Wednesday, May 20, 2009

YOG on track

By Terence Voon

WITH just 15 months to go before the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in Singapore, preparations for the inaugural sports extravaganza are on track.
This was the assessment given by the International Olympic Committee (IOC)'s coordination commission for the YOG after it concluded a two-day meeting in Singapore on Wednesday.
Said Sergey Bubka, chairmain of the commission: 'In the last six months, the organising committee has worked hard towards the finalisation of its venue master plan and YOG event schedule by day.
'Much effort has also gone into detailed operational and venue planning which will remain the organising committee's focus for the coming months.'
He added: 'It is clear that the organising committee is on the right track to deliver the First Summer Youth Olympic Games and is committed to the co-construction of these inaugural Games with the IOC.'
Organisers also launched the stylised pictograms for all 26 sports on Wednesday. The pictograms were inspired by the official YOG emblem, which features a distinctive flaming head and star-shaped body.
The YOG will be held here in August next year, and will bring together 3,600 athletes aged between 14 and 18.