SINGAPORE - This year's Singapore Youth Olympic Festival (SYOF) will feature an all-time high of 11 sports, an increase from the previous year's total of nine.
Athletics and fencing have been added to the roster of badminton, three-on-three basketball, fencing, football 7s, rugby 7s, sailing, shooting, table tennis, taekwondo and volleyball.
The month-long competition is open to youths aged 18 and below. It drew a record 2,300 competitors in last year's edition.
Past participants include 2014 YOG champion Bernie Chin (sailing), silver medallist Martina Lindsay Veloso (shooting) and 2012 optimist sailing world champion Yukie Yokoyama.
The opening ceremony on Friday (June 17) at Anglican High School , venue for the basketball competition which ends on Sunday, was attended by guest of honour and Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Grace Fu.
She said: "The SYOF provides an annual platform for athletes of all skill levels to come together, compete in friendly games and hone your skills in the various sports. This complements the sporting opportunities already offered in schools, such as through your CCAs (Co-Curricular Activities) and the National School Games."
The SYOF, organised by the Singapore Olympic Foundation (SOF) after the inaugural 2010 Youth Olympic Games in Singapore, began in 2011 and featured five sports.
It has come a long way and will continue to expand, said Mr Ng Ser Miang, International Olympic Committee member and SOF chairman.
"We know there are many other sports interested to be a part of this, and will definitely consider the suitability to include new sports in future editions. We are very happy that so many young athletes like you are eager to participate in the SYOF and help promote the Olympic values."
Registration for selected sports at the 2016 SYOF, online at syof.sg, is still open. They are athletics (closing date is June 20), football 7s (June 26) , rugby 7s (June 30) and sailing (July 9). Entry fees vary from sport to sport.
Competition details:
1. Athletics, Bishan Stadium, July 2.
2. Badminton, Jurong East Sports Hall, July 2-3.
3. Three-on-three Basketball, Anglican High School, June 17-19.
4. Fencing, OCBC Arena Hall 6, July 1 & 3.
5. Football 7s, Clementi Stadium, July 16-17.
6. Rugby 7s, Yio Chu Kang Stadium, July 16.
7. Sailing, National Sailing Centre, July 17-17.
8. Shooting, Safra Yishun, June 25-26.
9. Table tennis, Yio Chu Kang Sports Hall, June 18-21.
10. Taekwondo, Woodlands Sports Hall , June 25-26.
11. Volleyball, Jurong West Sports Hall, June 22-26.
