Speeches

SPEECH BY MR NG SER MIANG, CHAIRMAN, SINGAPORE YOUTH OLYMPIC GAMES ORGANISING COMMITTEE, AT FLAME LIGHTING CEREMONY FOR THE YOUTH OLYMPIC FLAME, 23 JULY 2010, 11:00 PM AT ANCIENT OLYMPIA, GREECE

Dr Jacques Rogge, President of the International Olympic Committee
Mr Spyros Capralos, President of the Hellenic Olympic Committee
Mr Spyros Zannias, President of the Torch Commission
Mr Georgios Aidonis, Mayor of Ancient Olympia

Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Singapore’s Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports
Mr Philip Eng, Singapore’s Ambassador to Greece
Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen

Good morning.

2          Birthplaces are always more special than other places because they represent the genesis, where it all begins. It is especially meaningful that we are gathered here today, where the ancient Olympic Games were held, to witness the birth of the Youth Olympic Games, a new initiative of the International Olympic Committee.

3          As with all Olympic Games, the Flame is one of the most important and recognised symbols of the Olympic Movement. The lighting of the Youth Olympic Flame is the renaissance of a two and half thousand year old ceremony paying tribute to what were ancient and blazing the trail ahead towards the Youth Olympic Games.

4          The IOC’s vision for the Youth Olympic Games is to inspire young people around the world to take part in sport, and through their participation, embrace and live by the Olympic values of Excellence, Friendship and Respect. For the first Youth Olympic Games in Singapore, we envision a Games where the youth of the world will learn to appreciate the Olympic values, put them into practice in their daily lives and inspire others in their community to do likewise.

5          Our approach for the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games is to create an environment – through programmes and activities – where youth of the world are invited to engage in the spirit of learning, connecting and interacting through sport.  It is our hope that the Games in Singapore would catalyse everlasting friendship and inspire our youth to face the future with confidence.

6          Starting today, the Youth Olympic Flame will journey to one city in each of the five continents around the world, before arriving in Singapore. The Flame will travel to Berlin, Dakar, Mexico City, Auckland and Seoul.  In each of these cities,   celebrations, events and activities will be organised to excite and enthuse the youth and unite the people of the world, connect them to the Olympic Movement and the spirit of Olympism.

7          As we embark on this momentous and meaningful journey around the world, I would like to invite all of you, the citizens of the world, to join us in this historic event of the Olympic Movement. Come, share and take part in the international city celebrations and the many activities.

8.   I hope we will all be inspired to embrace and live the Olympic values in all that we do. Come August 14^th, the Flame will ignite the sky of Singapore and give birth to a new chapter in Olympic history for the youth - the Youth Olympic Games!

9.  Allow me to thank the International Olympic Committee, in particular President Jacques Rogge for his vision of the Youth Olympic Games and for giving Singapore this honour and opportunity to blaze the trail together with the Olympic family. We also thank and show our deep appreciation to the Hellenic Olympic Committee, the International Olympic Academy and Ancient Olympia for their close collaboration and partnership to organise this momentous flame lighting ceremony.

Thank you.