From Dream to Reality

Aug 21, 2010 Saturday, 03:01 PM

BIRTH of a dream

Two years ago, when we were invited to kick start the efforts to bid for Youth Olympic Games to be hosted in Singapore. It was an unbelievable dream. We were thinking to ourselves, can Singapore host such a huge global sports event on our island. The idea of it blew our mind. However, we decided to give our best shot to garner as much support as we can, to share and spread the dream to host this global sports event to everyone we knew.

We got the youths, businesses, community and our own friends (designers, entrepreneurs, etc) and family to support. We worked with CityCare (a social enterprise whose aim is to promote active citizenry by providing volunteering opportunities) to launch 50,000 car decals of 'We Support YOG' to our community.

The efforts to realise this dream even prompted one of our taxi driver to write to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), explaining why Singapore should be given the opportunity to host the Games. It is the dream that we believe in which kept all these efforts going.

As we did all we could to pursue this Olympic dream and waited for the day the IOC made its announcement of their decision. Together with thousands of youths and Singaporeans, we waited eagerly at the Padang for the live announcement of the outcome by the President of the IOC, Mr Jacques Rogge. The excitement and intensity filled the whole place, when the result was read, all of us there went wild! Shouting and cheering on top of our lungs, celebrating the incredible moment of clinching the opportunity to host the first ever Youth Olympic Games, who could have imagine that we could have done it.

On February 21 2008, Singapore won the right to host the first Youth Olympic Games!

Establishing the reality

With only two years instead of the usual seven years of preparation, Singapore embarked on our journey to make this dream a reality. I was invited to sit on two Sub-Committees that handles Licensing & Branding and Community & Outreach. From the selection of logo, mascots, licensing to community and outreach programmes, bit by bit the Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee pieces the whole dream together.

We also repeated the success of the car decals with the help of CityCare and in partnership with Young Business Leaders (YBLs). We welcomed the world to Singapore and invited all to make history together. Everyone from small medium enterprises to the various groups and community, we celebrate this historical event.

Youth Olympic Flame

'A simple flame passed hand to hand

Not by the fastest or the strongest,

But by people whose greatest gift is what they give of themselves,

Because, it's not just what you do for the record books,

It's what you do for others.'

The proudest moment for me throughout this Olympic experience was to be one of the Torch bearers. Being selected as the first batch to carry the flame, I was eagerly waiting for the torch to arrive, by then I was already drenched by the morning rain. As I waited, I saw a fellow torch bearer running towards me, the fact that I was cold and drenched disappeared. As I took over the torch of flame, the feeling I had was indescribable who could have imagined that this is possible.

The opening ceremony

14 August evening, as I was preparing to attend the Opening Ceremony. I saw the huge seas of people, youths and athletes all gathered together in anticipation. All of us joined in the celebration of performances that was put up and nearing the end as the final torch bearer lit up the Lighthouse, the vortex of fire burst into being. The Youth Olympic Games is officially opened!

I know our dream has become a reality.

I learnt that all of us must have big dreams and we need to give our positive support for those dreams. Then we will see dreams becoming realities. It was a challenge, from not knowing if we can be a host city to putting the preparation together. Now we see the Games daily being broadcast to our homes and we are cheering for all the athletes.

Having said all, 'Friends, our dreams do come true!'