GamesBids.com: IOC Delegation Shares Knowledge With Singapore 2010 Officials

IOC Delegation Shares Knowledge With Singapore 2010 Officials
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GB Staff on Monday, April 14, 2008  11:58am EDT
 
A 10-member delegation from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is in
Singapore April 13 to 18 to help 2010 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) officials
organize the inaugural Games.
About 150 officials from the sports industry, ministries and private sector
gathered at the YOG headquarters Monday and over the next few days Channel News
Asia reports participants will get tips from IOC officials, who will share their
knowledge on administrative, commercial, logistical and operational areas.
The IOC said the focus of the Youth Olympics will be on “achievement and
excellence – not merely competition”.
Gilbert Felli, IOC Executive Director said, “what we need to fix very quickly
is the different sites for the different sports…with an agreement with the
International Sports Federation of the exact level of the venues…”
Vivian Balakrishnan, Community Development, Youth and Sports Minister said,
“in terms of clearing approvals (we are) making sure our processes have no
undue delays.  Whatever we can do to expedite things we will expedite.  Equally
important is making sure that we work concurrently.  So that’s why…even in
today’s meeting, we involved such a large group of people because we have to
keep everybody informed of the overall progress of it”.
He added the process has to be transparent and if problems arise they should be
addressed quickly.
The IOC also visited about 80 per cent of the 22 venues to be used for the Youth
Games.
The organizing committee decided that the torch relay would make its way through
the streets of Singapore, said Balakrishnan.  But it has not been decided
whether the relay will be global, regional or local, he said.
Confirmed was the fact that there will be no Games record for the YOG because
the focus is on participation, not on setting records, reports Channel News
Asia.
As for media coverage, unlike the Olympics only hour-long highlights will be
offered, but there are talks with interested parties about telecasting some of
the events live.
The IOC plans to make such visits on a more regular basis.