Show: The last time I see the Opening Ceremony Stage

After spending close to 4 months working on Opening and Closing Ceremonies (aka OCC), I’ve started to grown attached to the Floating Platform, the Marina Bay skyline, the people I work with, the performers and the security uncle who always smile at me when I walk in.

This entry documents my last trip camwhoring around the OCC Stage.

I'll miss you both (Tong and Lyo) when YOG ends... Do you know Lyo has an official pass to the Float?

Eugene (one of the NS boys we work with), Tong and I under this roof decoration.

we thought of going swimming in the Reflecting Pool

tried to be Godzillas climbing the props

Got eaten and killed by the Dragon Head

guess what it is?

shaking hands and making friends with the Giant Monster

The coils of tubes are actually those washing machine tubes where the dirty water comes out from

 

Show: The DAY is coming

Just 1 more day and its the show. I’m so jumpy on my feet, anxiously waiting for the Opening Ceremony. Good show everybody!

Meanwhile, we’re busy entertaining media requests coming in daily. Newspapers have been featuring the performers as well as behind the scenes. Usually its pretty fun facilitating these requests but its even more fun when we get to hang out with the performers after they do the interviews. Like its name YOUTH Olympic Games, the Opening Ceremony Show is filled with youths. People around my age or younger.

Today, we traipse with Melodie from YOGhurt, this nine piece girl band who is formed specially for YOG. Melodie and gang will sing and dance in the segment called “Monster”. She told me its difficult to dance in that costume of hers. My my, look at those boots. A little bird told me their costume was cosplay inspired.

Watch out for her on the 14th. Many thanks to Melodie for hanging out with us!

She loaned me her headgear

Tong tong got an urge to drum it all out

Sings: dancing in the sunlight..

Its us two girls vs the Marina Bay

Melodie looks the nicest as always

Here's to the YOG: Infinity and Beyond

 

The daily post #90: 10 posts and 1 day to go

Oh dear, what have I gotten myself into.

Today is Friday the 13th, and I find myself in debt. I owe you, our loyal readers (yes, all 4 of you), another 10 entries with only a day to go to the opening ceremony.

"You owe me blog entries..."

Blogging here has been a blast, and I’m thankful to have regular readers who keep my posts warm with comment love. But sadly work has often resulted in my deadlines not being met, and as such, I find myself 10 posts short on the day before the Opening Ceremony. Argh!

So, what say you?

By the way, I’m on a radio show at Millenia Institute some time tomorrow morning – probably about 9am – on 938 LIVE (FM93.8 in Singapore). Tune in if you can, and I’ll try to tweet during the show on @singapore2010. Pls tweet back? 🙂

 

The daily post #89: The hordes are coming

Gaaah! This was supposed to go up last night… Anyway let’s just pretend we’re still on the 12th, shall we?

Since we’ve moved in to the Marina Bay Sands last Wednesday (it’s been that long already?!), we’ve had some time to develop some sort of routine before the Main Media Centre’s clients (i.e. the media – duh!) descend upon us.

But that time has since passed in the glint of an eye.

First thing you see after the metal detectors (it's a lot more crowded now!)

Here at the Main Press Centre on the 4th floor (International Broadcast Centre is on the 1st floor), the media will have pretty good facilities in which to do their work in, like these workstations equipped with internet connectivity, phone lines, and electricity, which is very important.

Ready and waiting

They’ll even have access to a few massage chairs in the Media Lounge case they knead need a break!

And someone must have told them about the massage chairs because they have started coming…

No Hello Kitty, just media accreditation (and massage chairs)

 

The daily post #88: 15km, 39 winks and XX birthday candles

It’s still 3 days+ to the Games, but some of us are already displaying traits traditionally associated with Olympians.

1) This is Vicson, and he looks like he hasn’t slept since July while working for us.

Vicson catches a few winks (while he can)

2) I don’t have a picture of John Wong, but this is a (great) picture by John Wong.

Nice shot, Mr Wong!

Today is John Wong’s birthday – I don’t know his exact age though. John braved the elements  today as a volunteer photographer to help us bring the Games to all of you. (We’ve got a little surprise here at the office for you John! :))

3) This is Weijie. Weijie is a champ in my book, for running with the torch. For 15km. In the rain. In slippers.  (Read more about Weijie)

Photo by unidentified Straits Times reader

Sleepy Vicson has woken up, and he seems happy, I think.

Ya right.

And even though I haven’t met John or Weijie, my feel is that they’re pretty thrilled to be part of this whole experience too – Just like the rest of the Singapore 2010 workforce, who are working their behinds off so we’ll have an event all of us can be proud of.

 

The daily post #87: The kids are alright (with tech)

I was just talking to Robin D., one of our STARS (Short-Term Assigned Regular Staff a.k.a. staff from government agencies who have volunteered to help us for the Games) today. He was reminiscing about how the earliest Olympic-related memory he has is of a howling wolf (with a sore-throat) from 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo. We googled and learnt that it was Vucko, the mascot for the ’84 Games, seen here in this video from YouTube:

It’s old-school animation, and we talked about how much time and effort it probably took (back then) to bring Vucko to life.

But with technology where it is now, it’s pretty mind-blowing what off-the-shelf software and hardware can do. Just look at this video that a few students from Nanyang Polytechnic came up with as part of their school work:

There’s actually an even more kick-ash version that’s in stereoscopic 3D (that’s nerdspeak for needing the 3D glasses).

And all I had in school were crayons. :p

By the way, since we’re (sort of) on the topic, what’s your earliest Olympic memory?

 

The daily post #86: National (Rest) Day

Yesterday was Singapore’s 45th birthday, and many of us were grateful for a little breather just before the Games hits us square in the face.

photo by kodomut @ flickr

But some of us had to still stick it out, and there was no respite – despite it being a public holiday. Just like Flame Guardian, Feodor Mak (read his story here).

Feodor is second from right (photo by Erik Estrada)

There were many others who were also working at the various Games venues around Singapore, and we salute you. (It’ll all be over before you know it!)

Anyhow, it’s back to full-time over-time work again, and Coke Zero to stay alert awake.

A belated Happy National Day Singapore, and here’s hoping you show the same love for us  (a.k.a. the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games) as well. 🙂

photo by i.am.leon @ flickr

 

Touched by the Flame

On the second day of the torch relay, we chanced upon a small group of people along Merpati Road, who came together to cheer on their torchbearer, NG Wen Lin (13).

They included the Sisters from Canossa Convent, Wen Lin’s, grandmother, mother, sister, friends, teachers, school mates as well as their parents.

There were no more than 30 or so people waiting along the two-lane road lined with terrace houses on one side. But the excitement was definitely in the air.

As we waited, we started talking about Wen Lin, how proud everybody was of her, how happy they were that she had a chance to be part of the torch relay.

The Sister started to tell me about Canossa Convent, the school that was right behind us.

The mother told me about Wen Lin’s sister who was good in swimming, and how she was contemplating on whether to register her at the sports school.

Then the first Police outrider was sighted. People started shouting, “It’s here, it’s here.” All the conversations stopped. Friends and families rushed to the edge of road to catch the moment.

The rousing Coke and Samsung trucks turned in, with their music and fanfare turned to full blast. But it was Wen Lin who brought on the loudest cheer as she stepped off the torchbearers’ bus. The 13 year old girl waved back happily.

Soon, the torchbearer before her came running in, the torch was passed, and the crowd was ecstatic. The cameras went clicking; mom, granny, sis and the Sisters looked on and beamed with pride and joy.

The roaring crowds at the morning launch sites and evening community celebrations, in the presence of important people have been great.

But the Sunday morning at Merpati Road with Wen Lin, and her friends and families was a beautiful one.

 

The daily post #85: A walk in the (Youth Olympic) Park

I’ve never thought very much about sunsets in Singapore, given we’re often between tall buildings and can hardly see the horizon, but I’m (almost) a convert. Just need to see a few more to believe that what I saw wasn’t a fluke.

In the early days (I sound like I’m talking about decades ago!) when we were just being introduced to our Games Time office at the Marina Bay Sands., I had the luxury of time to walk across the unique Helix Bridge, past the floating platform, and to the Olympic Park. Pity though that these days, we’re leaving the office only when it’s dark.

The view was … I’ll let the pictures do the talking.

The flyer at twilight

Looking out on the Helix Bridge

Even I couldn't resist doing the touristy thing...

My version of the same shot

I eventually made it to the end of the bridge, where I got another 2 shots …

That's what this place is called

Lotsa colourful spots for a photo or two

… before darkness took over. 😦

If you can, make it a point to come here for a walk before the opening ceremony for some very nice views of the bay.

 

The daily post #84: Post-a-pic

With cameras being as cheap as they are these days, everybody’s got one. If you think you don’t own one, you might want to check your phone.

Don't miss the chance to get a picture with celebrity torchbearers...

And heck, you don’t even need someone else to help you take pictures any more.

Most of us are getting pretty comfortable in front of the camera too

With the Torch Relay spanning the island, there are lots of great pics to be taken. The people are friendlier, the smiles are wider and even the weather’s cooler (though damper). Don’t believe me?

You feel lighter...

... almost like you can fly

You feel like part of something bigger...

... And you can take on the world

It's not just for the young

... It's for everyone.

So go on and capture some of these once-in-a-lifetime moments.

Papa-(and mama?)-razzi in hot pursuit

Once you’ve got those photos, don’t just leave them in your memory card. Share them with us! How?

– Email them to us (send to potd@singapore2010.sg)
– Post them on our Facebook fanpage (click HERE if you don’t know how)
– Post them on Flickr and tag them with #singapore2010

For your information, all the photos you see in this blog entry were shot by our volunteer photographers. Is that cool or what?

(Click on the images to see larger versions, and the names of the photographers)