All you need to know

guide book
 Asian
Youth Games
2009
Welcome Note

Message from Ng Ser Miang

Chairman, Steering Committee
Singapore Asian Youth Games Organising Committee

It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to Singapore for the inaugural Asian Youth Games (AYG)
Singapore 2009.

As a region, we are making history as athletes and coaches, officials and administrators, dignitaries
and spectators from different parts of Asia gather in Singapore for the first AYG.

A brand new sporting event, AYG is designed specially for the youth. On the sporting agenda are sports that have been in play
since the beginning of the modern Olympic Games; other sports are keen reflections of what are popular with the youth today.
There are events solely for the young athlete who braves the arena alone; other events seek to bring out the strong teamwork in
the field of play.

The Games will be telecast via new media—another first for a major games. Our youth have grown up with cellular phones,
computers and the internet. They stay connected with friends and family through new media—hence our decision to broadcast
the Games through a live stream on the internet. Athletes and their supporters will be able to watch the international sporting
action from anywhere in the world that has an internet connection.

The AYG programme has also been designed to bring across the Olympic values of excellence, friendship and respect. The
cultural and education programmes developed by the Singapore Ministry of Education (MOE) will encourage Asia’s young
athletes to discover what we as Asians have in common, even as we celebrate our differences.

Youth participation at AYG will take many forms, as torchbearers, volunteers and young goodwill ambassadors. Fourteen
schools in Singapore have adopted a competition venue where more than 900 students and teachers will be assisting with the
management of the venues to ensure smooth operations and an enjoyable experience for everyone.

Organising the AYG has provided invaluable experience for Singapore’s preparations for the Youth Olympic Games 2010.
Less than 12 months ago, the Singapore Sports Council (SSC) and MOE came together in an unprecedented move to form the
Singapore Asian Youth Games Organising Committee (SAYGOC) to organise this inaugural event. I extend my heartfelt thanks to
the SAYGOC team for their unflagging dedication to the cause.

I would also like to thank the Olympic Council of Asia and the National Olympic Committees from around the region for their
unstinting support and guidance, as well as the various Singapore government agencies for their full support to the games.

We welcome the youth of Asia to Singapore for the Asian Youth Games 2009 with pride and anticipation that the best is yet to
come for Asia’s young athletes.

Ng Ser Miang
Chairman of Singapore Asian Youth Games Steering Committee
Executive Board Member, International Olympic Committee

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 Asian
Youth Games National Olympic Committees
2009

Afghanistan Cambodia Hong Kong

Formal Name: Dowlat-e Eslami-ye Afghanestan Formal Name: Reacheanachak Kampuchea Formal Name: Hong Kong Special Administrative
Asian Youth Games 2009 ( Islamic Republic of Afghanistan)
Capital City: Kabul
(Kingdom of Cambodia)
Capital City: Phnom Penh
Region
Location: East Asia
Contents 29 June – 7 July Location: South Asia Location: Southeast Asia Population: 7,055,000
Population: 30,610,000 Population: 14,494,000 Languages: Chinese (Cantonese),
Languages: Afghan Persian, Dari Languages: Khmer English
“Through the games, Asia’s youth can learn the Olympic values of
3 Welcome Message
excellence, friendship and respect”

4 Asian Youth Games 2009
5 National Olympic Committees
8 Asia‘s Youth, Our Future
10 Disciplines at the
Asian Youth Games
10 Athletics
11 Aquatics - Diving
12 Aquatics - Swimming
13 Basketball FIBA 33
(3 on 3)
14 Beach Volleyball
15 Bowling
16 Football
17 Sailing
18 Shooting
19 Table Tennis
20 Singapore City • Asian Diversity – The highly vibrant and energised star symbol is a unique
Information
24 Team Page
26 “Do‘s and Don‘ts” at AYG
Singapore will go down in history as the first-ever country to host the Asian Youth Games
(AYG). The first multi-sport event of its kind, it will see more than 1,300 young athletes
aged between 14 and 17, from 45 participating nations converging in Singapore over a
nine-day period. A major event and a stepping stone for Asian youths to excel in the field
Bahrain China India
of sports, AYG is bound to be one significant event for the Asian region. Formal Name: Mamlakah al bahrayn (Kingdom Formal Name: Zhonghua Renmin Gongheguo Formal Name: Bharatiya Ganarajya (Republic of
of Bahrain) (People’s Republic of China) India)
Capital City: Al Manamah (Manama) Capital City: Beijing Capital City: New Delhi
Location: Middle East Location: East Asia Location: Southern Asia
Population: 728,000 Population: 1,338,613,000 Population: 1,166,079,000
Languages: Arabic. English. Farsi. Urdu Languages: Mandarin Chinese, Cantonese, Languages: Hindi, English, Bengali, Telegu,
Shanghainese, Fuzhou, Hakka dialects Marathi. Tamil, Urdu
On 14 November 2008, officials unveiled the official emblem for the 2009 Asian
Youth Games. Singapore design company, Brainwave Design, created the winning
logo, which combines a star and an athlete. Bangladesh Chinese Taipei (Taiwan) Indonesia
Formal Name: Gana Prajatantri Banladesh Formal Name: Taiwan Formal Name: Republik Indonesia (Republic of
(People’s Republic of Bangladesh) Capital City: Taipei Indonesia)
Members of the official logo selection panel included popular Singapore radio Capital City: Dhaka (Dacca) Location: East Asia Capital City: Jakarta
deejay Rod Monteiro, ASIAN Geographic publisher John Thet, and Singapore’s 2006 Location: South Asia Population: 22,974,000 Location: Southeast Asia
Asian Games Silver medallist Koh Seng Leong. Population: 156,051,000 Languages: Mandarin Chinese, Taiwanese, Population: 240,272,000
Languages: Bengali, English Hakka dialects Languages: Bahasa Indonesia, Javanese
Sundanese, Dutch
The logo represents
• Asian Excellence – The star represents excellence, while the figure of the
athlete symbolises the sportsmanship of each participating youth.
combination of two overlapping and complimentary starbursts, symbolising
Asia’s diverse cultural and ethnic landscape.
• Asian Unity – The two merging stars reflect the strong ties between the Bhutan D.P.R. Korea Iran
participating Asian countries. The synergy of its dynamic colour palette Formal Name: Druk Gyalkhap (Kingdom of Formal Name: Choson-minjujuui-inmin- Formal Name: Jomhuri-ye Eslami-ye Iran (Islamic
Bhutan) konghwaguk (Democratic People’s Republic of Republic of Iran)
highlights how these diverse Asian countries have come together in celebration
Capital City: Thimphu Korea) Capital City: Tehran
of youth, sports and friendship. Location: South Asia Capital City: Pyongyang Location: Middle East
Population: 691,000 Location: East Asia Population: 66,429,000
Asian Youth Games Mascot Languages: Dzongkha, Nepali, English Population: 22,665,000 Languages: Persian, Turkic, Kurdish
Languages: Korean
The official mascot for AYG 2009 is named FRASIA (pronounced Fra-sher). The name
is a portmanteau for “Friends of Asia” and embodies the values and spirit of AYG –
friendship, excellence and respect.

Brunei East Timor (Timor-Leste) Iraq

Formal Name: Negara Brunei Darussalam Formal Name: Republika Demokratika Timor Formal Name: Al Jumhuriyah al-Iraqiyah
Capital City: Bander Seri Begawan Lorosa‘e (Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste) (Republic of Iraq)
Location: Southeast Asia Capital City: Dili Capital City: Baghdad
Population: 388,000 Location: Southeast Asia Location: Middle East
Languages: Malay, English. Chinese Population: 1,132,000 Population: 28,946,000
Languages: Tetum, Portuguese, Indonesian, Languages: Arabic, Kurdish
Englisdh
Friendship Excellence Respect.
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 Asian
Youth Games
2009

Japan Kyrgyzstan Maldives Pakistan Singapore Turkmenistan

Formal Name: Nihon-koku / Nippon-koku Formal Name: Kyrgyz Respublikasy (Kyrgyz Formal Name: Dhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa Formal Name: Jamhuryat Islami Pakistan (Islamic Formal Name: Republic of Singapore Formal Name: Turkmenostan Respublikasy
Capital City: Tokyo Republic) (Republic of the Maldives) Republic of Pakistan) Capital City: Singapore (Republic of Turkmenistan)
Location: East Asia Capital City: Bishkek Capital City: Male Capital City: Islamabad Location: Southeast Asia Capital City: Ashkhabad (Ashgabat)
Population: 127,079,000 Location: Central Asia Location: South Aisia / ndian Ocean Location: South Asia Population: 4,658,000 Location: Central Asia
Languages: Japanese Population: 5,432,000 Population: 396,000 Population: 176,243,000 Languages: English, Chinese, Malay, Tamil Population: 4,885,000
Languages: Kyrgyz, Uzbek, Russian Languages: Maldivian Dhivehi Languages: Punjabi. Sindhi, Siraiki, Pashtu, Urdu Languages: Turkmen, Russian, Uzbek

Jordan Laos Mongolia Palestine Sri Lanka United Arab Emirates

Formal Name: Al Mamlakah al Urduniyah al Formal Name: Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Formal Name: Mongol Uls (Republic of Mongolia) Formal Name: Al-Solata al-Wataniya Al-Filastiniya Formal Name: Shri Lamka Prajatantrika Samajaya Formal Name: Imarat al Arabiyah al Muttahidah
Hashimiyah (Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan) Loa (Lao People’s Democratic Republic) Capital City: Ulaanbaatar (Ulan Bator) (Palestinian National Authority) di Janarajaya (Democratic Socialist Republic of Capital City: Abu Zaly (Abu Dhabi)
Capital City: Amman Capital City: Vientiane Location: North Asia Capital City: Gaza City (provisional) Sri Lanka) Location: Middle East
Location: Middle East Location: Southeast Asia Population: 3,041,000 Location: Middle East, in areas occupied by Israel Capital City: Colombo Population: 4,798,000
Population: 6,343,000 Population: 6,835,000 Languages: Khalkha Mongolian, Turkic, Russian and Jordan Location: South Asia / Indian Ocean Languages: Arabic, Persian, English, Hindi, Urdu
Languages: Arabic Languages: Lao, French, English Population: 2,500,000 Population: 20,325,000
Languages: Arabic, Hebrew Languages: Sinhalese, Tamil, English

Kazakhstan Lebanon Myanmar Philippines Syria Uzbekistan

Formal Name: Qazaqstan Respublikasy (Republic Formal Name: Jumhuriyah al Lubnaniyah Formal Name: Pyiduangsu Myanma Formal Name: Republika ng Pilipinas ( Republic Formal Name: Jumhuriyah al Arabiyah as Suriyah Formal Name: Ozbekiston Respublikasi (Republic
of Kazakhstan) (Lebanese Republic) Naingngandaw (Union of Myanmar) of the Philippines) (Syrian Arab Republic) of Uzbekistan)
Capital City: Astana Capital City: Bayrut (Beirut) Capital City: Yangon (Rangoon) Capital City: Manila Capital City: Dimashq (Damascus) Capital City: Tashkent
Location: Central Asia Location: Middle East Location: South Asia Location: Southeast Asia Location: Middle East Location: Central Asia
Population: 15,399,000 Population: 4,017,000 Population: 48,138,000 Population: 97,977,000 Population: 20,178,000 Population: 27,606,000
Languages: Kazakh, Russian Languages: Arabic, French, English, Armenian Languages: Burmese Languages: Tagalog (Filipino) English Languages: Arabic, Kurdish, Armenian Languages: Uzbek, Russian, Tajik

Korea Macao Nepal Qatar Tajikistan Vietnam

Formal Name: Taehan-min’guk (Republic of Formal Name: Macao Special Administrative Formal Name: Sanghiya Loktantrik Ganatantra Formal Name: Dawlat Qatar (State of Qatar) Formal Name: Jumhurii Tojikiston (Republic of Formal Name: Cong Hoa Xa Hoi Chu Nghia Viet
Korea) Region Nepal (Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal) Capital City: Al Dawdah (Doha) Tajikistan) Nam (Socialist Republic of Vietnam)
Capital City: Soul (Seoul) Capital City: Macao City Capital City: Kathmandu Location: Middle East Capital City: Dushanbe Capital City: Hanoi
Location: East Asia Location: East Asia Location: South Asia Population: 833,000 Location: Central Asia Location: Southeast Asia
Population: 48,509,000 Population: 560,000 Population: 28,563,000 Languages: Arabic, English Population: 7,349,000 Population: 86,968,000
Languages: Korean Languages: Cantonese, Hokkien, Mandarin Languages: Nepali, Maithali, Bhojpuri Languages: Tajik, Russian Languages: Vietnamese, English, French.
Chinese, Khmer

Kuwait Malaysia Oman Saudi Arabia Thailand Yemen

Formal Name: Dawlat al Kuwayt ( State of Formal Name: Persekutuan Malaysia (Federation Formal Name: Saltanaat al-’ Umman (Sultanate Formal Name: Mamlakah al Arabiyah as Suudiyah Formal Name: Ratcha Anachak Thai (Kingdom of Formal Name: Jumhuriyah al Yamaniyah
Kuwait) of Malaysia) of Oman) (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) Thailand) (Republic of Yemen)
Capital City: Al Kuwayt (Kuwait City) Capital City: Kuala Lumpur Capital City: Masqat (Muscat) Capital City: Ar Riyad (Riyadh) Capital City: Krung Thep (Bangkok) Capital City: San’a
Location: Middle East Location: Southeast Asia Location: Middle East Location: Middle East Location: Southeast Asia Location: Middle East
Population: 2,691,000 Population: 25,716,000 Population: 3,418,000 Population: 28,687,000 Population: 65,905,000 Population: 23,823,000
Languages: Arabic, English Languages: Bahasa Malaysia. English, Chinese, Languages: Arabic, English, Baluchi, Urdu Languages: Arabic Languages: Thai, English Languages: Arabic
Tamil
6
 Asian
Youth Games
2009
Asia’s Youth, Our Future
The 2009 Asian Youth Games
Text Jose Raymond
“The Asian Youth Games was conceived with Asia’s youth
in mind.” said Ng Eng Soon, co-director of the Singapore Asian
Youth Games Organising Committee
It was conceptualised about 18 months ago as part of
Singapore’s bid to host the 2010 Youth Olympic Games. And
the time is here where Singapore will go down in history as the
first ever country to host the Asian Youth Games.
For the small island nation, it is a dream come true – one
that has been in the works for a long time, especially since
Singapore had not hosted a major multi-sport event since the
Southeast Asian Games in 1993. Sport was singled out by the
government as an area of extreme importance, and just a few
months ago, Singapore succeeded in hosting the world’s first
Formula One World Championship night race, thrusting it into
the international spotlight. The country’s Sports Hub project,
which is scheduled for completion by end 2011, is also being
watched by industry observers around the region because of
its unique private-public partnership. And after clinching the
bid to host the world’s first Asian Youth Games in 2009 and
Youth Olympic Games in 2010, the republic has finally put
itself back on the world-sporting map.
The first of its kind
The Asian Youth Games is the first multi-sport event of
its kind, and will see more than 1,300 young athletes aged
between 14 and 17, from 45 participating nations converging
in Singapore over a nine-day period. Scheduled from 29 June
to 7 July 2009, the historic event was conceived as part of
a plan to prepare Asian youths for the 2010 Youth Olympic
Games by letting them compete in a similar organised event.
The Asian Youth Games also gave Singapore’s national sports
associations the opportunity to fine tune their plans, prepare
their logistics, and ready their officials and volunteers for the
big event.
According to members of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA),
the decision to award Singapore as the host country of the
2010 Youth Olympic Games was unanimous. The country’s
bid was chosen above the eight other candidates because of
“strong government support, a compact venue plan, dynamic,
8 AYG0015-09 STB/LTA Decorative.indd 2
had seven years to prepare for the Games while Singapore, in
comparison, has just slightly over a year.
“Most countries have a few years to prepare for a major
Games… But we are not complaining about it, and we will
ensure that we get it going as smoothly as possible. Of course
there will be hiccups and there will be mistakes, which we
make along the way, but we will not harp on them and will
just pick ourselves up, learn from the error and move on,” said
co-director Ng Eng Soon.
The OCA has also chipped in, assisting Singapore with the
professional and well-thought-out culture and education planning and coordination for the event. Five OCA officials
programmes as well as sound financial backing”. flew in to Singapore in November 2008 to share their
knowledge with the country’s organising committee, in areas
The Asian Youth Games will be a significant event for such as television and media coverage and overall Games
Singapore in many ways: apart from promoting community services. The team, accompanied by working members of the
bonding and national pride, the economic benefits from Singapore Asian Youth Games Organising Committee, also
hosting such an event are plenty. It is estimated that the event visited five of the sporting venues that will be used for the
will rake in millions of tourism and retail dollars, create job Games.
opportunities and seal the vibrant image that the government
has worked to create. During one of the press sessions held during the two-day
trip, local Games officials and members of the media raised
Apart from the F1 World Championship, which Singapore questions on OCA’s expectation for the upcoming Asian Youth
hosted for the first time last September, the tiny island is Games. In response, the OCA team expressed confidence in
also set to host the Junior Hockey World Cup in June 2009 Singapore‘s ability to host the multi-sport event, describing it
and has also earned the right to host the World Netball as "well-prepared“ and "on schedule”. These sentiments were
Championships in 2011. In addition to the annual Standard also emphasised during the launch ceremony of the official
Chartered Singapore Marathon, the country will also host a emblem for the Asian Youth Games, when OCA vice president,
leg of the Dextro Energy Triathlon – International Triathlon Timothy Fok, said, “It may be a very short time to prepare for
Union (ITU) World Championship Series in May 2009; and talk a major Games, but the Olympic Council of Asia is confident
of the possible rebirth of Singapore’s ultra-successful Merlion that Singapore, with its capabilities, will be able to put on a
Cup football tournament are all indications of how important fantastic show.”
sports is to the Singapore government.
The relative rush in getting the Games up and running,
however, has not dampened the spirits of the people working
A race against the clock behind the scenes. Said A. Suresh, who is the head of the Asian
The short time span given for Singapore to host the Youth Games Secretariat, “It is an adrenaline rush every day of
Games did not go unnoticed, however. China, which hosted the work week. Time is short and sometimes, we hardly have
the 2008 Olympics, was awarded as host country in 2001 and time to even stop and think. With so much at stake, it has also
JUNE 29  JULY 7 JUNE 29  JULY 7 JUNE 29  JULY 7 JUNE 29  JULY 7
Partner Partner
Partner
Partner
Official VIP Hotel Preferred Card
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meant that many of us are putting in the additional hours just
to ensure that everything goes as planned. Many eyes will be on
Singapore and we have to ensure that we put on a good show.”
Support from all sides
The Asian Youth Games is co-organised by the Singapore
Sports Council and the Ministry of Education, which will
spearhead all supporting cultural and education programmes.
It has already opened up 10 local school fields for training, and
to host the preliminary competitions for football. The Ministry
also designed the sports calendar for local schools around the
Games, to ensure that there wouldn’t be a clash of events; and
to allow the selected Singapore athletes to train and be ready
for the Games.
The director of education programmes at the Ministry of
Education, Sum Chee Wah, is already looking forward to the
first Asian Youth Games. She is also a member of the Steering
Committee and is a co-chair of the Executive Committee.
“We are confident that the inaugural Asian Youth Games
in Singapore will be a motivating influence to our youths.
With the gathering of young athletes from all over Asia on
our shores, what we will see is not just the unifying power of
sports at work. These youths will certainly be an inspiration
to one another, as they experience the values of solidarity,
cooperation, friendship and fair play, in line with the Olympic
character. Without a doubt, the Asian Youth Games will
prepare them for the Youth Olympic Games in 2010. It will be
an experience that our youths will appreciate greatly.”
The Singapore Sports Council, on the other hand, will play
home to the 2009 Asian Youth Games secretariat, head up
various sub-committees of the Games, and take overall care of
all sports-related matters. The Singapore Sports Council’s CEO,
Oon Jin Teik, stressed that the 2009 Asian Youth Games will
not only be about competition, but will also be a platform to
reach out to the youth. He believes that through the Games,
Asia’s youth can learn the values of friendship, respect and
friendly competition.
JUNE 29  JULY 7 JUNE 29  JULY 7 JUNE 29  JULY 7 JUNE 29  JULY 7
Partners
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Official IT Infrastructure Official Transport Official Athletes Hotel
Official Cars
Official Isotonic Drink Official Water
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 Asian
Youth Games
2009

Disciplines at the Asian Youth Games

Athletics Aquatics - Diving

Schedule Schedule
Venue: Bishan Stadium Venue: Toa Payoh Swimming Complex
Date: 30 June – 3 July Date: 30 June – July
MRT: Bishan MRT: Toa Payoh

Introduction
Athletics, or track and field, comprises three types of events:
track events (running or walking), field events (jumping and
throwing), and combined events (such as pentathlons). This
discipline occupied centre-stage at the very first Olympic
Games and still does today. It offer a multitude of sporting
events, many of which will be part of the Asian Youth Games;
they are: 100m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 4x200m, 100m Hurdles,
110m Hurdles, 400m Hurdles, High Jump, Long Jump, Triple
Jump, Pole Vault, Discus Throw, Javelin Throw, and Shot Put.
Technicalities of the Game
In athletics, measure is everything. Those who emerge
victorious in their own field walk and run the fastest times
(walks, sprints, races, hurdles, relays, marathons), rise the
highest (pole vault, high jump) and throw (discus, javelin,
hammer, shot put) and jump (long jump, triple jump) the
farthest.
Iconic Athlete
Michael Johnson was the first runner to clinch the world’s top
spot for both the 200m and 400m at the same Olympic Games.
With his distinct upright running style, Johnson had won 54
400m finals by 1996 and currently still holds the best time for
that distance. In his career, he also collected no less than nine
gold medals at World Championships, the most any athlete in
history ever has.
Introduction
Divers are strong yet supple athletes who are expected to
demonstrate acrobatic skills as they jump from platforms or
springboards between three and 10 metres high. A platform
and 3-metre springboard will be used during the Asian Youth
Games.
Technicalities of the Game
Divers are allowed a number of attempts for each round.
Each dive must include certain elements, such as twists and
somersaults, as specified by the organisers of the competition.
Five to seven judges award a mark out of 10; 3 for take-off, 3
for flight, 3 for landing and 1 at their discretion. The lowest
Photolibrary
and highest scores are subtracted from the total, which is then
multiplied by a pre-determined degree of difficulty. Top marks
are given for splashless entries (“rips”).
Iconic Athlete
Born in Baoding, Hebei province, China, Guo Jingjing is
considered the most successful female diver in Olympic
history. At the age of six, she took up diving at the Baoding
Training Base. In 1988, she started training in competitive
diving and was selected for the Chinese national team in
1992. She earned a gold medal in the 3-metre women’s
synchronized springboard during the 2004 Summer Olympics.

Did You Know? Did You Know?

Although start lines differ substantially from one track event to the other, all events end on the same finish line. In scoring, judges take into account the lines formed by the divers body while in flight – the more shapely their
silhouette, the higher the mark.

10
 Asian
Youth Games
2009

Aquatics - Basketball FIBA 33

Swimming (3 on 3)
Schedule Schedule
Venue: Singapore Sports School Venue: Anglican High School
Date: 2 − 6 July Date: 1 − 4 July
MRT: Woodlands MRT: Tanah Merah

Introduction
International swimming competition events range from 50
metres (the pool’s length) to 1,500 metres and require one of
four strokes − backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, and crawl
(also known as freestyle) − or a combination thereof (medley).
Technicalities of the Game
Swimmers must perform each race in the chosen swimming
style and stroke judges observe them to ensure that they
perform the stroke legally. Swimmers start the race by diving
from the start block, a small platform, and complete the race
in their assigned lane. At either end of the pool is a wall touch
pad that the athletes must touch before each new lap and
at the end of the race. In cases of false starts, a recall rope is
dropped into the water to alert the swimmers that they must
restart the race.
Iconic Athlete
China-born Singaporean competitive swimmer Tao Li
specialises in backstroke and butterfly stroke. At just 18 years
of age, Tao Li has represented Singapore at numerous games
and holds several national records. She won four gold medals
and a bronze at the 2005 SEA Games in the Philippines. In
December 2006, she took a gold medal at the 50 metres
butterfly in Doha’s 2006 Asian game and broke her own
national record. Li became the first Singaporean swimmer
to enter an Olympic final. At the 2008 Summer Olympics in
Beijing, she ranked fourth in the semi-finals with a time of
57.54 seconds and set two Asian records in two days.
Introduction
Invented in 1891, Basketball first appeared on the event
line-up of the Olympic Games in 1936. Fast-paced and highly
technical, the sport is played by athletes who combine a
strong physique, agility and stamina. The 3-on-3 version of
the game is derived from urban culture and has become a
favourite among youths.
Technicalities of the Game
The game is played on a half court FIBA basketball playing
court − 28 metres by 15 metres − and consists of three periods
of five minutes each with one-minute intervals in between.
These time periods will be disregarded if one team scores 33
or more points before the end of a regular playing time. Both
teams of three have three minutes to warm up after which
the game shall begins with a jump ball at the free-throw line.
Photolibrary
Players can score 3 points (when aiming outside the 3-point
arc), 2 points (when aiming from within the 3-point arc) or 1
point (for the free throw line) and they must adhere to the
time rules, which include attempting a shot for a field goal
within 14 seconds.
Iconic Athlete
The extra-tall Chinese basketball star Yao Ming first played
for China in the Summer Olympics at the 2000 Olympics
Basketball Tournament. He first tried out for the Shanghai
Sharks junior team of Chinese Basketball Association (CBA)
at 13 years old. He estimates his daily practice lasts at least
10 hours. Born in Shanghai, China, he currently plays for the
Houston Rockets of National Basketball Association (NBA). His
2.29 meter tall silhouette makes him the tallest NBA player.

Did You Know? Did You Know?

The two rows of flags positioned at either end of the pool and across its width serve as a reference for backstroke In the United States, the birth place of basketball, all states have a Division I Men’s Basketball programme − except
swimmers to know how soon they are going to reach the wall. Alaska.

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Youth Games
2009

Beach Volleyball Bowling

Schedule Schedule
Venue: Siloso Beach, Sentosa Venue: Orchid Country Club
Date: 1 − 5 July Date: 1 − 6 July
MRT: Harbourfront MRT: Khatib

Introduction Iconic Athlete Introduction Inspiring Story

Volleyball involves two teams of six players each who aim to
get the ball in their opponents’ side of the court in such a way
that they are not able to return it before it hits the ground.
Similar to the original version, beach volleyball is played on
sand, on a slightly smaller court and by pairs rather than
teams. It is one of the most recent games to be included in the
Olympics, having been featured since 1996.
Technicalities of the Game
The ball is served from behind the end line and has to reach
the opponents’ free zone, which is the half further away
from the net. In the original version, teams rotate after each
successful service has been played, so that each service is
played by a different player. In the beach version, however,
players just alternate services.
Tian Jia is Asia’s most successful international beach volleyball
player. At the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, Tian and
her partner Wang Jie won the silver medal in the Women’s
Beach Volleyball competition, staying undefeated until the
final where they lost to United States’ Misty May-Treanor
and Kerri Walsh. Like most of China’s beach volleyball player,
Tian started off indoors. And today, she has made a name for
herself internationally.
As they roll a heavy ball along a smooth lane, bowlers try to
knock down as many of the pins as possible, always aiming
for a strike − getting all 10 pins down. Bowlers may execute
each attempt with style and poise but bowling is definitely
a competitive sports: because each pin missed substantially
reduces the amount of points scored, precision is bowlers’
number one priority.
Technicalities of the Game
Each player has 10 frames, each of which consists of two
attempts to knock down as many pins as possible. The game
tests the bowlers’ skills in throwing the ball in such a way that
they knock down all pins and obtain the best score possible.
A World War II veteran from Alta, Iowa, United States, 78-
year-old Dale Davis has succeeded in scoring a perfect 300 at
bowling despite being almost completely blind. Because Davis
is unable to see the lanes and much less take visual aim of his
targets, he evaluates his shots based on three criteria: how the
ball feels comings out of his fingers, the crack the ball makes
when it hits the pins, and whether his fellow bowlers tell
him he can sit down after a strike. Although Davis is not new
to bowling, a perfect 300 game is a rarity for someone with
impaired vision.

Did you know?

Did You Know? Pins and balls were once made simply of wood, but the former are now synthetic or plastic-coated wood, while the latter
Beach volleyball has been played professionally since the late 1960s. are made of plastic, urethane, epoxy or a combination of these materials.

14
 Asian
Youth Games
2009
Football
Schedule
Venue: Jalan Besar Stadium (Final &
Preliminary; other matches at selected
school fields)
Date: 15 − 25 June (Prelims) 28 – 7 July
MRT: Lavender
Introduction
Although its rules are far simpler than those of other team
sports, football is largely considered the most popular sport
in the world. Two teams of 11 players attempt to kick a ball in
the opposing team’s goal. The game consists of two 45-minute
halves separated by a short interval.
Technicalities of the Game
Before the match commences, the two teams take their
positions. The game begins with the kick-off where the ball
is placed at the centre mark and kicked forwards by the
attacking team. Attackers must dribble or pass the ball around
the pitch, retaining possession and stopping the defending
team from gaining control of the ball. The ball can be moved
around using any part of the body except the hands and arms.
The team that scores the most goals after 90 minutes wins. If
teams have the same score by then, the game is a draw. But if
Did you know?
The 208-member counties Fédération Internationale de Football (FIFA) was created in 1904.
16
a winner is needed, some competitions allow extra time for a
penalty shoot out.
Iconic Athlete
The undisputed “king of football”, Brazilian legend Pelé is still
largely considered the best footballer of all times more than
three decades after his retirement. He started playing for his
first club at just 15 years old and for his country’s national team
a year later. With innate athleticism and flawless technique,
Pelé was praised not only for its goal-scoring ability but for
excellent dribbling, passing, appropriate pace, powerful shot,
and exceptional heading ability. Rising above and beyond the
poverty of his childhood, during which he could not afford a
proper football, Pelé was named Athlete of the Century by the
International Olympic Committee.
Sailing
Schedule
Venue: National Sailing Centre
Date: 29 June – 5 July
MRT: Tanah Merah
Singapore Sports Council
Introduction Iconic Athlete
Sailing is an exhilarating and demanding sport, both physically Nicknamed the Brazilian “Turbine”, Torben Grael took part in
and mentally. There are many different types of races no less than six editions of the Olympic Games, starting at just
regulated by strict international rules. Racing may take place 24 years old at the Los Angeles Games of 1984. In the team
on lakes, coastal bays or far offshore across entire oceans. keelboat event, Grael took the silver, the first of many more
Sailors may race single-handed, in a small crew, or in a crew of medals to come: in all, the São Paulo-born sailor collected two
up to 18 athletes. gold medals, one silver and one bronze, which makes him the
Brazilian athlete with the most Olympic medals and the most
Technicalities of the Game accomplished Olympic sailor.
The test is on the athlete’s steering skill to reach the finish line.
A classic Olympic course is 1.6 kilometres long. Upper-body
strength is important for hoisting and adjusting the sails, as is
leg strength to move around the boat swiftly. Quick thinking
and fast reactions are needed to deal with the ever-shifting
elements of the waters. Sailors also use the wind to gain speed
and reach their destination.
Did you know?
The oldest competitor to date in the Velux 5 Oceans Single-Handed Race is Sir Robin Knox-Johnson at 67 years old.
 Asian
Youth Games
2009

Shooting Table Tennis

Schedule Schedule
Venue: SAFRA Yishun Venue: Toa Payoh Sports Hall
Date: 30 June − 2 July Date; 2 July − 6 July
MRT: Yishun MRT: Toa Payoh
Photolibrary

Introduction
Air Pistol competitors stand and, with one hand, fire at a
circular target surrounded by 10 concentric rings. As in darts,
the nearer the shots land to the “bullseye”, the higher the
points scored. Rifle competitors also aim for the centre of
the target, but their event differs from Air Pistol in that they
shoot as many bullets as possible within a specific time frame.
The winner is determined based on both qualifying and final
rounds. The Asian Youth Games will include both events, with
a distance set at 10 metres.
Technicalities of the Game
There are a number of events that are distinguished by the
type of pistol used and the distance the competitor stands
from the target. Since safety is of paramount importance,
officials carefully check each competitor’s weapon before an
event begins making sure the pistol complies with the event’s
regulations. The guns are gas-driven with a calibre of 4.5mm
and bullets are almost flat-headed pellets that leave cleaner
round holes in the paper targets for easy scoring.
Iconic Athlete
Chinese athlete Zhang Shan single-handedly caused a reform
to the skeet shooting event at the Olympic Games: at the 1992
edition of the games in Barcelona, 24-year-old Zhang finished
first in the skeet shooting event, then a category including
both genders. The event became a men-only event at the
Atlanta Games four years later and a separate women‘s skeet
event was added to the program at the 2000Sydney Games.
Introduction
Table tennis, or ping-pong, is a fast-paced and physically
demanding racket game, which can be played individually or
in pairs. Table tennis players usually have exceptional hand
and eye coordination as well as strong leg muscles. To win
points, player must hit a lightweight ball with a wooden bat
over a net so that their opponents either can’t return it or are
forced into an error. As its name suggest, you can think or
table tennis as tennis with a shrunk net and table-size court!
Technicalities of the Game
Matches are the best of five or seven games. The first side
to reach 11 points wins each game. To start with, one player
serves the ball by throwing it up no lower than the net and
strikes it with the bat. The ball must bounce twice − once on
each side of the net − before being returned by the other
player. If the ball touches the net during a service but then
lands on the receiver’s side the server must serve again. Players
swap ends after each game.
Iconic Athlete
Ranked 5th in the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF),
Wang Liqin started playing at the age of six and was talent-
spotted for the Chinese men’s national squad in 1993 when
he was only 15 years old. He now holds three major World
Championships titles. Wang won the gold medal in doubles
at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, the bronze
medal in singles at both the 2004 Summer Olympics held
in Athens, Greece, and the 2008 Summer Olympics held in
Beijing, China. Between 2004 and 2006, he ranked as the
world‘s best table tennis player.

Did you know? Did you know?

The game was inspired by nineteenth century lawn tennis players who, in bad weather, practised indoors using cigar-box
It is said that pistol shooting is the modern alternative to pigeon shooting.
lids as bats, the round tops of champagne corks as balls, and a row of books for a net. This early game had a number of
names, including whiff-whaff.

18
 Asian
Youth Games
2009
s:
Useful Hotline 999
995
Police:
ncy Assistance: 995
Medical Emerge
993
Fire Brigade:
ncy Assistance:
H1N1 Emerge
Singapore - The Lion City
Singapore’s strategic position on the globe has made it one of the major centres of trade, communications and tourism. Singa-
pore actually comes from the Malay word Singapura, “Singa” meaning Lion, with the suffix “Pura” derived from Sanskrit. Hence
the reference to the city as The Lion City.

The country may be just a small dot on the map of the world but for many decades, it has been rated as the most business-
friendly economy in the world and considered to be one of the top centres for finance in the region and the world.

The Merlion
Singapore’s iconic statue was first designed in 1964. The lion head with a fish body resting on a crest of waves was designed
by Mr Fraser Bruner. The lion’s head represents the feline believed to have been spotted by Prince Sang Nila Utama when he
reached Singapura in 11 AD, as recorded in the “Malay Annals”.

The late Singapore craftsman Lim Nang Seng built this statue using cement fondue for the body, porcelain plates for the skin and
small red teacups for the eyes.

Jimmy Lee
Climate
For those who enjoy the sun, Singapore’s tropical climate may be heaven-sent! The island is warm and humid all year round with
temperatures ranging from 31 DegC and 23 DegC. Rainfalls occur throughout the year especially during the monsoon season
from November to January.
Muslim Prayer Times
Please note the following prayer times for Singapore.
Food & Culture
Date Subuh Syuruk Zohor Asar Maghrib Isyak
Singapore’s population is made up of different ethnicities such as Chinese, Malay, and Indian as well as Eurasian and Peranakan
(known as ‘Straits Chinese’) communities. Despite different cultures and beliefs, Singaporeans embraces diversity and live in 29/6/2009 5:39 7:03 1:10 4:35 7:14 8:30
harmony.
30/6/2009 5:39 7:03 1:10 4:35 7:15 8:30
Thanks to its many cultures, Singapore is blessed with an endless variety of food and mishmash of flavours to tickle the taste
1/7/2009 5:39 7:03 1:10 4:35 7:15 8:30
buds. When it comes to feasting in Singapore, visitors will be spoilt for choice.
2/7/2009 5:40 7:03 1:10 4:35 7:15 8:30

3/7/2009 5:40 7:04 1:10 4:35 7:15 8:30

Transportation
4/7/2009 5:40 7:04 1:11 4:36 7:15 8:30
Travelling around is really hassle-free thanks to efficient public transportation networks of taxis, buses and the Mass Rapid Transit
(MRT) Rail System. Clean, safe and air-conditioned, the MRT operates from 5.30am to 12.30am daily. Fares are distance-based and 5/7/2009 5:40 7:04 1:11 4:36 7:16 8:30
you will need a fare card known as EZ-Link card that can also be used on public buses. 6/7/2009 5:41 7:04 1:11 4:36 7:16 8:30

Most shopping malls and public buildings have well-marked taxi stands and most taxis can be flagged 24 hours a day. 7/7/2009 5:41 7:04 1:11 4:36 7:16 8:31

For more information, please refer www.transitlink.com.sg or www.smrt.com.sg 8/7/2009 5:41 7:05 1:11 4:36 7:16 8:31

20
 At One World International School, students are provided with a solid academic foundation
along with a rich overlay of co-curricular activities promoting leadership, world citizenship, values
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 Asian
Youth Games
2009

Team page

cares for the Editorial Director:

John Thet

children of Asia Editors:

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Number of children in the world:
Photographer:
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education of children in the International Schools market of Singapore and Asia. This
standing has been earned through years of successful practice and a firm footing on the
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24
 Asian
Youth Games
2009

✔ Do’s
✔ Do drink lots of water
✔ Do wear sunscreen for prolonged exposure to the sun
✔ Do wear comfortable shoes
✔ Do cheer for your team
✔ Do bring your camera for those momentous shots
✔ Do take action should you start having flu symptoms
✔ Most importantly, do have fun and make lots of friends!

✘ Don’ts
✘ Do not leave your belongings unattended
✘ Do not litter: Singapore is a ‘Fine’ city!
✘ Do not jeer other teams or shout vulgarities
✘ Do not vandalise

26
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