1st Youth Olympic Games
Singapore (SIN), August 14 – 26, 2010

LAUSANNE (SUI), FIG Office, May 7, 2010: Celebrations marking 99 days to go until the inaugural Youth Olympic Games were held across the host city of Singapore today, with the Singapore Organising Committee (SYOGOC) enthusiastically proclaiming: “We are ready!”

Thousands turned out to take part in celebratory events ranging from athletic competitions and sports carnivals to fireworks displays as the nation prepares to make history by becoming the first-ever host of the Games for young Olympians from 14-26 August.

The highlight of the day’s activities was the “99-Day Celebration” at *Scape, which was attended by Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Education Minister Ng Eng Hen, Community Development, Youth and Sports Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, SYOGOC Chairman Ng Ser Miang and International Olympic Committee Coordination Commission Chairman Sergey Bubka. The programme for the 99-Day Celebration included the unveiling of the venue-dressing designs and workforce uniforms for the Games, cultural and musical performances, sports activities and a keynote speech from Prime Minister Lee. Worldwide Olympic Partners and domestic marketing partners also joined in the celebrations by promoting sports from the summer programme at their countdown booths.

The International Olympic Committee marked the milestone date by releasing a photograph competition on Flickr to capture the spirit of the Youth Olympic Games and by releasing ‘99 seconds’, video interviews with Youth Olympic Games Ambassadors Michael Phelps and Yelena Isinbayeva. The group of 30 Young Ambassadors, nominated by a pilot group of National Olympic Committees, also celebrated ‘99 days to go’ in their regions and communities.

The Youth Olympic Games in Singapore will bring together 3,600 athletes between 14 and 18 years of age from all 205 National Olympic Committees to compete in the 26 sports on the London 2012 Olympic Games programme. A culture and education programme will raise participants’ awareness of the Olympic values and topics such as healthy lifestyles and the fight against doping.

For more information on the Youth Olympic Games, visit www.olympic.org/youtholympicgames and read the complete IOC press release.

(source: IOC)

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