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Young Olympian Daily

2010 https://hdl.handle.net/10356/80190

Downloaded on 24 Sep 2021 10:45:10 SGT talk to us at facebook.com/youngolympiandaily THU Not just a WAKA WAKA The corrosive evil of twe e t OF THE DAY teacup storm sport I love the Village so much! Rowers fight bad weather The World Cultural What exactly was Mr Rogge Cause the Village is where 19 to clinch medals Village moves on to Africa talking about? everything comes together. :) AUG @chanrara 2010 3 6 7 Clara Chan, Student Reporter The official Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Village newspaper

A publication by the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information, NTU GA O Llop, TR T, TRIP AND TUMBLE Most riders at the Singapore Turf Club yesterday were still getting used to their horses

b y caNDice neo of her best performances. Alejandra received a total penalty of 8 points. questrians struggled to keep Two competitors also had to their mounts under rein compete with horses that had yesterday at the Jumping been changed just 24 hours before RoundE One team event. Many the competition. Chilean Alberto competitors also incurred penalties Schwalm’s previous mount, Teddy as their horses knocked down the Waffles, was injured while Italian fences during the jump. Valentina Isoardi’s Noblewood Kazakhstan’s Timur Patarov, 17, Cinzano was too strong for her to even fell off after his horse, Chatham handle. Park Rosie, tripped over a fence. He During the timed competition, was disqualified as a result. equestrians had to guide their horses There were 12 fences that each over obstacles of up to 1.2 metres in pair had to jump over. Knocking height. down one fence earned the rider a As jumps were attempted, the penalty of four points. audience as though in unison, For the first time in Olympic held their breaths. Unsuccessful history, riders competed on assigned jumps were met with groans of horses as the Games’ Organising disappointment while triumphs Committee felt that this would make received cheers and shouts of the competition as fair as possible. encouragement. Their horses were determined in a But the home crowd reserved draw on August 14. their biggest cheers for local athlete, Athletes had just over three 18-year-old Caroline Chew. As she days to train with the Australian rode Gatineau into the arena, the ABOVE: Marcelo Chirico of thoroughbreds, and many were still stands erupted with support. Uruguay heaves a sigh of trying to keep them under control While the Asian team is eight points out of medal contention, relief after completing his during the competition. “It was a rather difficult horse,” Chew believes that the competition jumping routine without said 17-year-old Nicola Philippaerts is still wide open. “It will be a true incurring any penalties. from Belgium. He chalked up a test of all the horses’ fitness as the In the stands, the South four-point penalty while riding on competition wears on.” American officials cheer Gippsland Girl. Europe, Australasia and Africa For others like Panamanian are currently tied in the lead with wildly. PHOTO: LAM YARN athlete Alejandra Ortiz, 17, the lack four penalties. LEFT: Patarov Timur of of chemistry between rider and The equestrians will have steed was to be expected, given the another practice session today before Kazakhstan falling off short practice time. the second round of the team event Chatham Park Rosie when “I think it was very good,” she on Friday. Individual competition attempting a jump. said, adding that this could be one begins next week. PHOTO: XINHUA/SYOGOC- POOL/ DUAN ZHUOLI

“It will be a true test of all the horses’ fitness as the

competition wears on.” — Caroline Chew, Singaporean Equestrian 2 YOV in numbers YOUNG OLYMPIAN DAILY column Remaking the Olympic spirit NEWS YOVoice Shout-outs and dedications by bhavan jaipragas IN NUMBERS

t is hard to put a finger on what the true Olympic spirit is. For many, modernI Olympics founder Pierre De Coubertin’s famous French saying underlines its essence: “L’important n’est pas de gagner, mais de participer” (The important TOS TEAM U A TOO CECILE W LLER (DENMARK) thing is not to win, but to take part). p hoto: internet For some, the true Olympic spirit is found Keep competing hard! We wish I support you and I wish you away from the podium and the medal winners. all the best to everyone... Go good luck to win a medal in the Instead, they look to athletes who showcase a 4 USA Volleyball! competition. great amount of selflessness and compassion for The number of times the Tiffany Morales and Crystal Graff, Hugo Descat, Handball, France fellow athletes as shining examples. United States has hosted the Volleyball, USA One such athlete immortalised in Games Summer Olympic Games. No folklore is the late Italian bobsledder Eugenio Monti, dubbed “The Flying Redhead” for his other country has hosted more successes on the Alpine slopes. In the 1964 Winter Summer Olympic Games. Olympics, Monti famously lent British bobsledders a bolt from his sled after they broke theirs. The British team went on to clinch the gold medal 80 while Monti’s team finished with a bronze. The maximum number of When criticised for his act, Monti said: “Nash seconds a national anthem didn’t win because I gave him the bolt. He won TO A AMERIC N SAMOA TOL ALL ATH ETES TOST CO A RICA can be played at the Games, because he had the fastest run”. ♥ For his act of selflessness, Monti was awarded according to Olympic rules. This I Singapore. TEAM Everyone has a talent, Give your best and the first ever Pierre de Coubertin medal, a medal WORK MAKES THE once you find it, go make Singapore has caused some countries to DREAM WORK! for it! remember Costa Rica! created to honour athletes who demonstrate the create a shortened version of spirit of sportsmanship in Olympic events. Manu Sualevai, Wrestling, Sultan Al Tooqi, Equestrian, Julian Godoy, Fencing, For our young athletes who have converged their national anthem. American Samoa Oman Costa Rica here in Singapore, there is no better time than now to walk in the footsteps of such Olympic heroes. Leave a message for someone on facebook.com/youngolympiandaily Never mind his act of sacrifice, Young Olympians PhotoS: GELLE SIA can start with small gestures. They all mean the 1928 same thing when done with the right intentions. The idea of an Olympic flame CHIEF EDITOR COPY EDITORS PRODUCTION SUPPORT Elizabeth Law Anjali Raguraman Ng Heng Ghee A pat on the back of a deserved champion, burning from the start of the Cassandra Yeap an offer of consolation to a defeated athlete, Games to the closing was PICTURE EDITOR Kwan Hui Xian TEACHER ADVISORS Ng Jun Sen Ng Hoe Guan Andrew Duffy befriending an athlete from a country at war with first introduced at the 1928 Santhiya Kulasakeran Juleen Shaw yours — these potentially can leave an eternal NIGHT EDITORS Wang Simin Amsterdam Games. Joanna Hor DESIGN CONSULTANT legacy in the same way Monti and his team have. Zakaria Zainal LAYOUT EDITORS Rishad Patel Perhaps, searching for a perfect Olympian who Maxie Aw Yeong embodies the true spirit of the Olympic Movement CHIEF LAYOUT EDITOR Nguyen Pham Hai An Neo Wen Tong Yamuna Yeo might be a futile effort. Nonetheless, with a YOG that has departed from the ‘Citius, Altius, Fortius’ 1936 A students’ newspaper published by the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information (Above) The Berlin Games in Nanyang Technological University, 31 Nanyang Link, Singapore 637718. Tel: 6790 6446 (Faster, Higher, Stronger) obsession of the senior Printed by KHL Printing Co. Pte Ltd., 57 Loyang Drive, Singapore 508968 1936 was the first Games to be Games, we might be in luck of witnessing special Editorials are the opinions of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the policies or views of the Singapore Youth Olympic Games and touching moments in the days to come. televised. Organising Committee or Nanyang Technological University, its employees, the students or the Council of the University.

facts of the world japan

A sport similar to football (also known as soccer in the United States and elsewhere) was R uSSIa played 3,000 years ago in Japan. The record for the most Olympic medals ever won is held by gymnast Larissa Latynina. She g rEEce competed in three Games, between 1956 Ilias Iliadis won and 1964, and won 18 Greece’s first-ever medals. gold medal in judo.

usa b sanglade h Volleyball was invented by Bangladesh William George competed in the 1984 Morgan of Holyoke, Summer Olympics Massachusetts in for the first time ever. 1895. YOUNG OLYMPIAN DAILY YOV 360 3 briefs Weightlifting Stormy day for rowers Multiple upsets define rowing finals at Marina Reservoir

BSDY CAS AN RA YEAP Pho to: SPH-SYOGOC/CHIA TI YAN ain pelted down, turning the waters of Marina Reservoir dark Winning the women’s over- grey and choppy. Just above, 63kg category yesterday was Rrowers’ fortunes were unfolding in a Russian Olga Zubova, one of manner as capricious as the waves they the lightest weightlifters in stroked through. the competition. She lifted a Surprises were at every turn for weight of 251kg, along with yesterday’s rowing finals. Thai weightlifter Chitchanok Lithuanian Rolandas Mascinskas Pulsabsakul. The latter had to produced the most major upset, settle for silver as she is heavier. upstaging two time junior world Competitors of the heaviest champion Felix Bach from Germany women’s category ranged from to claim the Junior Men’s Single Sculls Athletes row in the rain at the Junior men’s pair final.Pho to: XInhuA/SYOGOC-POOL/LIU JIE 69-119kg. Olga weighs 71kg. gold. He maintained a strong lead from the start, finishing a good 2.41 Merrill, one of the pair that beat Judith Sievers from Germany had a seconds ahead of second-placed Felix favourites , said staying near scare in her Single Sculls race. The China’s golden to incredulous cheers from Lithuanian focused on their performance and not Ukrainian and French rowers pulled fans. the other teams’ was key. away from her for the majority of the touch Head of Lithuania’s delegation “Because the race is so short, if we race. The distance was only made up China now has seven Algirdas Raslanas said Rolandas had our eyes on another boat we would in the last stretch, with Ukrainian swimming golds after winning was expected to win a medal due to fall behind. So we had our eyes in the Nataliia Kovalova coming in a mere two more golds yesterday. Tang his strong performance this season. boat the whole way and had a really 0.42 seconds behind her. Yi finished first in the women’s However, he noted the challenge that good start,” she said. The spirits of the raucous crowd at 200m freestyle category with Felix posed, saying it was “a very big “We focused on performance not the finals could not be dampened by a timing of 1:58.78. She was fight”. result. Results come if you have the the wet weather. Opening umbrellas 2.21 seconds ahead of Boglarka Said Rolandas at a press conference performance so it worked out really and donning ponchos, they cheered on Kapas from Hungary who later: “It feels good because I am the well.” their favourites. finished second. Liu Lan won champion.” The standard Olympic rowing Physical Education teacher Chia the women’s 50m fly with a The Pairs contest was no less distance of 2,000m has been halved for Taiyu, 29, said his favourite race was timing of 26.97s, finishing just dramatic. The winners of the Junior the Youth Olympic Games. the Women’s Single Sculls because of 0.09 seconds ahead of Elena di Women’s and Junior Men’s Coxless About the overcast conditions, the close finish. Liddos from Italy. Pair finals, Great Britain and Slovenia Georgia said in amusement: “The His young charges from Kent respectively, were both the fifth slowest weather was what England’s like every Ridge Secondary School were just as teams to qualify in the semi-finals. day, it’s standard.” enthusiastic, saying the Men’s Single Great Britain’s Georgia Howard- Even junior women world champion Sculls was their pick for race of the day. Double win for South Korea

South Korea added two gold T-30 minutes to… medals to their medal tally in the women - 63kg and the men - 73kg Taekwondo events 10.08am yesterday. Yesterday was also The sport of ladies and gentlemen the first day that both gold Noticed a row of medals in the Taekwondo boys in the stands events went to one single with shaved heads! country. In search of real How curious! prancing horses, Singapore’s first photojournalist silver medal Lam Yarn went 18-year-old Rainer Ng won to the Singapore Singapore’s first swimming Turf Club Riding medal after finishing second in the Boys’ 50m backstroke final School to catch yesterday evening. His timing of 26.45s was slower than his the elegant riders qualifying time of 26.37s. This of the equestrian will be the host country’s third medal of the YOG. team jumping event. Second food- 8.57am spectators! What if I pull posts the first clean sheet of related incident Lyo’s tail? Just kidding. the competition! He breaks Heading out from Kranji Last Sunday, 21 YOG MRT Station. I’m early! into a wide smile. 9.28am volunteers were struck with 9.08am 9.58am diarrhoea and abdominal The first rider, Mohamad pains. After investigation, the Alanzarouti of Syria, rides The crowds gasps as I am heading the wrong National Environment Agency Van Diemen into the arena. Kazakhstan’s Timur way! Making an about-turn has confirmed that hygiene The bell rings for him to Patarov falls from his steed! towards the riding school standards and procedures of in sweltering heat. start and kicks off the jumping competition. 10.56am the caterer to the venues are in 9.18am order. The volunteers, who are Last rider Marcelo Chirico based in East Coast Park and 9.44am of Uruguay also finishes his Lyo and Merly are at Singapore Indoor Stadium have Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs routine without penalties. the entrance greeting since fully recovered. 4 YOV people YOUNG OLYMPIAN DAILY Chat with a champion profile joseph ‘Joe’ ward boxing ireland

iddleweight boxer has been hailed by international media as the Mname to look out for in . Hailing from Ireland, Joe says: “I would say is the best opponent I have ever met, but I believe I am better.” He is the reigning Middleweight World Youth Champion, after triumphing over Damien, and is looking for his third major title at the Alexander Popov Games. Swimming “I want to win all the time. I have beaten many competitors before, Russian Federation including those who are here in YOV, so I am pretty confident in winning the Gold medal,” he says. The 16-year-old claims that being the only child, his boxing family was what influenced him to start training when he was eight. “All along I knew I wanted to be a boxer and even when I retire, I want to be a coach,” he says. Besides being committed to boxing, Ward also enjoys watching tennis and hockey. He trains seven days a week and visits the gym twice a day. He also studies his opponents on his laptop, hot contenders analysing their moves and taking note of their strengths and weaknesses. Although afraid of water His motivation is to make Ireland In May, both boxers competed at the International Boxing proud. “I gain respect from people Association’s World Youth Championships, and Joe beat when young, Alexander around me. The benefits of being an Popov took on swimming athlete is so great and so I always Damien 6-1 to clinch first place. They may face off once encourage my friends to get into sports competitively and went on so as to stay out from trouble like again on August 21 when boxing preliminaries start to break records. He held the drinking and drugs,” he says. by yu shasha and daphne lim 50m freestyle world record for almost a decade until it was broken in 2008. 8 The age Popov began swimming at the Children and Youth Sports School of Fakel Sports Complex in Lesnoy. damien hooper 21 The number of gold medals Popov won in boxing the European Swimming Championships australia from 1991 to 2004.

2000 The year Popov set the long course men’s 50m freestyle world record with 21.64s.

“If you have a chance, you should use it and take it now. Don’t wait for the future, it might never happen.” ­— Alexander Popov on seizing opportunities

photos: internet photo: Lam yarn YOUNG OLYMPIAN DAILY YOV people 5 team profile football, haiti

Undaunted by obstacles encountered, the Haiti football team is all set for YOG. P hoto: LAI JUNJIE Of football and laughter

BYN LAI JU JIE brings them happiness — that the national football football. It is through this academy in Port-au-Prince photo: ivan tan nter into the presence very sport that the Haitians was upgraded, giving the of the Haiti Boys have managed to regain the boys a venue to train and eat Football team and you smiles on their faces. together. The YOG will be the willE greeted by the sound of “Football is a part of first official competition that boisterous laughter. the culture in Haiti,” said the team will take part in. The boys are gathered Jean Roosevelt Ducasse, “We want to show all the around each other playing 35, one of the assistant teams and other countries football on the video game coaches. “Wherever you that Haiti plays football with consoles in the Youth see people playing football good technical knowledge hot contenders Olympic Village. Occasional in Haiti, everybody will be like the Brazil team,” Mr slaps on each other’s watching. Sometimes music Ducasse declared. “We want back punctuate the noisy accompanies the whole to show what Haiti is.” In May, both boxers competed at the International Boxing atmosphere. game using Haitian musical Besides enjoying the Association’s World Youth Championships, and Joe beat It is hard to believe that instruments.” game, the boys simply want this very upbeat group The Haitian Boys’ Football to play good football. Or Damien 6-1 to clinch first place. They may face off once comes from the nation which team have had a tough time as Mr Ducasse puts it: “We was hit by a 7.0 magnitude even before their first match want to play very beautiful again on August 21 when boxing preliminaries start earthquake merely eight at the YOG. The team was football.” months ago. formed only three months In Haiti’s opening game The widespread ago, and due to problems against Bolivia on August 16 devastation may have taken caused by the earthquake, at the Jalan Besar Stadium, Despite losing the title of World Youth life as they knew it from the it was difficult to organise the team was beaten 9-0. Middleweight Champion to Joe Ward of Haitian people, but it has them. It was with the help of Their second match against Ireland, Damien Hooper has high respect for not taken the one thing that the FIFA Goal Programme Vanuatu is on today. his competitor. Touted as Australia’s rising star in boxing, 18-year-old Damien is a strong contender for athlete DNA the Men’s Middleweight (75 kg) category. Prepared to put up a good fight, he is confident of his chances of winning a medal. mostafa sadek Growing up in , he was first introduced to the sport by his uncle and older cousin — both boxers. Damien attributes his handball success to a second chance offered to him. “I was hanging around with some egypt mischievous teenagers and met Chris, a policeman who took me under his wing.” Chris Seng was a former national amateur boxing champion who now acts as Damien’s coach, role model and friend. Within three years of competitive boxing, Damien managed secure several titles under his belt. He clinched the silver medal in the Middle Weight Category at the Youth World Championship 2010, the highest Australian achievement ever. Beneath his cool demeanour, Damien displays a soft spot for his family through the tattoos on his body. Tattooed on his right arm and neck is a tribute to his grandmother and his aboriginal culture. Through boxing, Damien hopes to be an inspiration to indigenous children in Australia. He believes it is important to give youths a chance to prove themselves and not give up on them. Damien will be competing at the October 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, and has also set his sights on the 2012 Olympic Games in London. 6 YOV leisure YOUNG OLYMPIAN DAILY the art of sports

By Candice neo

hroughout centuries, there has been a close correlation between sports and the arts. Like the arts, sports bring people together Tin a universal appreciation; both bind the heartstrings of people from all over the world, as they cheer for a common goal despite cultural differences. Sports-related arts not only brings out the emotions behind sporting moments, but is also symbolic of the unifying sporting spirit. Now at the heart of the Youth Olympic Village, the arts is the platform that highlights the values of YOG. Croatian swimmers Ivan Capan (left), 18, and Ivan Biondic, 17, visit the Olympic Gallery in the Youth Olympic Village for At the Olympic Gallery, electronic screens the first time. Photo: WANG SIMIN feature photographs of athletes at their trainings, competitions and around the village. “This can be shown as memories for athletes,” said Mah Another sculpture, ‘Breathe’, is a kinetic At the World Culture Village in the YOV, Rui Qin, 17, a Photoscape Archiving Assistant. artwork that captures wind by day, converting athletes have fun at the booths, where they learn “Arts paint out a picture of sports, and both this energy to tiny lights at night. It serves as a about cultures from around the world. At the need enthusiasm,” she added. reminder of the importance of protecting our Moldova booth, Lucky Nelela and Mncendisi The Cultural Education Programme (CEP) environment and keeping ‘green’. Gumede from Zimbabwe’s football team feel is a fusion of different forms and aspects of the The performing arts too highlight the YOG being at the village is an interesting experience. arts, involving cultural performances, evening spirit. The Chinese dance troupe from Bedok “We have never seen some of these games festivals, exhibits and games at the World South Secondary expresses the importance of before,” Lucky said. Culture Village, exhibits of the Olympics history unity through its dance performed at various Booth volunteers Nigel Kun and Darren Low, at the Gallery and many others. YOG events. It fuses together Indian, Malay, both 14, feel arts and sports highlight the equality The YOG sculptures at Marina Bay Chinese and contemporary elements, underlining of people from all over the world. “It is also Promenade also promote the universality of Singapore’s multiracial community. important for the athletes to know more about sports. ‘A World United’ depicts sportsmen Team leader Abigail Hwan, 16, also feels dance one another’s culture and beliefs,” Darren said. engaging in the 26 sports of YOG in a circular and sports are similar in some ways. “The athletes will also respect the different shape, symbolising the unifying spirit of peace “They are both physically demanding and cultures as they learn about them,” added and sports. require a lot of teamwork,” she said. Melissa Iype, a volunteer at the Slovakia booth.

It’s time for Africa By Sharifah Fadhilah Zambia. These Malay dancers learnt Alshahab the dance from Miss World Africa and NUR AsYIQIN and have been training for nearly a month. tep into the World Culture “It’s very different because you Village and a traditional use a lot of energy. The movements African cheer greets you. are very sharp,” said Nadiah, who is S“Jambo! Hakuna matata!” used to the gentle swaying motions students chant, as they thump on of Malay dance. drums, shake their maracas and Research combined with actual clap their tambourines. experiences related by their African Jambo is a greeting in the friends provided volunteers with a Swahili language, a loud “Hello!” better understanding of the country to welcome visitors to the Kenyan they were twinned with. booth. Kenyan officials explained In the Togo booth not too far the meaning of the Kenyan song to away, Togoan official Kokou Nagbla Nan Chiau High School students conducted an impromptu lesson on manning the booth. Ewe, one of the languages spoken in Clad in tribal garb, students from Bedok West Primary dance outside the Burundi booth The Village Square has been his country. The student volunteers at the Village Square. Photo: sharifah fadhilah buzzing with music, dance and art attempted to mimic him, stumbling — the lifeblood of African culture. over the pronunciation. Everywhere, children in ethnic Mr Nagbla speaks five languages: costumes add colour to the already German, English, French, Kabiyé vibrant culture. and Ewe. While Kabiyé is primarily Jambo Bedok West Primary School spoken in the North of Togo, he A greeting in Swahili, it means “Hello!” students wrapped in tribal cloths explained that Ewe is largely used attracted crowds as they danced to in the South. “Waka Waka”, the South African Other African representatives Angolans were happy to share respective countries. FIFA World Cup anthem. also dropped by their country’s more about their experiences and Student Hui Ting Siew worked They waved cardboard spears booths to share about their culture customs with all vistors coming to on a painting of Vanda Miss and did cartwheels, drawing loud with the Singaporean students. their booth. Joaquim, Singapore’s national whistles from the audience. Traditional pieces of art such “Most of the artefacts are of flower, for over a month. The Across the square, a group of as sand paintings and sculptures women. In Angola, men respect painting was presented to Mr Boon Lay Secondary School girls donated by the Angolan embassy women a lot and portray that in Diagne who, in exchange, donated entertained the crowd with an were on display in the Angolan the form of art,” said 15-year-old four ethnic woodcarvings from energetic traditional dance from booth. Lucretia Lucias Jeraled. Senegal. These artefacts will be displayed Although the Africa theme of in the school after the exhibition. the World Culture Village will end “Most of the artefacts are of women. In Angola, Senegal Chef de Mission today, Africa’s lively culture will men respect women a lot and potray that in the Seydina Omar Diagne and its continue to beat in our minds, like twinned school, Hua Yi Secondary, the lingering sound of traditional form of art.” exchanged gifts significant to their drums. - Lucretia Lucias Jeraled, 15, sharing about Angolan artefacts in the booth YOUNG OLYMPIAN DAILY feature 7 “THE CORROSIVE EVIL OF SPORT”

South African weightlifter Ramela Phello John having a go at the “Play True Challenge” game at the WADA Play True Generation Center. Photo: SHAWN SEE

undergo a doping test after his 400m recruited by the IOC, and Jasper Doping centre in Village Square to educate freestyle heats at the Singapore Blades is one of several international Sports School. officers who was specially flown to young Olympians on the perils of doping in Doping is strictly prohibited Singapore to perform the doping sport today during the course of the Youth tests. Along with a band of locally Olympic games and measures trained officers, they form the have been undertaken by the backbone to ensure the clean status By shawn see educate the youths through this International Olympic Committee of the athletes. “It is imperative that interactive and fun game. (IOC) to ensure that all athletes are there are anti-doping measures in o educate budding athletes on It is a computer simulation clean. place and it is a requirement that the the perils of doping, the World where participants have to alternate “The fight against doping athletes are to be tested,” said Mr Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) between a sport based video game has always been my number one Blades, who hails from Barbados. Thas set up a centre in the Village and make life decisions that affects priority and we have shown that Echoing the importance of Square at the heart of the Youth the ability of their character in the we mean business in the traditional anti-doping and fair play, French Olympic Village. video game. Olympic Games, both winter and boxer Tony Yoka, 18, said: “Doping The agency is advocating its “The game was really interesting summer,” said President of the IOC is a very bad thing for sports. I’m Play True Generation Programme, and educational,” said Turkish Jacques Rogge, who labelled doping concerned because I lost in the finals an initiative that provides young swimmer Bertug Coskun, who as a “corrosive evil of sport”. at the recent AIBA Youth World athletes with a platform to coincidentally was the first athlete to Many doping officers have been Championships 2010 to (Croatia’s demonstrate their commitment to Filip Hrgovic) who was alleged to the ideals of fair play and to learn have taken performance enhancing more about doping-free sport. drugs.” “The Play True Generation “The fight against doping has always been my Australian hurdler Nicholas Programme will be a unique number one priority and we have shown that we Hough felt that it is very important experience for WADA and the to say no to doping. “It is good to young athletes attending these mean business in the traditional Olympic Games, keep sports clean. If doping was Games,” said WADA Director both winter and summer.” allowed, it will only be a matter of General, David Howman. - Jacques Rogge, President of IOC who has the best chemist available,” WADA hopes to reach out to and he said.

M esarion Jon Bnse John on Michl el e Smith Hall of shame: Once the female darling of Canadian sprinting sensation Triple Olympic gold medalist Athletes who American athletes, Marion Jones Ben Johnson’s reputation took a Irish swimmer Michelle Smith’s was a talented sprinter and long huge nose dive in 1988 despite success in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics competed, cheated jumper who won 3 gold and 2 beating his own world record en in which she also won a bronze bronze medals at the 2000 route to his Olympic Gold in the medal was shrouded in controversy and eventually lost Olympics. After she confessed to 100m sprint. He was caught doping as she was accused of doping. taking performance enhancing and subsequently admitted to have Although she was not officially drugs in October 2008, the medals taken steroids. In the end, he was charged, Smith received a four-year were stripped from her and she disqualified and his world record ban in 1998 after being found guilty faced charges. was revoked. of tampering with her urine sample. 8 photo feature YOUNG OLYMPIAN DAILY A nation of cheers

For millions, the Olympic Games is a television programme. Beyond the glass of the camera lens lies the eyes of men and women, waiting for that moment of victory. Yet in many ways, the critical player is that man amidst the rows of spectator stands. A dose of patriotism is an energy boost; a chorus of it becomes a force to behold. Some days, win or loss matters little when you know, behind you, a nation of cheers await.

Families of the New Zealand girls’ hockey team roar in triumph as the team seals the match with a decisive goal in the final three minutes. photo: IVAN TAN

A Turkish fan dances and waves her flag moments after her home team TOP: Irish fans cheer on the hockey girls after they equalise with New Zealand in a stiff first scores in the half. photo: IVAN TAN women’s soccer ABOVE: Young ambassador Kwanieze John and athletes of Trinidad and Tobago getting ready match against for the women’s soccer match against Chile. photo: EUNICE CHAN Iran. photo: EUNICE CHAN