Story by Colin Tung/Red Sports. Photos by Vanessa Lim and Les Tan/Red Sports

YOG Closing Ceremony

The Youth Olympic flame was extinguished tonight with the close of the Games in Singapore. (Photo 1 © Les Tan/Red Sports)

The Float@Marina Bay, Thursday, August 26, 2010 — After 12 days of competition spread across 18 venues, with the participation of 3,600 athletes, the media coverage of 1,200 journalists, and the help of 20,000 volunteers, the curtains finally had to be drawn on the inaugural Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in Singapore.

The Youth Olympic flame that was lit in Olympia, Greece, on July 23rd, and went through Berlin (Germany), Dakar (Senegal), Mexico City (Mexico), Auckland (New Zealand) and Seoul (Republic of Korea) before arriving in Singapore on August 6th, was finally extinguished to mark the closing of the Games. It had set alight the cauldron on August 14th at the opening ceremony.

The Games in Singapore made history in countless ways. Amongst them was Japanese triathlete Yuka Sato’s victory in the girls’ triathlon, which was the first gold medal of the maiden YOG. And even as the Cuban boys’ volleyball team spiked their way to the last of the 201 gold medals of the Games, nothing could quite quell the enthusiasm of the youth on display.

This was quite apparent in the closing ceremony where the athletes were given a front row view of the proceedings from in front of the main stage.

They mixed freely during the ceremony, through segments such as a video montage capturing the laughter and tears over the 12 days of competition, the speeches of Singapore 2010 YOG Organising Committee (SYOGOC) Chairman, Mr Ng Ser Miang, and the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Mr Jacques Rogge, the handing over of the Olympic Flag to representatives of the Nanjing 2014 YOG, the extinguishing of the Youth Olympic Flame and finally, the celebration concert which concluded the closing ceremony.

In his speech, Mr Jacques Rogge addressed the athletes: “Years from now, when you reflect on your sports career, you will be able to say ‘I was in Singapore, where it all began.’ You will keep this Singapore spirit alive in your countries as true role models.”

Through it all, the athletes could be seen enjoying themselves, be it dancing to the music of the “Celebration Concert” or savouring the more poignant moments of the “Recollections and Reconnections” and “The Youth Olympic Flame” segments.

They had entered the ceremony during the “Blazing the Trail” segment — the third of the evening after the “Prelude” and “Arrival and Anthem”. The segment is meant to “celebrate the birth of a new Youth Olympic Games movement and the first generation of Young Olympians.” In accordance with tradition, they entered without any distinction by grouping or nationality to symbolise bringing all the athletes of the world together as “one nation”.

These athletes were joined by a capacity 27,000 crowd (and many more behind screens worldwide) to watch the closing of the Games.

Dancer Tan Wenda, who performed in the prelude, said prior to the ceremony: “We can’t get this kind of atmosphere in any other performance. I’m going to do my best and enjoy.”

One of those in the crowd also looking to feed off the atmosphere was life coach, David Tay. He had rued missing the opening ceremony and had made it to the closing ceremony on a ticket given by a friend. He let on: “I saw some of the sports on the internet and I felt the energy. But I just had to come down (for the closing ceremony) to soak it for myself.”

For 11-year-old Roydon Aw, who attended with his brother and grandmother, the attraction was much simpler. He said: “I’m attracted by the fireworks.”

The Seng Kang Primary student was not the only one at the closing ceremony who was enamoured by the colourful and thumping fireworks.

Another spectator, Mabel Chua, commented: “It is a very memorable evening. I’m very glad Singapore organised this. It showcases Singapore to the world.”

Before finishing, she added, tongue-in-cheek: “They are very generous with the fireworks.”

Volunteers have been a major part of these Games as demonstrated by their numbers alone. And so, Singapore swimmer and 50m backstroke silver medallist, Rainer Ng, led the way with a thank you speech to the volunteers on behalf of the athletes.

17-year-old Christina Yeo, who volunteered to be an usher for the YOG during her school holidays, had to report for duty for the closing ceremony at 11am on the day. Beaming with pride, she said: “I got to usher the athletes, Mr Ng Ser Miang, ministers and also the Nanjing mayor (Ji Jianye). I gained a a lot of experience and made a lot of new friends. I don’t regret rendering my help for the YOG.”

The thank you speech to the volunteers was the one aspect of the closing ceremony that most touched Singapore triathlete, Clara Wong. While covered with a poncho to protect herself from the water balloons that were being thrown by some of the playful athletes, she said: “I’ve always wanted to thank them (the volunteers) but I didn’t know how so the thank you speech was quite apt.”

The night belonged to the athletes and they were the reason for being there for some of the spectators.

Andrea Somogyi, the wife of the Hungarian ambassador to Singapore, who had her son in tow, said: “I want to cheer for all the sportsmen and sportswomen who participated.”

Her son, Balázs, who practises taekwondo and also plays tennis and basketball, added: “I want to be an Olympian like these guys.”

Indeed, as the inaugural Youth Olympics wrapped up, they could all legitimately call themselves Olympians. As the athletes slowly made their exit, many exchanged team shirts and jerseys, took pictures, and basically revelled in the occasion.

“Did you see them?” Singapore under-15 football team coach, Kadir Yahaya, had enquired about his bronze medal-winning players who had ventured off from his sight.

He further added: “The atmosphere of the ceremony is very good. This is for them (the athletes). I think they are going back to the village to party later!”

17-year-old hockey goalkeeper Samudra Ong also clued in on the camaraderie formed within the village. He said: “It does not feel like a competition. Instead it feels more like a friendship games. We even stayed up with the Ghanaian players to chat until 5am yesterday night! We’ll definitely keep in touch with them. Hopefully, three years down the road, we can play against each other again at the Hockey Junior World Cup!”

It may have been an occasion of closure. But beyond that, a new beginning was already taking place that was the metamorphosis of these junior athletes into senior ones. The Youth Olympic Games are their coming-out party and ones like China’s six-gold swim princess Tang Yi and Russian gymnast Viktoria Komova who achieved a three-peat of wins will look to complete their transformation at the senior Olympics.

It may also have been an occasion of departure. But a permanence already has been etched, a legacy created. The essence of the Olympic Spirit — one that is not simply about winning, but also of having tried — has been imbued in these athletes as they return to their countries. This Spirit, more importantly in the local context, has left its mark on the sporting scene in Singapore.

As organising committee chairman, Mr Ng Ser Miang, said: “The YOG has deepened our sporting culture.”

“I believe that many more youths will take up sports in the future and many more would want to compete for Singapore,” he added.

And all it took was a dream. A dream whose chase was set when Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said: “Yes, let us bid for the Games.” This dream was one which was granted with the announcement of Singapore as the host city on February 21st, 2008, and culminated with the closing ceremony that marked the success of the first-ever YOG on August 26th, 2010.

While the YOG move on to Nanjing, China, in 2014, for Singapore, though she can certainly be said to have blazed the trail with this historic event, she must realise there is still road ahead to run. She must use the YOG experience as a stepping stone towards becoming the world-class sporting nation where “Faster, Higher, Stronger” do not just apply to efficiency, skyscrapers, and the economy respectively.

YOG Closing Ceremony

Fireworks lit up the night sky in the ceremony. (Photo 2 © Les Tan/Red Sports)

YOG Closing Ceremony

Singers and performers regale the crowd. (Photo 3 © Les Tan/Red Sports)

YOG Closing Ceremony

The Olympic flag flies beside the Singapore flag. (Photo 4 © Vanessa Lim/Red Sports)

YOG Closing Ceremony

The Singapore flag is raised while the national anthem is sung. (Photo 5 © Vanessa Lim/Red Sports)

YOG Closing Ceremony

Teo Ser Luck waves the Olympic flag while flag bearer Isabelle Li of Singapore looks on. The flag was passed on to the mayor of Nanjing — the host city of the next Youth Olympic Games in 2014. (Photo 6 © Vanessa Lim/Red Sports)

YOG Closing Ceremony

A drummer sets the beat for a performance. (Photo 7 © Vanessa Lim/Red Sports)

YOG Closing Ceremony

The Youth Olympians gather around the stage to record the performances. (Photo 8 © Vanessa Lim/Red Sports)

YOG Closing Ceremony

Performers and athletes playing with one of the many beach ball globes that were released into the crowd at the end of the ceremony. (Photo 9 © Vanessa Lim/Red Sports)

YOG Closing Ceremony

It was time for photos at the end of the ceremony as athletes posed with teammates and other athletes. (Photo 10 © Vanessa Lim/Red Sports)

YOG Closing Ceremony

The floating platform was turned into a dance stage for the athletes. (Photo 11 © Vanessa Lim/Red Sports)