Lausanne, Switzerland, August 20, 2020: As we mark the 10-year anniversary of the inaugural Youth Olympic Games, olympic.org looks back at some of the most memorable moments from Singapore 2010.
The first-ever YOG kicked off with a spectacular Opening Ceremony that was held on a floating stage in Marina Bay, with Singapore’s stunning skyline as its backdrop.
Featuring around 27,000 spectators and over 7,000 performers, it was one of the largest shows ever staged in the city and included a succession of incredible set pieces. Among the most memorable was the “Monster” segment which depicted a young boxer fighting a 12-metre tall beast that represented the inner fears that all athletes must overcome to achieve their dreams.
Japan’s Yuka Sato etched her name into Olympic history on 15 August 2010, as she became the first-ever YOG gold medallist by winning the women’s triathlon. “I feel very, very happy to be the first gold medallist of the Youth Olympic Games,” she said at the time. “When I was on the podium it felt like I was dreaming. Being on the top of the podium made me very proud.”
Among the most unique features of the inaugural YOG was the introduction of mixed-NOC events that brought young athletes from around the world together like never before, giving those from different countries the chance to compete alongside each other.
Show jumper Dalma Malhas made headlines by becoming the first Saudi Arabian woman to compete in any Olympic event, before claiming the bronze medal in the individual jumping discipline. “I’m very happy that I got the chance to compete and change the way it’s been. I hope that this will be a door that will open many other possibilities for all other Saudi girls,” she said afterwards. “Being the first female from Saudi Arabia makes me happy, but the medal is what I am happier about.”
Basketball 3x3 also blazed a trail as China and Serbia wrote their names into the record books as the inaugural champions of the women’s and men’s events respectively.
The YOG’s Culture and Education Programme gave all of the young athletes the chance to learn more about different cultures, as well as topics that would benefit them both on and off the field of play. The “Chat with Champions” proved particularly popular.
Source:www.olympic.org
