Mr Ng Ser Miang, an International Olympic Committee Executive Board member from Singapore and also chairman of the Organising Committee for the inaugural Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in 2010, told Xinhua on the sidelines of a seminar on YOG, that he felt sad that the torch relay encountered some disruptions in London, Paris and San Francisco.

'But we are happy that it was going smoothly at the latter stops which saw a lot of protection and excitement in welcoming the torch,' he said.

'I believe that it will get respect', because 'it is a very important symbol for Olympic movements, and also a symbol of peace and friendship,' he added.

He also expressed his confidence in the successful organisation of the Beijing Games.

'Last week during the IOC executive board meeting in Beijing, we discussed a lot about the preparations of Beijing Olympics. It was excellent and we are looking forward to an excellent organisation of the Olympic Games,' he said.

An 11-member IOC team is in Singapore to conduct a six-day orientation seminar to assist the organising committee in its preparations for the YOG.