That brings us to the end of the Validation Exercises for January.
It’s been a crazy month filled with Judo, Wrestling, Taekwondo, Boxing, Handball and Fencing Tournaments that brought together the best of the nation and even foreign nations too!
The international tournaments saw countries like South Africa, Canada, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong and India flying in to compete!
We had great moments, crazy moments, “freakoutbecauseofamistakewemade” moments, shouting moments, moments where we wanted to cheer for Singapore but couldn’t because we’re supposed to be unbiased and general moments where we had pumped in so much energy and effort that all we wanted to do was fall asleep in a heap under the table.
This is Isaac Neo, the team leader from Judo, posting about our experiences during the 13th Commonwealth Judo Championships from 10-12 January 2010.
This reflection written by Melissa Teo sums up our experience quite well.
Being at the Commonwealth Judo Championships doing sports presentation was a delightful experience. I enjoyed myself thoroughly, and I am looking forward to the Youth Olympic Games in August!
At the cold hall in Suntec Convention Centre, watching the athletes’ dedication to their sport was very heart-warming. As part of my duty as a sports presenter, I was required to watch each match very closely so that I would be able to announce the winner. With each move, I could sense their determination to win, or simply just to put up a good fight against their opponent. Even for the athletes who were clearly the weaker of the two, they never let that get in their way. Such fighting spirit is very inspiring!
Swimming legend and 16-time Olympic medallist will be one to spot in Singapore during the first Youth Olympic Games.
He was appointed a Youth Olympic Games Ambassador on Monday by the International Olympic Committee.
“The Youth Olympic Games is an excellent initiative, not only for the athletes competing but also those who are inspired to get into sport and be more active,” said Phelps.
“I am delighted that I have been given the opportunity to become the first official Ambassador of the Youth Olympic Games, and can’t wait to get working with the YOG team to promote the first event this summer.”
Guess what? The YOG team can’t wait to work with you too!
It is without a doubt that young athletes all over the world will be swarming all over Michael Phelps – the swimmer who created the Olympic dream. Go Phelps!
After the Youth Olympic Games in August this year, Singapore still wants to give young athletes all over the world a world class sports experience.
That is why even after 2010, outstanding young athletes can get the chance to study at the Singapore Sports School and receive a fully-subsidised academic and sports education for between four and six years.
The school fees cost about $25,000 a year for foreigners and Singaporeans, $6,000 a year.
A cool deal for young athletes from other countries who do not have the chance to study overseas!
The government-funded scholarships, which will be given out once every four years during the summer YOG, is open to all 205 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) worldwide.
Before the first Youth Olympic Games in August 2010, the Youth Olympic Flame will blaze the trail across the world to one city each on the continents of Europe, Africa, the Americas, Oceania and Asia.
The Flame will be lit in Greece before traveling to Berlin (Germany), Dakar (Senegal), Mexico City (Mexico), Auckland (New Zealand) and Seoul (Republic of Korea).
The Flame will arrive in Singapore for a six-day round-island torch relay before it lights the cauldron at the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games Opening Ceremony.
Yesterday was the opening event for the last CAN! festival. As I was getting ready for the event, I remembered that it was exactly one year ago that we unveiled our logo at SMU Green. It was also the first CAN! event and the precursor to the CAN! festival. How time flies when you are having fun
What was so special about the event one year ago was, among other things, how a group of NTU students had got together to design a Rube Goldberg launch mechanism to unveil the logo. And they wowed the audience.
CAN stands for Create Action Now and is a call for action to everyone to do something for the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games.
So it was interesting when Sabrina (did I get the spelling right?), who used to intern with us, told me yesterday about her final year project – to organise a kite workshop for other students. The goal – to fly 176 kites to mark 176 days before YOG (I had to gasp for air for the short time left). But the project is in need of funding and sponsorship.
It was interesting because we had talked about the idea ourselves – flying hundreds of kites with our logo on them to celebrate Singapore hosting the Youth Olympic Games. But somehow the project never took off because of time, resources and other more pressing matters.
I am happy that the idea is still alive and a group of students could see through the project.
By hosting the Youth Olympic Games, one of the many things we hope to happen is for as many people as possible to be inspired by this once in a life time event to go out there and do something for themselves, for others, for this inaugural event – totally self-initiated.
We may be having our last CAN! festival but come on everyone, you can still create action now. You can make things happen with 7 months to go before the first-ever Youth Olympic Games. For one thing, I hope the kites will take flight.
As I watch the landscape rush by, the browns, the soft greens, the blues and greys. I think to myself that it is good to be back in Europe again.
There is a hush in Denmark that we never experience in Singapore. Even in the tropical forests and the mangrove swamps, there is constant movement, ceaseless sound. Here, there is a silence, a stillness trembling at the edge of what must surely be magic- the magic that has given birth to the land of fairy tales- the land of Hans Christian Andersen.
In the tropical warmth and rains of Singapore, in the noisome and vivacious sunlight, I have grown up reading the fairy tales of the cold mountains and the frosts of the Northern lands of Europe where the shadows are stepped with secrets and their princesses are beautiful, tall and pale.
It was with such anticipation, that I stepped off the plane and into the morning hours of Denmark and was whisked away to the Bella Center where CEO and the other directors were already working away.
As I made my way to the Bella Center, listening to the London 2012 representatives chatting away in the shared vehicle, my eyes found it unfamiliar to see so much sky. Looking up into the endless blue, the ground was stolen from me and I stumbled, feeling as if I were falling backwards into the sky.
The wind blew, and between the biting cold and the exhilaration, I found my words stolen away from me.
As you all might have heard, the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games mascots made their debut over the weekend.
Lyo – which stands for Lion of the Youth Olympics is a lion cub with a mane as fiery as his passion for life. He wants to win a gold medal in international basketball competitions.
Merly – is a merlion cub who loves exploring the waters and beyond. Her dream is to become an environmental scientist.
Like all young people, Lyo and Merly need their food to get through the day. Born and bred in Singapore, both of them are fans of the local delights.
Lyo loves: Chili crab and Chicken Rice with loads of chili. A spicy palate for a fiery guy.
Bite into the fleshy chunks of sweet crab meat!
Chicken rice with lots of chili hits the spot
For a cool girl like Merly, she loves:
Ice Kachang - a great dessert for a hot day in Singapore!
The ice shavings hide a mix of treasures
For athletes and visitors coming to Singapore next year, be sure to try these dishes at the nearby food courts or hawker centers.
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