| |
| |
 |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
SINGAPORE: It's purple, made of aluminium and will soon be a world-famous symbol of the spirit of sportsmanship.
And we're talking about the first Youth Olympic Games torch which made its maiden public appearance on Friday.
A simple ceremony at NorthLight Primary School to show the world the torch.
Doing the honours were Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports Vivian Balakrishnan and the very first two torch bearers, who were students of NorthLight Primary School.
The torch weighs about one kilogramme and is made of aluminium. It combines the dual elements of fire and water.
Also revealed was the design for the community cauldron.
Lee Chuan Jie, 16, and Noradlina Abdul Hadi, 15, were thrilled to be part of the torch journey.
NorthLight Primary School was selected as the school is twinned with Greece, the ancient home of the Olympic Games.
Lee Chuan Jie said: "I was surprised because I am not good in sports or I have never won any medal in sports."
Some 150 of these torches will be made for about 2,400 torchbearers. A total of 560 of torchbearers will be selected by random ballot.
The public can apply online at the Million Deeds Challenge website www.milliondeeds.sg.
The idea is to get Singaporeans to be part of this historic event.
Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong said: "You can be a torchbearer. Or you can rally your friends, families and neighbours to cheer the flame and your community torchbearers as the relay passes your home, school or workplace. Or you can volunteer to organise or join in the festivities at the various community celebration sites at the end of each relay day.
"As the excitement builds up to the YOG, it is timely to remind Singaporeans not to miss this opportunity to have a hand in shaping the YOG story. Singaporeans rejoiced as a nation when we won a silver medal at the Beijing Olympics. I do not know when we will win another Olympic medal, but I know we have already won a gold by hosting the inaugural Youth Olympic Games. And that is a record which no other country can ever take away from us."
The flame will be lit in Greece in July and travel to five cities in five continents. It will arrive in Singapore on the August 5.
This will be followed by a six-day round-the-island torch relay. The exact route and the distance each runner will cover will be announced later. - CNA/de
|
