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<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=452><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width=452 colSpan=2>Published May 8, 2010
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=452 colSpan=2>PM Lee lauds S'poreans involved in YOG
Event hailed a 'major undertaking' with govt agencies and tens of thousands joining hands
By LEE U-WEN
ORCHARD Road was showered with fireworks last night as Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong praised the tens of thousands of Singaporeans involved in putting together the first-ever Youth Olympic Games (YOG).
<TABLE class=picBoxL cellSpacing=2 width=100 align=left><TBODY><TR><TD>
</TD></TR><TR class=caption><TD>CHEERS
The 99-day countdown for the YOG yesterday is graced by Mr Lee (centre), shaking hands with Mr Ng Ser Miang, S'pore YOG Organising Committee chairman</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Organising this sports event - the largest in the Republic's history - is a 'major undertaking' with dozens of government agencies and tens of thousands of people involved in the effort, he said at a celebratory gathering to mark the 99-day countdown towards the YOG opening ceremony on Aug 14.
He added that the government was putting its full support behind the YOG to ensure that everything proceeded smoothly. Thirty-seven government bodies are lending their expertise in one form or another, including the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority, Land Transport Authority and Singapore Police Force. Over a thousand civil servants and 20,000 members of the public have signed up as volunteers.
Mr Lee harked back 27 months ago when Singapore's Olympic journey first began when the Republic put in its bid alongside 10 others to host the YOG. Back then, some critics felt that Singapore 'was too small and inexperienced' to put together an Olympic event, he recalled.
'We were undeterred. We put our heads together, developed a proposal and sent in our bid,' said Mr Lee in his speech to a 2,000-strong audience at the *SCAPE Youth Park yesterday. 'When the International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge announced (on Feb 21, 2008) that Singapore had won, the Padang (where Singaporeans had gathered to wait for the bid results) erupted with joy.'
Last night's celebration was also graced by several senior members of the Cabinet, including Education Minister Ng Eng Hen, Community Development, Youth and Sports Minister Vivian Balakrishnan and Northeast District Mayor Teo Ser Luck.
Also in attendance was former gold medal-winning pole vaulter Sergey Bubka, who chairs the IOC's coordinating commission for the YOG. The 46-year-old Ukrainian said that all Singaporeans could be proud of what has been achieved over the past two years.
'I am confident the YOG will be an incredible event,' he said. 'Every time I travel to Singapore, I have been impressed by the friendliness, dedication and enthusiasm of the people. Everything is on track for Singapore to deliver the YOG to the world.'
Mr Lee said the Republic would be 'put under the spotlight' and called for all Singaporeans to use the two-week event to show their social graces to the world. 'Act graciously, to Singaporeans and foreigners alike. Let us organise a successful YOG and deliver an intense, enriching and memorable experience to all,' he said.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=452 colSpan=2>PM Lee lauds S'poreans involved in YOG
Event hailed a 'major undertaking' with govt agencies and tens of thousands joining hands
By LEE U-WEN
ORCHARD Road was showered with fireworks last night as Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong praised the tens of thousands of Singaporeans involved in putting together the first-ever Youth Olympic Games (YOG).
<TABLE class=picBoxL cellSpacing=2 width=100 align=left><TBODY><TR><TD>

The 99-day countdown for the YOG yesterday is graced by Mr Lee (centre), shaking hands with Mr Ng Ser Miang, S'pore YOG Organising Committee chairman</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Organising this sports event - the largest in the Republic's history - is a 'major undertaking' with dozens of government agencies and tens of thousands of people involved in the effort, he said at a celebratory gathering to mark the 99-day countdown towards the YOG opening ceremony on Aug 14.
He added that the government was putting its full support behind the YOG to ensure that everything proceeded smoothly. Thirty-seven government bodies are lending their expertise in one form or another, including the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority, Land Transport Authority and Singapore Police Force. Over a thousand civil servants and 20,000 members of the public have signed up as volunteers.
Mr Lee harked back 27 months ago when Singapore's Olympic journey first began when the Republic put in its bid alongside 10 others to host the YOG. Back then, some critics felt that Singapore 'was too small and inexperienced' to put together an Olympic event, he recalled.
'We were undeterred. We put our heads together, developed a proposal and sent in our bid,' said Mr Lee in his speech to a 2,000-strong audience at the *SCAPE Youth Park yesterday. 'When the International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge announced (on Feb 21, 2008) that Singapore had won, the Padang (where Singaporeans had gathered to wait for the bid results) erupted with joy.'
Last night's celebration was also graced by several senior members of the Cabinet, including Education Minister Ng Eng Hen, Community Development, Youth and Sports Minister Vivian Balakrishnan and Northeast District Mayor Teo Ser Luck.
Also in attendance was former gold medal-winning pole vaulter Sergey Bubka, who chairs the IOC's coordinating commission for the YOG. The 46-year-old Ukrainian said that all Singaporeans could be proud of what has been achieved over the past two years.
'I am confident the YOG will be an incredible event,' he said. 'Every time I travel to Singapore, I have been impressed by the friendliness, dedication and enthusiasm of the people. Everything is on track for Singapore to deliver the YOG to the world.'
Mr Lee said the Republic would be 'put under the spotlight' and called for all Singaporeans to use the two-week event to show their social graces to the world. 'Act graciously, to Singaporeans and foreigners alike. Let us organise a successful YOG and deliver an intense, enriching and memorable experience to all,' he said.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>