Initial Youth Olympic Budget "Plain Wrong"; London Volunteers

Singapore "Underestimated" YOG Costs, Requirements

Singapore’s sports minister says the government was "plain wrong" with its estimates of what was needed to stage the Youth Olympic Games.

"We were plain wrong," Vivian Balakrishnan told the Singaporean parliament Wednesday. "We ... underestimated the requirements and the consequential cost for several major functional areas in hosting the Games.

"You just look at the cost of feeding people, moving people, transport and logistics, that already was over $40 million [SGD]."

Singapore originally allocated $77 million SGD for the Games. However, the budget more than tripled to $387 million SGD.

"If we spent $387 million (SGD), will we get value from that expenditure? In my mind, the answer ... is yes," he said.

"Singapore will always be remembered as the country that hosted the world's first-ever Youth Olympic Games. This is a rare honor. It's rare because there can only be one first host."

Part of the reason for the cost overruns, Balakrishnan said, was due to ensuring venues and their technology were at an Olympic level.

"Technology, we had a reason to underestimate because we didn't think at that point in time that we were going to host a Games which are at world standard, with world-class timing systems and information systems. So I've got no excuse for getting it wrong the first time.

"At the end of the day, Singapore delivered an inaugural YOG that received high praise from the International Olympic Committee, the International Federations, athletes and guests, and most importantly, Singapore citizens were proud of the collective achievement."

The Games took place Aug. 14 to 26.

Application Window Opens for London 2012 Volunteers

Olympic enthusiasts across the UK can now apply to be London 2012 volunteers.

LOCOG will need as many as 70,000 participants in its Games Maker program, two-thirds of which will fill generalist positions.

These roles include welcome desk staff, ticket checkers, costume assistants, drivers and event stewards.

Sports, medical, press operations and anti-doping specialists will round out the volunteer force. The window for these positions has been open since late July. LOCOG has received 8,000 applications thus far, close to half the needed total.

"Whatever your role, you will help welcome the world and show what the UK has to offer," LOCOG chairman Sebastian Coe said in a statement.

"If you have what it takes to be a London Games Maker, applynow!"

Volunteers must be available for a minimum of 10 days during either the Olympics or Paralympics as well as threedays of training ahead of the Games.

Applicants must be 18 or older as of Jan. 1, 2012. A separate Young Games Maker program for up to 1,500 youth will be announced in July 2011.

LOCOG will accept generalist applications here through Oct. 27.

Paralympic Athletics World Championships Ready Despite Quake

Christchurch, New Zealand, has the go-ahead to host the 2011 IPC Athletics World Championships as planned after a 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck the city earlier this month.

The International Paralympic Committee announced Wednesday that structural engineers have given the Queen Elizabeth II Stadium the all-clear.

According to the Christchurch City Council, the venue’strack and warm-up areas suffered some localized areas of damage but none that will affect the Jan. 21 to 30 competition.

"I am proud that the IPC Athletics World Championships will be one of the first major sporting events to be held in the city after the earthquake and will play a key role in helping return the area to a state of normalcy," IPC CEO Xavier Gonzalez said in a statement.

"The Championships are one of the last major international gatherings of athletes before London 2012 and I believe Christchurch will witness some stunning performances from some great athletes."

Hundreds of top track & field Paralympians are expected to compete in the Games.

Olympic Canoeist Slapped With Doping Ban

South African Olympic canoeist Carol Joyce will keep to dry land for the next year after testing positive for the anabolic steroid nandrolone.

Canoeing South Africa announced earlier this week a two-year ban for Joyce, who competed in Beijing.

The ban is backdated to her test date and will run through Sept. 29, 2011.

Joyce said Wednesday in a statement that she has never taken a banned substance and is considering an appeal.

Lausanne Hosts Sports Management Conference

A who’s who of the Olympic Movement will convene in November to discuss bridging research and practice in the field of sport.

Games organizers from Sochi and Vancouver as well as officials from the International Basketball Federation and International Federation of Football Associations are slated to speak at the International Sports Management Conference in Lausanne.

IOC sports director Christophe Dubi will open the proceedings, which are scheduled for Nov. 4-6.

Written by Edward Hula III and Matthew Grayson.