Singapore
will mark the Flame’s arrival on 6 August 2010 with a celebration involving
President SR Nathan at the National University of Singapore. This will be
followed by a six-day round-island relay spanning 22 venues. Each day will end with
a community celebration for residents. Some 2,400 torchbearers, including
students, grassroots leaders, national servicemen, persons with disabilities,
arts and culture achievers, Olympians, athletes and Singaporeans young and old,
will carry the torch in a 305 km route through all constituencies in a total of
twelve 4-hour relay sessions.
Everyone
can be part of this historic journey and are encouraged to gather their families,
friends, neighbours and colleagues to cheer the torchbearers and celebrate the lighting
of the flame each day, and the passage of the flame as it travels through their
neighbourhoods, schools and workplaces. They can also join in community
celebrations at the end of each day. Grassroots
organisations are already making plans to involve residents for the segments of
the relay passing through their respective constituency. This national
milestone event will see some 300,000 people and 500 cheer groups, gathering
along the relay route to cheer the torch bearers.
The JYOF’s Singapore programme will be from 5 Aug to 14
Aug. This span of 9 days will provide all Singaporeans ample opportunities to
be part of a once-in-a-lifetime Olympic event and to make history together:
- 5 Aug Arrival in Singapore
- 6 Aug Flame Arrival Celebrations at NUS
- 7 Aug Day 1 - Central Singapore District (North)
- 8 Aug Day 2 - South East District
- 10 Aug Day 3 - North East District
- 11 Aug Day 4 - North West District
- 12 Aug Day 5 - South West District
- 13 Aug Day 6 - Central Singapore District (South)
- 14 Aug Day 7 – Short relay to cauldron lighting at Opening Ceremony
Grassroots organisations and their advisors will be welcoming their own District torch bearers with their constituents at the six Community Celebrations which culminate on 13 Aug with MM Lee Kuan Yew at the Marina Bay City Celebrations.
In the course of the torch relay and celebrations, there will also be special off-road activities held at iconic locations such as MacRitchie and Bedok Reservoirs, East Coast Park, the Singapore Zoological Gardens, Chinese Garden, Singapore Botanical Gardens and Sentosa.
YOG AT WORLD YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIPS LEVEL WITH EQUAL EMPHASIS ON SPORT, CULTURE AND EDUCATION
The YOG is the first new event introduced by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 80 years. It aims to encourage more young people to take up sport and adopt and live by the Olympic values of Excellence, Friendship and Respect. The Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee (SYOGOC) is co-constructing the Games with the IOC and working with the 26 International Sports Federations (IFs) and 205 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) to organise the YOG at World Youth Championships level, so that we can have competitions of the highest international standard. This necessitated certain revisions in the specifications, scale and scope of the Games.
SEIZING OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE SINGAPOREANS & RAISE SINGAPORE’S INTERNATIONAL PROFILE
We will also be seizing this once-in-a lifetime opportunity to raise the international profile of Singapore through the Journey of the Youth Olympic Flame in all five Continents, and broadcasting the Games live to a worldwide audience. The value of YOG and Singapore’s exposure in local and international news coverage is estimated to be in excess of $86 million. This enhanced profile of Singapore will make us better known to the world at large, opening up opportunities for Singapore businesses and Singaporeans.
The YOG is also an excellent opportunity to engage Singaporeans in a national project and foster national pride. We have put in place programmes to enable all our students to learn about the Olympic movement and values, and platforms for Singaporeans and community groups to contribute to and celebrate the Games. We have involved up to 20,000 volunteers to help run the various aspects of the Games’ operations. The volunteers have been trained and equipped with skills they will find useful beyond the YOG.
PROJECTED GOVERNMENT SPENDING ON THE YOG
Taking the above into account, the projected government spending for the YOG is $387 million.
ENHANCING CAPABILITIES AND TRACK RECORDS OF
LOCAL COMPANIES AND CONTRIBUTING TO THE ECONOMY
Of the $387 million, $260 million worth of contracts were awarded to local companies such as CityNeon Holdings and Pico Global Service (both for events and exhibition services), Comfort-Delgro (transport), Singapore Food Industries, Select Group (catering), CISCO (auxiliary police), NCS (software system, data centres management etc) and Purechem Veolia (cleaning).
As service providers to the YOG, our local companies will be given a global platform to showcase and enhance their capabilities and track records. They gain valuable experience and exposure to an international audience, and add to their list of corporate credentials a valuable association with the worldwide Olympic movement. This will enhance their brand and industry standing and provide for them an added advantage when they compete to win contracts here and in international markets.
The YOG is also expected to attract an estimated 40,000 foreign visitors and tourism receipts of about $57 million. This will benefit many sectors of our economy such as hotels, F&B, entertainment, retail and transportation.
LASTING LEGACIES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMMUNITY
Sporting culture in Singapore is expected to ride on the wave of the YOG. Technical expertise of our National Sports Associations has been boosted. The upgraded sports facilities, equipment and new satellite sports centres mean more Singaporeans will be able to enjoy better amenities in the community after the YOG. Some of the new facilities include the Tampines Bike Park, Singapore Sports School Shooting Range, Singapore Turf Club Riding Centre and the Sengkang Hockey Stadium.
The spirit of Olympism has been passed on to our younger generations. The Olympic Education Programme has been implemented in 430 schools and more than 505,000 Singaporeans have visited the YOG Learning Centre and seen its mobile exhibits. By bringing the Games to the heartlands, the YOG has reached 135,000 people in 260 Community-led events.
LET’S WELCOME THE WORLD WITH
OUR WARM AND GRACIOUS HOSPITALITY
Singapore 2010 YOG is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity when the Olympic Games will take place in Singapore. It is an opportunity for Singaporeans to rally together and make history together. It is an event for all Singaporeans. Singaporeans are encouraged to actively participate in the various upcoming YOG activities to celebrate the Games, and to support the athletes at the competition venues. Come August, let us welcome the world with warm and gracious hospitality, and celebrate the arrival of the Olympic flame and spirit in Singapore.