Singapore Youth Olympics Game Opening Ceremony
Me at The Float @ Marina Bay, before the event started
Rachel and I attended the Singapore Summer Youth Olympics Game (SYOG) Opening Ceremony a few hours ago at the The Float @ Marina Bay.
Via Wikipedia. The opening ceremony took place on 14 August, commencing at exactly 20:10 hours (GMT +8) in reference to the year 2010. The ceremony took 750 hours of rehearsals with 7,000 performers. The Youth Olympic cauldron was lit by Singaporean youth sailor Darren Choy.
The last time I was at the same venue, it was for the Singapore Entertainment Awards, for which omy.sg was one of the organisers.
The SYOG event saw an attendance of over 27,000 people. Just look at the pictures, human beings look like ants in many of the shots.
It took us less than 15 min to zip past security checks, walk from the Marina Square entry point to The Float, collect our cheer packs, locate our section and get ourselves seated in one of the few remaining seats in the higher rows. Considering the large amount of people, I felt that was quite an achievement as the crowd-control was orderly and the staff were polite.
Rachel at the Marina Square entrance
Strict, but speedy security check
Merly and Lyon can be seen on toilet doors (btw, the toilets were very clean, I am impressed)
Overall, Rachel and I quite enjoyed the multi-sensory assault that was the opening ceremony performances. While we definitely cannot match the Beijing Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony (15,000 performers, cost over US$100 million to produce), the 7000 over performers still put up a good show, befitting of the event’s scale.
The surrounding water was put to good use, reflecting the various light-filled displays, from laser shows to sporadic fireworks. I particularly liked the large pool of shallow water onstage which the performers had to pass through when entering and exiting – the reflections were exquisite.
YOG ticket which is also a DBS stored value VISA card
Look at the amount of people
Toying around with the toy dove in the interactive pack before the event starts
Happy Rachel
Playing with the toy dove and heart in the interactive pack
Me with the toy dove
The lighted heart is red with one button...
White with another button.
Rachel is amused by the giant flood lights
Waving the athletes on as they marched on stage group by group
Young Russian athletes
One of the many hyped-up youth volunteers rousing the crowd
The Australian athletes making their way on stage with athletes from other countries
More youth athletes getting on stage
Team Japan - who somehow receive quite a bit of cheer from Singaporeans
The athletes from around the world made the stage very colourful
Lion dancers on standby
The lion dancers take to the stage
Opening mass hip hop dance - where youth event always must have hip hop dance?
More dancing
Laser beams and giant flood lights shone into the sky
Fireworks! Lots more to keep coming sporadically throughout the show.
Lighting up the sky
More fireworks
Me grabbing a shot before the first volley of fireworks trailed off
Fireworks again after the Singapore flag was raised
Origins segment - usual narrative of how Singapore transform from a sleepy fishing village to what we are today
Welcoming the giant immigrant dolls
The giant immigrant dolls making their way up the platform to interact with the audience
"Monster" segment - skit about a boxer fighting to overcome his inner fear to become a champion boxer
Monsters fighting with Silat warriors
Close-up of the monster
Playing with fire segment - narrative on how a carp took the risk to swim upstream and was transformed into a dragon
Fire performances
The water reflections were very beautiful in this segment
The carp has tranformed into a dragon (represented by a bright lighted vehicle)
Close-up of the "dragon"
Fireworks finale for the "Playing with Fire" segment
The fireworks went on for quite a bit
Painting the sky green
Segment where each participating countries are introduced with their national flags - guess which got the loudest cheer? 
Audience proudly waving their Singapore flags
Singapore's Tabitha Nauser, leading the YOG theme song, "Everyone"
Raising of the Olympics flag
Performers getting on stage, each carrying a balloon dove
Beautiful balloon doves released into the sky
Chirpy boys who were seated behind us, playing with their doves
A few short bursts of fireworks after the flag ceremony
Blazing the Trail - waiting for the arrival of the Olympic Flame
The torche reaches the last torch-bearer, Darren Choy, who lighted up the cauldron
More fireworks to round up the event
Shooting really high up the sky
Mad frenzy of fireworks
One last fireworks picture
The only unpleasant experience we had was after the ceremony had ended and we were not allowed to make our way out of the venue. The exit stairways were all barricaded and members of the audience were instructed to remain seated til all the athletes had made their way out. Some kiasu Singaporeans were yelling and ambushing the poor young YOG volunteers left to guard the various barricaded stairways. Singapore is the host for this Olympics game, and, as citizens, we should act like one too.
Otherwise, Rachel and I had an enjoyable evening. I know there’s a lot of negative sentiment on the SYOG floating online, but give it a break lah. Yes, the budget was exceeded and there were some glitches here and there. Nonetheless, it is still the first time Singapore is hosting such a truly international event. Other than the government’s efforts, it’s really the ordinary Singaporeans like you, me and 12-year-old Low Wei Jie who make the difference.
Rachel and I are now inspired to at least watch and support some of the sporting events in the next 12 days, despite our initial indifference.
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All Images, Photos by Alvin, Talking Cock
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A L V I N O L O G Y II » Singapore Youth Olympics Game Opening ……
I found your entry interesting do I’ve added a Trackback to it on my weblog
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It’s nice to see some good comments on the YOG from a fellow Singaporean. I’m getting really tired of the constant negativity about everything in Singapore. Singapore’s a nice and safe place. The government is stable and efficient and we’re so protected from a ton of woes that have plagued so many countries these past few years. I am a true sports fan and have been so for years. When I heard that Singapore would host the first YOG, I was excited and I have already obtained tickets to some of the events. Maybe because I have lived overseas for many years before I chose to return to Singapore that has made me so appreciative of my government’s efforts at creating a safe and prosperous place for all who chose to live on this sunny isle. But sometimes, I do question my return. Not because there is supposedly no democracy (over-rated), free speech (also over-rated), no ironically, I wonder why I returned when I have to listen to too many discontented Singaporeans who can’t seem to find ANYTHING to be happy about. It’s not the PAP or the governement that has made me wonder if I should leave Singapore again. Sadly, it’s this general negative vibe from the increasingly discontented and intolerate rabble that has made me regret returning, it’s depressing.
Hi Alvin,
Thank you for sharing with us. May I know the earliest time of entry they allow you to enter the floating platform as I may be going to the closing ceremony. Thanks
Cheers,
Ron
Thanks for sharing! love the photos! I had fun there!! Am also going to the City Celebrations @ Marina Bay to go support the performers! and watch fireworks this weekend!!
found some nice shots of the concert and the nice backdrop!!
http://www.facebook.com/WelcometheWorld?v=photos#!/album.php?aid=21785&id=120040444682776
maybe you can go too, if you wanna! performers: http://www.singapore2010.sg/public/sg2010/en/en_celebrations/en_performances.html
me: I was away from Singapore for a number of years and came back totally appreciative (and no, I wasn’t in some backwater third world country) of many aspects of life here, so your comment really resonated with me. Unfortunately, I am gay and Singapore is firmly institutionally (bureaucratically, and not so much socially) homophobic, which makes life difficult and certain complaints legitimate.
However, I enjoyed the YOG thoroughly as a rare treat for a sports fan – hopefully this is a start to Singapore hosting more international sports events.
Most of the negative attitudes and criticisms leveled at the organizers were clearly anti-PAP rhetoric. I mean, I’m not voting for them at the upcoming GE either but good intentions and efforts are good intentions and efforts eh.
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