SINGAPORE -- International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge likened himself to an expectant father on the eve of the inaugural Youth Olympic Games he himself pursued since becoming IOC chief in 2001.
“I feel like a father in the delivery room waiting for it to happen,” Rogge said in yesterday’s press conference at the Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre here. “I’m optimistic, but I still want to see the ‘baby’ being born.”
He thinks the games will be a huge success since all the stakeholders in the Olympic community believe in the concept of the event aimed at producing high-level sporting competition among 14-18 year-old athletes within the Olympic environment.
But he stressed that the YOG is not just about competition but also a platform for the young athletes to learn, share and build friendships through a Culture and Education Program.
“The YOG is not just about high-level competition among the youth. It’s about learning, educating and sharing. We want these young people to have an Olympic experience that they can take away with them and share with their friends around the world,” he added.
In the grand opening ceremony at the Marina Bay Floating Stadium in downtown Singapore here later in the night, Rogge said “a new chapter in the history of the Olympic Movement has been opened and that young people around the world now have a chance to participate in a global event that combines sports, education and culture.”
Fireworks of different shapes lit the city skyline, creating a joyous and festive atmosphere and formally ushering in the two-week sporting meet also designed to inspire youth around the world to embrace, embody and express the Olympic values of excellence, friendship and respect.
Some 3,600 athletes will vie in 26 events with a cultural and education program also to be held simultaneously to teach the participants about Olympic values and global issues.
New formats, like 3-on-3 basketball and triathlon with mixed gender teams, have been introduced to make the games more interesting.
“All these are designed to appeal to a younger audience and inspire the young athletes,” said Rogge, adding that he is thrilled by the organization and what Singapore has done in the past two-and-a-half years to ensure the successful staging of the games.
“I’m also pleased with the universality of the Games with 205 Olympic countries sending athletes. It’s been an ambitious project and we will watch how it goes closely,” Rogge said.
He added: “There will probably be mistakes but we will learn from them and I’m optimistic this will be the start of great things for the Youth Olympic Games.”
For his part, Team RP chef de mission Mark Joseph said the YOG comes at the most opportune time for these young athletes where the experience will surely help them not only in the SEA Games and the Asian Games but also prepare them for the Olympics.
“Irregardless of the outcome, this is pretty much what the YOG is all about – that the Olympic movement is an education movement above all else,” said Joseph.