SINGAPORE: The Youth Olympic Games may be more than two years away, but schools are already getting into the Games spirit.

Anglican High School recently invited seven Team Singapore athletes for breakfast so that its students could pick up some sporting tips and be inspired.

These students also posed for snapshots which will be sent to Beijing-bound athletes to wish them luck for the Olympics this year.

Tay Wei Bin, a Secondary 4 student, Table Tennis Team, Anglican High School, said: "I hope to pick up skills like how they train and also learn (about) their mentality and their determination..."

Melinda Khoo, a Secondary 4 student, Table Tennis Team, Anglican High School, said: "As a Singaporean, I certainly hope to represent Singapore to participate in the Olympics."

And in return, the athletes had some advice for the young Olympic hopefuls.

Darren Chong, a Team Singapore athlete, said: "(Build on) team work and play your best. Don't worry about winning or losing."

"Work hard, train hard, and you will succeed," said Benjamin Teo, another Team Singapore athlete.

The breakfast is just one of the many ways Anglican High plans to support the first Youth Olympic Games.

Zoe Boon, principal of Anglican High School, said: "We are offering our school as a possible venue for whichever games that would like to use the school. We have our badminton hall and basketball court which is an indoor stadium. We also have a table tennis centre."

If needed, the school is also happy to line up its students as volunteers for the biggest sporting event to hit Singapore's shores come 2010.


- CNA/so