(From left) Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) director general Husain Al-Musallam, OCA vice-president Timothy Fok, Singapore National Olympic Council president Teo Chee Hean, International Olympic Committee member for Singapore Ng Ser Miang and Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports Permanent Secretary Niam Chiang Meng at the Asian Youth Games launch ceremony yesterday at Downtown East. -- ST PHOTO: LAU FOOK KONG
THE Asian Youth Games might have been first mooted as part of Singapore's Youth Olympic Games (YOG) bid last year.
But it is an important event in its own right, and will not just serve as a test for the inaugural Youth Olympics, said AYG Singapore 2009 Steering Committee chairman Ng Ser Miang yesterday.
BUILD FRIENDSHIP
'The AYG will provide the opportunity for emerging athletes from Asia to meet and build lasting friendships through friendly competition based on the Olympic ideals of excellence, friendship and respect.'
Ng was speaking at Downtown East, where the AYG launch ceremony was held.
The AYG will be held from June 29 to July 7 next year, with Downtown East set to be the Games Village to both athletes and officials.
It will see 1,000 athletes aged between 14 and 17 from 45 countries competing in over 80 events in nine sports - aquatics (diving and swimming), athletics, bowling, beach volleyball, 3-on-3 basketball, football, sailing, shooting and table tennis.
Singapore National Olympic Council president Teo Chee Hean said: 'The AYG will provide the opportunity for emerging athletes from Asia to meet and build lasting friendships through friendly competition based on the Olympic ideals of excellence, friendship and respect.'
Yesterday also saw the unveiling of the official Games logo, which has two overlapping star-bursts to signify the strong ties among Asian countries and symbolise sportsmanship.
Ng added: 'The AYG brings all the youths of Asia together. Not just in sports, but culture and education as well. It is very important that we do that.'
The AYG Singapore 2009, jointly organised by the Ministry of Education and the Singapore Sports Council, will be the fourth multi-sport event to be hosted in Singapore.
The last was the 1993 South-east Asia Games.
With the exception of bowling, the other eight AYG sports will feature in the 2010 Youth Olympics.
Hence, the AYG will give athletes, officials, and organisers the opportunity to prepare for the YOG.
Ng said: 'The AYG and YOG teams will be working closely together, so whatever knowledge, experience and expertise gained from the AYG will definitely be passed on to the team that organise the Youth Olympics.'
The learning process will include observing how the Games Village is run and gaining hands-on experience during the event. Other key areas that will come under scrutiny include logistics, transport, security, medical services and anti-doping measures.
Even though the Asian Youth event is just 32 weeks away, vice-president of the Olympic Council of Asia Timothy Fok believes the first AYG will begin with a bang.
He said: 'While it may be a very short time to prepare for a major Games, the OCA is confident that Singapore, with its capabilities, will be able to put on a fantastic show.'
