I Youth Olympic Games Singapore 2010 – stunning beginning of long history

The inaugural Youth Olympic Games were underway during 14-26 August 2010 in Singapore. A total of 3600 athletes from 205 countries took part in that competitions. The sport delegation of the Republic of Belarus also had a lined-up of 49 athletes in 21 sports. As a result, Belarus placed 36th in the unofficial medal ranking with 6 awards conquered.

Anton Karoukin turned to be the only Belarusian who took the Singapore 2010 gold in archery. His teammates Sviatlana Makshtareva (trampoline), Illia Charheika (shooting), Alena Nauharodskaya (hammer throw) and Aryna Sharapa (rhythmic gymnastics) became the silver medalists. Vita Valnova clinched the bronze in judo. Belarusian athletes joined the race for medals in athletics, cycling, rowing, shooting, artistic gymnastics, canoeing, swimming, trampoline gymnastics, modern pentathlon, archery, weightlifting, Greco-Roman and freestyle wrestling, boxing, rhythmic gymnastics, judo, sailing, table tennis.

Singapore 2010 featured 26 sports, as in the case with Summer Olympic Games London 2012 sport programme. A number of innovation came into picture – classic basketball was replaced by streetball, mixed relays in swimming, gender-mixed teams in fencing. Squads of three men and a girl performed in three cycling disciplines: BMX, mountain bike and road races.

Young athletes held meetings with Singapore 2010 Ambassadors – Usain Bolt, Michael Phelps, and Yelena Isinbaeva.

“I know how it’s important to have mentors who help to dream and stay concentrated. I am happy to play the role of the Ambassador of the first Youth Olympic Games, inspire and encourage boy and girls here in Singapore and all around the world”, said Bolt.

Singapore 2010  proved to be a splendid beginning of the entire Youth Olympic Movement. Such a bright advent binds the YOG to get even better in future.