Successful Start for Singapore Youth Olympics

Saturday saw the successful launch of the first ever Youth Olympic Games in Singapore. Opened by Singapore President S.R. Nathan in front of 25,000 people, the 12-day event will involve 3,500 athletes aged from 14 to 18, competing in 26 sports.

The event was conceived by IOC President Jacques Rogge, who told a news conference ahead of the event that he felt "like a father waiting in the delivery room for the birth to come. It is an ambitious project (but) I am very optimistic that this is going to be the start of a long successful series."

Singapore is reckoned to have spent $300 million hosting the event - three times its initial estimate. However Rogge applauded the city-state's achievement, stating âwe are absolutely thrilled by the organisation," and adding âwhat our friends in Singapore have done in just two and a half years is really remarkable."

Although critics have complained that the sports calendar is too full for such an event, numerous other cities have shown a willingness to host the event. The Austrian city of Innsbruck will host the first Winter Youth Olympics in 2012 and Nanjing, China, will stage the second summer games in 2014.

Other interested cities are at the event this week. Officials from Glasgow are in Singapore looking at the possibility of hosting the event as a way of building on the legacy of the city's hosting of the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

4th August 2010 - SINGAPORE SET FOR INAUGURAL YOUTH OLYMPIC GAMES

30th June 2010 - US $20-MILLION SINGAPORE TURF CLUB RIDING CENTRE OPENS

12th February 2010 - NANJING AWARDED 2014 YOUTH OLYMPICS

7th July 2009 - TECHNOGYM TO SUPPLY SINGAPORE YOUTH OLYMPICS