PREPARATIONS for the Youth Olympics Games (YOG) are on course but the work ahead will be more challenging in the face of the global economic uncertainty, said Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean on Thursday.

With 652 days away from the Games, which Singapore will host in August 2010, Mr Teo, who is also President of the Singapore National Olympic Council, on Thursday gave a progress report on the YOG groundwork.

He said at the opening of the YOG Learning Centre: 'Preparations for the Games are progress well. SYOGOC has completed its foundation planning and has begun operational planning.

'In the face of the current global economic uncertainty, the work ahead will be more challenging as ideas and plans come to life,' he said. 'SYOGOC is mindful of the concerns and remains committed to putting up an exciting and enriching programme for the inaugural YOG.'

Mr Teo and former pole vaulting great Sergey Bubka officialy opened the Youth Olympic Games Learning Centre.

Located at the Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee (SYOGOC) headquarters along Kay Siang Road, the two-storey, 600-sqm facility will be open to the public from next Tuesday.

Visitors can find out more about the Olympic Movement, Olympic Values, the 26 sports of the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games and Singapore's journye towards hosting the first YOG.

'SYOGOC seized the opportunity of increased public interest in the Olympic Movement to create this Centre to encourage people, especially youth, to learn more about the Olympic Movement and the Youth Olympic Games, starting with Singapore 2010,' said Ng Ser Miang, chairman of the SYOG organising committee.

It is open on weekdays from 2pm to 5pm, and will allow visitors to discover and experience the spirit of Olympism and trace Singapore's journey in winning the bid to host the first YOG in 2010.

Mr Bubka, the chairman of the International Olympic Committee Coordination Commission for the YOG, is leading a delegation and will be in town till Saturday for meetings with SYOGOC officials.