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SINGAPORE : After the opening bang, Thursday's closing ceremony for the Youth Olympic Games promises to be no less spectacular as well as reflective - as the 3,600 athletes bid farewell to Singapore.
The youths are putting their best foot forward for a celebration billed as "the biggest party" on The Float at Marina Bay.
Some 2,000 youths are involved in the closing ceremony, about half the numbers for the opening. But organisers say the show will be no less grand - celebrating the 'Spirit of Youth'.
Ivan Heng, creative director, Opening & Closing Ceremonies, 2010 Youth Olympic Games, said: "Everyone expects us to top the opening, but I think we've outdone ourselves.
"To be honest, I think the closing ceremony will be an opportunity for us to gather, to reflect on what has happened and what does it mean to have participated in this new chapter in Olympic history.
"There will be flames and fireworks and fountains and all those things but underneath it is a very, very simple message - that actually this closing is a beginning for all the athletes because our hope is that they will all carry this flame which will be extinguished, within themselves."
One of the changes to expect is that the reflection pool will make way for a solid stage circling the floating platform.
There will also be a tribute to the 20,000 volunteers of the Games.
Organisers said all soundtracks in the Closing Ceremony have been rearranged for an up-tempo beat and more than 500 dancers from O School and School of Dance will join hands "to give the party rhythm and groove".
One of the highlights of the 100-minute show is a segment by 800 students from St Theresa's Convent.
Nathania Ong, a 12-year-old girl who has been performing since she was four, will sing Singapore's National Anthem during the ceremony.
Since the closing ceremony is on a weekday, care is taken to ensure smooth traffic.
Ishak Ismail, chairman, Opening & Closing Ceremonies, 2010 Youth Olympic Games, said: "In the opening ceremony, we did role play rehearsals for 3,600 athletes coming into the area.
"We also did modelling for actual number of buses which are going to transfer from YOV (Youth Olympic Village) and we took the opportunity of the combined rehearsals on Wednesday to fill the stands with invited spectators and volunteers.
"So we've done this on a weekday knowing that actually it's the first time that Singapore hosts a big major event in the heart of the city, on the weekday, without a public holiday."
"So this is a very conscious decision of how to practice, what details to look out for, so when we are doing an opening ceremony rehearsal, we were looking out for data, to be used for the closing ceremony."
The kids have been rehearsing since May and come Thursday, they will be giving the performance of their lifetime. This time round, the focus will be on the youth athletes who will take centre stage at the floating platform.
The best moments of the Games will be featured in a multimedia projection and all this will culminate in a celebration concert for performers, athletes and spectators.
The closing ceremony will be held at The Float at Marina Bay on August 26 at 7.30pm.
Tickets for the show are sold out, but organisers said limited tickets for unclaimed seats will be released on the day.
- CNA/al
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