?
By the way, the things sold in all the tents seems to be repeated to me.
It was so exciting. When the Youth Olympic Flame passes by where you live or work, you will want to drop what you were doing and join in the excitement.
That was what my colleagues and I did. It's one of the rare opportunity that you will get to see the flame in person and not from the newspaper or TV. The flame had traveled all the way from Greece!
As we lined up the road along the route we got welcomed by first by the one red Coke bus and another blue Samsung bus. (Just before the buses arrived, we were given coke!)
When was the last time we were so energetic?
Their youthfulness and energy do rub on to the crowd!
The first torch bearer in NUS grounds. This was Ms Lyhor Nalene.
If you can't see the flame in the bright sun light, here's the photo when the runners are in the shade.
She looked so excited! You would too ya?
She got one of the tough leg. Her run just before this stretch was all uphill!
She's running towards the next torch bearer.
The flame was passed to Chen Litai Jeremiah.
This was where they posed for photos.
My colleagues and I did not run after the flame. ;-)
A colleague at the other side of the university was a cheeky one. He joked that he is going to wait at the overhead bridge to drop a water bomb. He said it's an easier way to get famous rather than running after the flame. (He chickened out. haha)
The university was in such a festive mood! You can see so many people at the field.
Loud speakers were blaring away and the students took turn to show off their floats and dance performance.
It's amazing how creative they can be. Transforming literally 'junk' and other recycle materials into such beautiful floats!
According to the NUS Office of Student Affairs tweet (http://twitter.com/nusosa), for the flag day, they collected $510,000 for charity. Well done!
Later in the evening, the Olympic Flame is to arrive at NUS.
I could not stay back to take a look and enjoy the fireworks, but here's a youtube video of the floats and the lighting of the Olympic Flame in NUS.
Do you wish you were younger and can compete in the Olympic Games?
It's like wow, they are so young and they have such fitness and skills in their respective games.
We have a cousin who will be in the Youth Olympic age range of 14 - 18 years old in the next YOG. We were telling, train hard, maybe you can qualify to represent Singapore next time. She's a runner.
But for those young ones who qualify for this first YOG, they will be staying at the Youth Olympic Village located at the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) / National Institute of Education (NIE).
A sneak peek at the venue. It's full of flags from the different countries and it sure is turning exciting!
I was told that there will be a World Culture Village that will showcase all the different countries that will be competing. They have tents like the ones shown in the photo below. They will take turns to display / promote their countries in the tents.
If you notice the photo above and the photos below, do you notice something?
Normally in Singapore, the language in most signs are in English plus another of the 3 other official languages. (Malay, Mandarin or Tamil)
I think if you are at any of the Youth Olympic Venues, you might mistaken that you are in France!
You see French everywhere!
It's like Singapore has got the 5th official language for the duration of the YOG!
Talking about French in Singapore, how do you pronounce Clemenceau Avenue in Singapore?
Which is the correct way? I wonder...
You hear people pronouncing it all kinds of way!
Do you know that many places in Singapore have very French names?
View this YouTube and laugh! It's called Taxi Drivers Learn French. I love to watch The Noose on TV.
How many of us living in Singapore has ever been to Bishan Sports Recreation Centre? Bishan Sports Hall is part of the Centre which also includes Bishan Stadium and Bishan Swimming Complex. (Now that's more general knowledge for most of us! haha)
Bishan Sports Hall is the venue for the YOG Artistic Gymnastics and Rhythmic Gymnastics.
For those who have been using the facility, here's a sneak peak as it is transformed for the YOG.
It's amazing how the gymnast can be so so flexible. I would have broken all my bones doing what they do!
I am one of the most inflexible person in my previous mat Pilates class. It's so embarrassing that everyone can bend and flex to do all the moves and I am like a block! That's why I am going for kickboxing nowadays, less embarrassing. LOL
You would probably be watching the sports at home, but for the local folks, do you know that Singapore is so small, it will never ever be eligible to hold a full scale Olympic Games.
We are lucky enough to be able to host the Youth Olympic Games, and since it's in our backyard (literally!), we should visit and support the YOG.
I can't wait to see how the venue will look once the flags and other decorations are up.
Hope to see you at the YOG!
Have you booked your tickets for the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) yet?
The Opening Ceremony tickets were on sale again today. The Opening Ceremony tickets were offered through a ballot. But some who were successful did not collect them, so they are up for sale. If you want them, get them quick at www.singapore2010.sg/tickets or +65-63482010 or any SISTIC Counters.
Have you ever been to the Singapore Sports School? It's one of the many venues for the YOG. Do you know which sports will be competed here?
At any Olympic Games, aquatics has been very popular with spectators.
For the YOG, there are two aquatics events, Aquatics - Diving and Aquatics - Swimming.
For Aquatics - Swimming, the venue happens to be at the Singapore Sports School. Here's a sneak peak at the venue.
If you are interested in Aquatics - Diving, the venue is at the Toa Payoh Swimming Complex. (not here).
Psst, we are normally not allowed to go into schools. So if you want to take a sneak peak at the Sports School, buy tickets and get in!
A few days ago, I saw the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) 2010 bus that is to be ferry athletes around. This is a photo of the bus!
Right in front of the bus is an inverted "GIVE WAY", YOG vehicle license plate and the Olympic Rings. There will also be YOG Lanes along roads in Singapore.
A reminder to road users to give way. Your graciousness would be much appreciated. (by the way, if you fail to give way, you will receive a fine. The YOG vehicles are to be treated like any other emergency services vehicles.)
If you want to read more, here is a link at the YOG Site.
More about the YOG.
If you have not heard or view the YOG Singapore 2010 Theme Song, here's the Music Video.
Titled: "Everyone".
