Scandinavian residents in Singapore will have a unique opportunity to witness the first ever Youth Olympics, when the country will host the inaugural Youth Olympics in 2010.
In a close competition with Moscow, Singapore had the upper hand and won the right to host he historic event.
International Olympic Committee (IOC) President, Jacques Rogge, made the announcement at IOC headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, on Thursday the 21st of February.
“This is a key moment for the Olympic Movement,” said Rogge.
The brainchild of Rogge, the Youth Olympics, will bring together around 3,200 athletes (the regular Olympics have 10,000) aged 14-18 in 26 of the 28 Summer Games sports.
“Singapore has put together a very exciting project. Hosting the Youth Olympic Games for the first time is a great responsibility, and I have every confidence in the team in Singapore. I have no doubt that their professionalism and enthusiasm will be instrumental in the staging of successful Youth Olympic Games in 2010,” said the IOC President.
There will be no national anthems and no medals for the winners. The first winter edition is planned for 2012.
“The Youth Olympic Games are the flagship of the IOC’s determination to reach out to young people,” continued Rogge.
“These Games will not only be about competition. They will also be the platform through which youngsters will learn about the Olympic values and the benefits of sport, and will share their experiences with other communities around the globe. We are looking forward to joining in the celebration in Singapore in 2010.”
Singapore and Moscow were selected by an IOC evaluation committee from an original nine candidates, the others being Athens, Bangkok, Debrecen, Guatemala City, Kuala Lumpur, Poznan and Turin.
(source: IOC press release, Bangkok Post)
