The Youth Olympic Games have come to an exhilarating start. Singapore was chosen to be the host for the first ever Youth Olympic Games (YOG). It is an event that pits youth in the stadium for a chance to win medals, just like the normal Olympic Games, although a smaller version but equally important. These games serves as a platform for young athletes aged 14 to 18 to develop their talents in a certain sport and compete with people from the same age group from other countries. However, true sportsmanship must never be forgotten and the young athletes would benefit through this experience both experience wise and an improvement of their abilities.
The opening ceremony held at the Floating Platform, Marina Bay on August 14, 2010. It was a stunning performance and the lightings were dazzling. The fireworks used were even more than those used on National Day itself. This shows the importance of this event to the government. It is a gathering of talents and a showcase of their abilities. The YOG games are indeed an event to look forward to. The games are planned to be held every four years in staggered summer and winter events consistent with the current Olympic Games format
I remember before the ceremony on Saturday, the Olympic torch was passed through my school. All students were asked to line up and cheer on the runners with the torch. Dr Vivian Balakrishnan was the guest of honour and we certainly felt honoured in his presence. The welcoming ceremony was lined with activities like Precision Drill performance, etc. The most memorable event of the ceremony would be the air planes that flew past at the start of the ceremony. I was awed by the display of skills.
All in all, I can say that the Youth Olympics game is indeed a new perspective from the Olympic game. This game would allow youths to develop their skills young and have a wider knowledge of the outside world.