Youth Olympic Flame Blazing A Trail

Journey Of The Youth Olympic Flame Blazing A Trail Across The World

Singapore, 26 January 2010 – To herald the coming of the first-ever Youth Olympic Games (YOG), the Youth Olympic Flame will blaze a trail across our world to one city each on the continents of Europe, Africa, the Americas, Oceania and Asia. The Journey of the Youth Olympic Flame (JYOF) will connect the people of the world to the Olympic Movement, uniting them in celebration of the spirit of Olympism.

Starting in July 2010, the Youth Olympic Flame will be lit in Greece, and then journey to Berlin (Germany), Dakar (Senegal), Mexico City (Mexico), Auckland (New Zealand) and Seoul (Republic of Korea). The Flame will arrive in Singapore for a six-day round-island torch relay before it lights the cauldron at the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games (Singapore 2010) Opening Ceremony, to mark the start of the first Youth Olympic Games.

"The International Olympic Committee supports Singapore 2010’s Journey of the Youth Olympic Flame to the five international locations. We recognise that the Journey of the Youth Olympic Flame is an excellent initiative to promote the inaugural Youth Olympic Games to young people worldwide,” said Mr Jacques Rogge, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Mr Ng Ser Miang, IOC Vice-President and Chairman of the Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee (SYOGOC) who announced the five cities, and also unveiled the JYOF mark, said, “The Journey of the Youth Olympic Flame will unite the world in a global celebration of the first Youth Olympic Games, and we are grateful that the IOC has made an exception to allow for international participation. The Youth Olympic Flame embodies the Olympic values of Excellence, Friendship and Respect, and through its journey, aims to inspire people around the world to live by those values.”

The JYOF also presents an opportunity to promote Singapore as the host city of the first YOG to the people of each continent. Through coverage in print, broadcast and new media, the reach will be extensive as people around the world are able to join in the celebrations and experience the excitement of Singapore 2010.

City Celebrations

Upon the Youth Olympic Flame’s arrival in each city, known as Celebration City, it will journey to significant city landmarks and allow as many people as possible to welcome the Flame to the continent. The day will end off with a City Celebration, where the people of the city and continent can join in the festivities to celebrate the world’s first YOG.

Each National Olympic Committee (NOC) of that continent will be invited to send two youth representatives to participate in a torch pass ceremony at the City Celebration, to signify the unity of the youth and for them to inspire everyone to embrace, embody and express the Olympic values. Together with the people of the city and the continent, they will then witness the lighting of the Youth Olympic Flame in the cauldron at the City Celebration.

Million Deeds Challenge - Living the Olympic values of Excellence, Friendship and Respect

To take part in the torch pass ceremony, participants will have to show how they live the Olympic values by sharing their deeds of Excellence, Friendship and/or Respect on the Million Deeds Challenge website ( www.milliondeeds.sg).

The Million Deeds Challenge invites all to be part of the Olympic Movement. It is about doing everyday things with a great spirit and every deed of Excellence, Friendship or Respect shared is a step towards making a difference to the lives of others, the community and the world we live in.

“The Million Deeds Challenge is designed to resemble a virtual torch relay and every deed shared will see the virtual Youth Olympic Flame journey through the 205 NOCs,” said Mr Goh Kee Nguan, Chief Executive of SYOGOC. “It symbolises that we are all connected through the Olympic Movement and are a part of Singapore 2010. We welcome the international community to join in the Million Deeds Challenge, and join Singapore on the journey to hosting the first YOG.”

Embassy representatives from the Celebration Cities and students from the schools twinned with the NOCs of the Celebration Cities under the Friends@YOG NOC-Schools Twinning Programme celebrated the announcement of the five cities at the YOG Learning Centre today.

For more information on JYOF, please visit www.singapore2010/jyof

Click to enlarge
Caption: Mr Ng Ser Miang, Chairman SYOGOC and student representatives from Singapore primary schools twinned with the National Olympic Committees of Celebration Cities launching the route for the Journey of the Youth Olympic Flame

About Singapore 2010 – Blazing the Trail

Singapore will be hosting the inaugural Youth Olympic Games (YOG) from 14 to 26 August 2010. The Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games will receive some 5,000 athletes and officials from 205 National Olympic Committees (NOCs), along with estimated 1,200 media representatives, 20,000 local and international volunteers, and more than 500,000 spectators. Young athletes - aged between 14 and 18 years - will compete in 26 sports and take part in a Culture and Education Programme.

The Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games aims to inspire youth around the world to embrace, embody and express the Olympic values of Excellence, Friendship and Respect. It will create a lasting sports, culture and education legacy for Singapore and youths from around the world, as well as enhance and elevate the sporting culture locally and regionally.

ENDS

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