INAUGURAL YOUTH OLYMPIC GAMES

Column: 3105

INAUGURAL YOUTH OLYMPIC GAMES: **

(Update on hosting preparations): **

34.

Mr Seah Kian Peng asked the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports if he will provide an update on the preparations for the hosting of the inaugural Youth Olympic Games, specifically (i) the impact arising from the recent decision to relocate the venue of the Olympic Village to NTU; and (ii) whether the remaining seven senior executives in key leadership positions have been filled.

Dr Vivian Balakrishnan: The planning and preparations for the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) are on track. In July 2008, the Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee (SYOGOC) rolled out the Singapore 2010 logo design competition and the response has been encouraging. Several senior staff from SYOGOC have observed at first hand, the management of the recently-concluded Beijing Olympic Games. The Beijing experience would be invaluable to achieve the next critical milestone by end September – the completion of the Foundation Plan where all the key planning parameters for organising the YOG would be confirmed in consultation with the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The decision to put the Youth Olympic Village at the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) instead of the National University of Singapore's University Town (U-Town) has minimal impact on the overall preparations for the Games. The NTU campus had already been identified during the bidding stage as a possible alternative site for the Village. SYOGOC presented the proposal to put the Village at NTU to the IOC and the proposal was accepted by them on 2nd August.

With selective upgrading of the existing facilities in NTU, the Youth Olympic Village would be able to meet the needs of the visiting athletes, including the use of sporting facilities both on campus and in the near vicinity for training. Travel time to most competition venues will still be within 30 minutes. All in all, the Youth Olympic Village at NTU would give a memorable and enjoyable experience to the athletes.

With regard to staffing, I am pleased to update that SYOGOC has filled 11 of its 13 senior executive positions and should fill the remaining positions soon.