THE opening and closing ceremonies of the inaugural Youth Olympic Games (YOG) next year will showcase Singapore's multiracial character and how the country has made its mark on the world stage.

The artistic vision for the shows, to be held at the Marina Bay floating platform, will be provided by theatre doyen Ivan Heng, who was also behind this year's National Day Parade (NDP).

Composer and Cultural Medallion recipient Iskandar Ismail will provide music and sound for the shows, which will cost millions of dollars to stage.

The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) has also been roped in: The Army's 6th Division will have the task of coordinating the shows, which will take place next August before 30,000 spectators and millions more viewers around the world.

Brigadier-General Ishak Ismail, the division's commander, will have more than 7,000 people at his disposal to make sure that the two Olympic shows run like clockwork.

The YOG organising committee's chief executive officer, Mr Goh Kee Nguan, told The Straits Times that the 6th Division will work with other government agencies like the Education Ministry and Land Transport Authority.

Read the full story in Monday's edition of The Straits Times.