IOC President to visit S’pore to check out YOG preparations

THE President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) will be in Singapore on Friday for a three-day visit to get an update on the groundwork for the Youth Olympic Games (YOG).

This is Dr Jacques Rogge’s first visit here since Singapore won the bid on Feb 21 to host the first YOG here in August 2010.

Mr Ng Ser Miang, Chairman, Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee Board said on Thursday that he would update Dr Rogge on the preparations for the YOG.

The signing ceremony of the host city contract will be held at the Istana, to be witnessed by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

PM Lee will also host a dinner for Dr Rogge and his delegation.

During his stay, Dr Rogge will be visiting various YOG venues such as the National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University and the Singapore Sports School.

Students from both local and international schools in Singapore can also look forward to engaging Dr Rogge personally at a Dialogue Session on Olympism, to be hosted by the Victoria Junior College.

Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Community Development, Youth, and Sports, Mr Teo Ser Luck said: ‘The excitement and enthusiasm of our youths for the YOG 2010 is palpable. I am excited as this is a timely and good opportunity for our youths to be able to engage Dr Rogge personally on the Olympic movement.

‘We also want to show how Singapore is on a high momentum now for the YOG, from our hardware - such as Youth Olympic Village, to our software - our students, whose enthusiasm is something you can’t miss.’

Dr Rogge’s delegation includes Mr Sergey Bubka (Chairman of the Coordination Commission for the First Youth Olympic Games), Mr Gilbert Felli (IOC Olympic Games Executive Director), Mr Essar Gabriel (Head of the Youth Olympic Games), Mrs Anne Rogge and Ms Yasmine Braeckevelt (Assistant to Dr Rogge).

Source: Straits Times Interactive 3 April 2008