On the Scene -- Youth Olympics Leader Says Singapore Ready

Flame Ends Journey in Center of Singapore

After a flame lighting in Greece, a trip around the world and a journey through Singapore, the Youth Olympic Flame rests in Singapore Friday evening, 24 hours ahead of the opening ceremony for the inaugural YOG.

Ser Miang Ng, IOC vice president and chair of the Singapore 2010 organizing committee was the final torchbearer, handing the torch to Lee Kuan Yew, 86, who served as Singapore’s first prime minister from 1959 to 1990.

"Singapore is ready," Ng told Around the Rings shortly before heading out for his torchbearer duties Friday afternoon.

"Many people have worked very hard to get here. This is so important for Singapore," said Ng.

Gerhard Heiberg, IOC member from Norway and chair of the IOC Marketing Commission, says he is hopeful that the Games will become a valuable part of the Olympic Movement.

"I think there is the potential for these Games to have a lot of prestige," says Heiberg, who says that sponsors are beginning to understand the value of the YOG. He noted that Procter & Gamble, which last month became a new TOP sponsor, already is activating its sponsorship in Singapore.

"Most important, this event can mean a lot for young athletes," said Heiberg.

Mass Gathering for YOG Athletes Friday Night

The 3600+ athletes in Singapore for the YOG hold a mass ceremony in the Youth Olympic Village Friday night.

The gathering in the main plaza of the village replaces the individual flag raisings that are part of the scene at the Olympic Village in the lead -up to the Summer and Winter Games.

While 191 nations had registered as of Friday morning, IOC Olympic Games Executive Director Gilbert Felli tells ATR that "204 NOCs, plus one" are expected by the time of opening ceremony Saturday night.

The "plus one" he refers to is Kuwait, which is officially suspended from the IOC while the government and NOC sort-out problems of interference in the affairs of the NOC. For now, the Kuwaiti athletes in Singapore will compete under the flag of the IOC.

Felli says even Brunei Darussalam, which has come under scrutiny for failing to send athletes to Games, has sent a delegation to Singapore.

IOC Torchbearers

Ser Miang Ng was one of 20 IOC members who ran with the torch in Singapore on Friday.

The torchbearers included IOC Vice President Thomas Bach, fellow executive board member Frank Fredericks, and Pal Schmitt, the new president of Hungary.

Members of the IOC Athletes Commission made up the biggest contingents of IOC member runners, including past chairs Sergey Bubka and Peter Tallberg.

Mexico NOC President Felipe Munoz Kapamas took a turn with the torch, the only NOC leader to do so.

Meeting the Prime Minister

A protocol moment for the IOC President this morning: Jacques Rogge presented an Olympic flag to Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

The flag, to be known as the Singapore flag, carries the Olympic rings and the words "Singapore 2010".

The flag will be handed over to Nanjing, host of the 2014 YOG, during the closing ceremony Aug 26.

Rogge conferred the Olympic Order on Lee, in recognition of his help with the inaugural YOG.

Football Tournament Day Two

Vanuatu and Bolivia kick off the boy’s football tournament tonight at Jalan Besar stadium. Host Singapore begins their campaign against Zimbabwe immediately following the first match.

These matches are the last ones FIFA president Sepp Blatter will watch. He leaves Saturday morning.

ATR coverage of the Youth Olympic Games

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Reported and written in Singapore by Ed Hula and Ed Hula III.