Singapore uses Youth Olympic Games to showcase organisational ability

(KPL) Singapore's decision to host the 2010 Youth Olympic Games had three significant implications: it was the first time in this little island state's history, it would enable its people to gain experience in organising sports at the international level and it would get this country’s youths to become more competitive in sports.

"It was a great honour for Singapore to host the 2010 Youth Olympic Games. It was an opportunity for promoting and developing our youth to learn new things," said Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister of Community Development, Youth and Sports of Singapore.

This event was also a great opportunity for Singapore to prove that it had a high level of organisational competency to the world.

The minister said that because Singapore was a small country it did not have the aspiration to be positioned somewhere at the top end of the pole position and he added that the event would provide ample opportunities for the youths to develop themselves.

"We also want the world to realise the harmony of the Singaporean people," said Dr Vivian. -

Although the Youth Olympic Games was a mammoth event for this"little red dot" country but the state did not build any new facility for any of the 26 sporting events and instead it opted to use the existing venues.

The minister elaborated,"We would want to use existing venues to their full capacity. The building of new venues would cost money and they might become white elephants after this event."

The 2010 Youth Olympic Games commenced on 14 August and it would end on the 26 of the same month.

One hundred and seventy countries sent athletes to compete in the YOG. Laos sent three athletes to compete in three sports, badminton, track and field and swimming.

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