We are on Straits Times!
Just a heads up for everyone who have chipped in, looks like our efforts got some attention! We are featured in today’s Straits Time, looking under the Sport section.
Student garners support for S’pore’s Youth Olympics bid - Jeanette Wang
THE momentum is gathering pace in Singapore’s bid to host the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in 2010 - and it is not all government-led.
A website on Singapore’s bid, www.sgyoutholympics.com, was created last month by London-based Singaporean Ivan Gn.
The 22-year-old Imperial College student also set up a group on popular online social networking site, Facebook, which has attracted 153 members so far.
Gn started the sites with the aim of ‘uniting Singaporean bloggers and site-owners to support the Singapore bid’.
A ‘Support Singapore’s bid’ banner, which is in graphic, has been created for the online community to place on their personal websites and spread the message.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Evaluation Commission sees citizen support as a key part of a city’s bid to host the Games.
Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports, Teo Ser Luck, said he was ‘very encouraged’ to see Singaporeans starting their own campaigns ‘without our prompting’.
He added: ‘For any Games to be successful, you need the citizens’ support. These initiatives have sent the signal that we do have their support.’
The Youth Olympics is expected to attract 3,500 athletes from 14- to 18-year-olds. They will compete in the 26 sports that will feature at the 2012 Olympics.
Apart from Singapore, nine other cities have also entered the race to host the 2010 Games.
Singapore will submit its bid on Oct 26. The winning city will be decided in February.
Raymond Tan, 22, is a member of the Facebook group, which also includes national athletes such as bowler Rena Teng and waterpolo player Marcus Ng.
Said Tan, a Singapore Management University undergraduate: ‘I believe Singapore is capable of hosting large events, especially after the huge success of the 2005 IOC Session and last year’s IMF-World Bank meeting.
‘I love Singapore and I want Singapore to be showcased to the world. We can do it. I hope we win the bid.’
Once again, join us in our efforts to get this done. Please register here with us if you haven’t already done so. Or take some time to join our Facebook group.
Ivan @ October 4, 2007
