About The Games
In February 2008, IOC President Jacques Rogge announced the winner of the bid to host the inaugural Youth Olympic Games (YOG) – Singapore.
The Games are designed as a stepping stone for young athletes striving to compete at an Olympic Games and hope to encourage children around the world to get involved in sport and spend less time in front of computer and television screens.
The Games will see approximately 3,600 athletes from 205 National Olympic Committees compete across 26 different sports. To be eligible to compete in the games, athletes must be aged between 14 and 18 and meet the qualification criteria of each sport. To read in detail about the competition formats of the 26 sports, click here>>>
In addition to the action-packed sports program taking place at the 18 venues across the island of Singapore, there will be a cultural and education program to entertain the athletes and teach them about the Olympic values. The read more about the program, click here>>>
In order to give the athletes the most realistic experience possible, the YOG will contain all the elements of a full-scale Olympic Games including an Olympic Village for accommodation, an Opening Ceremony, media commitments and drug testing.
The Mascots
There are two Games mascots - Lyo and Merly.
Lyo (pronounced as "Leo"), the "Lion of the Youth Olympics", is a lion cub with a mane as fiery as his passion for life. Full of youthful energy, Lyo is always on the go, exploring and discovering new things and playing sports. His favourite sport is basketball and he dreams of someday representing Singapore in international basketball tournaments.
Merly got her name from "mer" (meaning the sea) and "l y" for liveliness and youthfulness. She is a merlion cub who loves exploring the seas surrounding Singapore, and beyond. Although merlions are omnivorous by nature, Merly sticks to a vegetarian diet out of a deep respect for all living creatures.
The Journey of the Youth Olympic Flame
The Journey of the Youth Olympic Flame (JYOF) will be the link that connects the youth of the world to the Olympic movement.
Being the first YOG, it is important that the spirit of Olympism reach out to as many youth as possible around the world.
In July 2010 the first Youth Olympic Flame will be lit in Greece. The Flame will then travel to one city in each of the five continents: Berlin, Germany (Europe); Dakar, Senegal (Africa); Mexico City, Mexico (The Americas); Auckland, New Zealand (Oceania) and Seoul, Republic of Korea (Asia).
At each city, the Flame will travel to iconic sights in the city, before ending the day with a city celebration. The Flame will then travel to Singapore, where the journey continues through the five community districts with a traditional round-island torch relay, ending each relay day with a community celebration.
The Youth Olympic Flame will be lit at the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games Opening Ceremony on 14 August 2010, marking the commencement of the Games.
