Pulau Ubin to host Youth Olympic Games delegates

All YOG athletes to spend a day at Outward Bound Singapore
Channel NewsAsia 17 Apr 08;

SINGAPORE : When 4,000 athletes from all over the world convene in Singapore for the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in 2010, all of them will need to attend a full-day programme at the Outward Bound Singapore (OBS) on Pulau Ubin. This is part of the YOG's culture and education programme.

Details of the outdoor activities for the athletes were revealed when members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) made an on-site visit on Wednesday.

Members of the IOC made a stop at Pulau Ubin, as the island will also host the delegates of the YOG.

During their 12-day stay in Singapore, the young athletes will spend one day at the OBS, which can take up to 450 participants at any one time.

Nicholas Conceicao, Director, Outward Bound Singapore, said: "There are several cultural and educational programmes to complement the actual games event.

"And the OBS component is going to be the adventure component that's going to be (held) in Pulau Ubin. We are tentatively looking at possibly a series of one-day adventure events, on and around the island."

And that includes some adventure on land and at sea.

Mr Conceicao said, "It's a bit of a shift for them, because when they are here during the Games, it's a lot about competition. But during the actual event on Pulau Ubin, we are really looking at fostering teamwork and friendship, and I think that is one of the key tenets of the Olympic Games as well."

That objective behind the planned events, as well as the facilities, impressed the visiting IOC officials. They are part of a delegation which is in Singapore for a six-day seminar to share knowledge with local officials on how to organise the YOG. - CNA/ms