Built in 2004, and comprising a seven-hectare area for multisport activities, the Singapore Sports School comprises two Olympic-sized pools, having hosted in 2006 the Asian Swimming Championships.


Entering the Youth Olympic Village - credit: Pedro Adrega

Besides the level of participation and the excellence of the venue, all the swimming events will be broadcasted live from Singapore.

The other FINA discipline present in these Youth Olympic Games will be Diving (August 21-24), with the participation of 50 athletes – competing in the Toa Payoh Swimming Complex. Located on a residential area, this venue has two swimming pools – one for public use, and another one for specific training in water polo, diving and synchronised swimming.

Flame in Singapore
While the athletes of the five continents are arriving in Singapore – the Youth Olympic Games are open to athletes born from 1992 to 1994 – the city is getting ready for the Opening Ceremony of these Games, to be held on August 14, at The Float@Marina Bay (at 19:30). Built in 2007, this structure (120m long and 83 wide) welcomes all kind of cultural and musical performances and has a seating capacity of 25,000.

Following the traditional format of an Olympic Games Opening Ceremony, the show will include light and music performances, and singers from the five continents were invited to this occasion.


Youth Olympic Village - credit: Pedro Adrega

The Olympic Flame is since a week in Singapore, after an international circuit that included Greece (the Flame was lit in Olympia), before stopping in Berlin (GER), Dakar (SEN), Mexico City (MEX), Auckland (NZL) and Seoul (KOR). The strongest symbol of the Olympic Games arrived in Singapore on August 6, and on August 13 was crossing the central area of the city. The first preliminaries in football already started on August 12, but the “real” start of the Games will be given during the Opening Ceremony.

Olympic Village
Circulating in the Youth Olympic Village, installed in the campus of a university in Singapore, the atmosphere of the Games is already present. Athletes from all countries are around and one of the points with more animation is the “World Culture Village”, where stands of all nations displayed traditional features of the respective cultures.

Culture and sport are interconnected in these Youth Olympic Games and the education to Olympic values to all participants will be one of the milestones of this organisation. Other initiatives include the “Chat with champions” (on August 24, swimming legend Alex Popov will animate this chat), the “Community Project” (in which the main goal is to share some leisure activities together, to strengthen the friendship between athletes), or the “Discovery Activity” (organisation of workshops or interactive exhibitions).


Youth Olympic Village - credit: Pedro Adrega