WhyOhGee

As I mentioned in the earlier blog post, we have some cool videos we took at Hwa Chong International School (HCIS).

The students were asked to do dances and skits based on the Youth Olympic Games. One Secondary 3 group wowed us all with their ultra creative rendition of the Triathlon.

I’ll say no more. Watch the video.

Have you heard of Ironman? Nope, I’m not referring to the movie.

The Ironman World Triathlon Championship or Ironman Triathlon is an annual triathlon race, made famous by its grueling length, race conditions, and sports television coverage.

Held every fall in the US city of Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, the race encompasses three endurance events: a 2.4 mile (3.86 km) ocean swim in Kailua-Kona Bay, a 112 mile (180 km) bike ride across the Hawaiian lava desert to Hawi and back, and a marathon (26.2 mile, 42.2 km) along the coast of the Big Island from Keahou to Keahole Point to Kailua-Kona); finishing on Ali’i Drive. (Wikipedia.org)

Yes, of all triathlons, this race is one that tests the human spirit and endurance. Over the years, there have been amazing stories of people at the Ironman Triathlons.

A regular sighting at these races is the father and son pair, Rick and Dick Hoyt. What’s so special about them?

Rick can’t walk or talk.

For the past twenty five years or more Dick, who is 65, has pushed and pulled his son across the country and over hundreds of finish lines. When Dick runs, Rick is in a wheelchair that Dick is pushing. When Dick cycles, Rick is in the seat-pod from his wheelchair, attached to the front of the bike. When Dick swims, Rick is in a small but heavy, firmly stabilized boat being pulled by Dick. (Team Hoyt.com)

Check out these two videos of the Hoyt Pair who have completed 6 Ironman Triathlons. Their personal best? A good 13hours 47 minutes of pure determination and strength.

Enjoy photos of our recent visit to Hwa Chong International School this week. Students enjoyed two days of sports, dance and drama.

Their accomplishments:

1. 4 YOG sports (Wrestling, Handball, Rowing, Sailing)

2. Created a dance with YOG sports moves

3. Did a skit about YOG

4. Played a YOG version of deal or no deal

Watch this space for videos, we have lots of great footage. It’ll be out next week!

HCIS at work

View full flickr set. (51 photos)

Imagine thousands of healthy teenagers all cramped on the Padang.

Yes, it was chaos last Friday on the usually quiet patch of grass.

The Health Promotion Board (HPB) organized a Healthy Lifestyle Carnival on November 7.

From a concert to sports booth to a jumping castle, there was entertainment for everyone.

YOG set up a booth there too. Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong, visited us and even had a go at one of our life-size board games.

Take a look at what you missed out if you didn’t attend the carnival.

A healthy lifestyle at YOG

View full flickr set. (52 photos)

Why the big fuss you might ask?

Well, think about the number of glasses of water you’ve drunk today. Think of the number of times you’ve exercised this week. Think about how many fruits you’ve actually eaten in the last month.

Youth Olympic Games is about living a healthy lifestyle. How about you?

America has voted that there’s always a first for everything.

Barack Obama was elected the first Afrian American to become the president of the United States on November 4 2008.

Wonder why Obama managed to win with a majority of the electoral vote (364 to 162)? Watch his inspiring speech he made when the results were announced.

For a dummy’s guide to the USA Presidential Elections, read wikipedia.

Read a news article on Obama’s win.

Singapore Olympic Academy Youth Session 2008: Huh what? I’ve only heard of the police academy.

Yes, Singapore has an Olympic Academy. So what exactly did 310 secondary school students do at the Youth Session from 3-5 November?

They learned how to cheer. How hard is that? Well, it is actually a skill to come up with a catchy cheer. Try creating a cheer and all you might get is a sore throat.

They also had a chit-chat session with our very own Singaporean Olympians and Paralympians on the first night.

One question I overheard during the chatting session was a student asking an Olympian: “Did you drown?” The ex-national water polo player, replied: “Of course not. I’m still here!” It was quite funny hearing the old and young connect.

Photo: William Oh

View full flickr set of the camp. (100 photos)

Want to know who was a hit during the camp? Nope it wasn’t the suave Mark Richmond who visited the campers. It was our local hero, C. Kunanlan, who stayed throughout the camp. Cheers to a man who gives back to the sport!

The YOG Learning Centre opened with a big bang last Thursday, 30th of October.

If you didn’t hear the bang…no worries. The learning centre is a place for the general public to come and learn more about the Youth Olympic Games as well as the Olympic Values.

It’s open from 2-5pm on Weekdays except on Public Holidays.

There are exhibits, videos, photos and even some interactive stations for you to try an Olympic sport.

Enough said, come on down to 1 Kay Siang Road and have a taste of the Olympic flavour we’ve infused into this space.

YOG Learning Centre

View full Flickr set of the opening of the YOG Learning Centre. (49 photos)

View full Flickr set of the making of YOG Learning Centre. (66 photos)

We had a new media pool gathering last Wednesday, 29th Oct. It was some serious business…not!

Well, we did get down to doing some real work. Many of those who turned out were all ears, all eyes and all mouth and all hands. What do I mean? Read on more to find out.

New Media Pool

View full flickr set. (60 photos)

All Ears: they heard what we had to say about the importance of the internet in an ever changing crazy world. New Media is important for YOG!

All Eyes: they watched wacky youtube videos.

All mouth: they got into groups to discuss and brainstorm for a name for the youth microsite.

All hands: they wrote and voted for their favourite name for the youth microsite and top three features of a website.

Here’s a recap of the top few names for the youth microsite:

1. Youthanasia

2. Youthphoria

3. WHY-OH-GEE

4. Yogogo

Which one do you like best? Drop a comment on this post and tell us why you like that name.

Kudos once again to all who turned up for the new media pool, you’ll be hearing from us soon!

Names are the most crucial thing in a person’s life. Imagine if you hated your own name…it’ll a tough one to swallow!

So we would like you guys to help us decide on a name for the Thematic Youth Festival (TYF).

YOG will be having a year-long festival for youths. What should it be called?

a) Believing 2010
b) Youth 2010
c) Youthnique

Please leave a comment on this post to tell us your vote for the best name.