The Singapore Youth Olympic Games, which will be hosted here in August 2010, will have the honour of being the last Olympic event to feature an international torch relay. Several days ago, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) decided to end the international torch relays for the future Olympic Games. The torch relay will only be held inside the host country. But an exception has been made for the Singapore Youth Olympic Games because it is the first Youth Olympic Games in the world and the International Olympic Committee wants to make it influential among the youth all around the world. This is exactly the debut of the IOC’s new initiative to engage the world’s youth.
You may ask why the IOC cancelled the international torch relays. The reason is obvious. As is known to us, the Olympic Games are always connected to politics, economic development and diplomatic issues, which are barely related to sports and athletics. The international torch relay is regarded as a platform for the politicians to show the power of their countries and political attitudes towards other countries. It is also a stage where the protesters to show their dissatisfaction with the governments and denounce the countries they are opposed to. Last year’s international torch relay for the Beijing Olympic Games was interrupted for many times during the flame’s trip in Europe. This picture shows a torch-bearer squeezed his way through the protesters in London. The IOC wants to purify the Olympic Games and separates it from politics, competitions between countries and so on. They have no choice but to cancel the international torch relays.
For the Singapore Youth Olympic Games torch relay, the flame will be lit in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of Olympic Games. Then it will go on a trip to five cities in five continents, including Africa, America, Asia, Europe and Oceania. The flame’s voyage will culminate in a round-the –island relay in Singapore. After that it will go to the Floating Platform in Marina Bay, light the Games cauldron and mark the start of the world’s first Youth Olympic Games.
People are excited about that a six-stop voyage of the torch will precede the inaugural ceremony for the Games in August next year, but it’s pity that the international torch relays have been cancelled for other Olympic Games in the future. I think we all hope that the IOC could change its mind and resume it. Before that, we have a long way to go to get rid of the political influences on Olympics and make it “clear”.
You may ask why the IOC cancelled the international torch relays. The reason is obvious. As is known to us, the Olympic Games are always connected to politics, economic development and diplomatic issues, which are barely related to sports and athletics. The international torch relay is regarded as a platform for the politicians to show the power of their countries and political attitudes towards other countries. It is also a stage where the protesters to show their dissatisfaction with the governments and denounce the countries they are opposed to. Last year’s international torch relay for the Beijing Olympic Games was interrupted for many times during the flame’s trip in Europe. This picture shows a torch-bearer squeezed his way through the protesters in London. The IOC wants to purify the Olympic Games and separates it from politics, competitions between countries and so on. They have no choice but to cancel the international torch relays.
For the Singapore Youth Olympic Games torch relay, the flame will be lit in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of Olympic Games. Then it will go on a trip to five cities in five continents, including Africa, America, Asia, Europe and Oceania. The flame’s voyage will culminate in a round-the –island relay in Singapore. After that it will go to the Floating Platform in Marina Bay, light the Games cauldron and mark the start of the world’s first Youth Olympic Games.
People are excited about that a six-stop voyage of the torch will precede the inaugural ceremony for the Games in August next year, but it’s pity that the international torch relays have been cancelled for other Olympic Games in the future. I think we all hope that the IOC could change its mind and resume it. Before that, we have a long way to go to get rid of the political influences on Olympics and make it “clear”.
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