weekend today august 7 - 8, 2010 6 NEWS They couldn’t be more proud the eight flagbearers chosen come from diverse backgrounds and are inspirational role models neo ChaI ChIn and ng JIng yng nated Member of Parliament Eunice Olsen YOG dream in some way. classical musician, added that she has al- [email protected] and scientist Dr Tong Joo Chuan. All are win- “I wish I could turn back the clock ... to ways been proud of being a Singaporean SINGAPORE — Their job is to flash meg- ners of the Singapore Youth Award, the na- be at (the athletes’) age and have the abil- violinist and feels like she is flying the na- awatt smiles and to walk smartly with tion’s highest accolade for youths. ity to participate in a great event like the tion’s flag each time she performs. national flag in hand on the Marina Bay The eight will be “holding and parading YOG,” said the national junior badminton While the flagbearers have yet to at- floating platform at the Youth Olympic the Singapore Flag before the National An- player in the ’80s. tend rehearsals, they are ready to “put on Games opening ceremony. them”, decked in specially designed white a good show for the rest of the world”, as Six of the eight Singaporean flagbearers tracksuits with the national flag embla- The eight will be ‘holding and national sailor Koh, 26, put it. do not come from sports backgrounds; they zoned in front and the YOG logo at the back, parading the Singapore Flag He has been training and competing in were chosen for their achievements across said the NYC spokesperson. Europe for the past five weeks and has just diverse fields and for being “inspirational MediaCorp spoke to four flagbearers, all before the National Anthem. returned home. While in the small Belgian role models for young people”, a National bursting with pride at the “great honour”. town of Nieuwpoort two weeks ago, the Youth Council (NYC) spokesperson said. Ms Chong, 32, has been listening daily national youth Council (NYC) Olympian had to scramble for a measuring The eight — who were informed to the song they will be marching to, “so spokesperson tape to inform the YOG organisers of his about three weeks ago and whose identi- that I can get into the rhythm and gear body measurements. ties have been kept secret thus far — are myself up mentally”, said the Nanyang The Games are a step in the right direc- “There weren’t any tape measures in national athletes Koh Seng Leong and Polytechnic assistant manager. tion for Singapore to host “bigger and better the supermarket but, luckily, the landlord Valerie Teo, violinist Lee Huei Min, youth For Mr Ang, 37, whose wine company things”, he added. was a carpenter. I managed to borrow one leader Lina Chong Lin Lin, entrepreneurs has pasted YOG decals on its vans, the Ms Lee, 27, a keen table-tennis player, and got my coach to do the measurements,” Leonard Tan and Clinton Ang, former Nomi- opening ceremony allows him to live the said she was surprised to be picked. The he recounted. Bus services affected during YOG MY DreaM IS ... SINGAPORE — Nineteen SBS Transit bus additional train trips will be added to services will be affected by bus stop clo- the schedule of the North-East Line. sures while the operating hours of train For SBS Transit’s bus services, 17 services on the North East Line will be bus stops will be closed in phases on extended during the Youth Olympic the days of the preview and opening Games (YOG) Preview on Saturday and ceremony, from 9am to 2am of the fol- the Opening Ceremony on Aug 14. lowing day, due to road closures along Several of SMRT’s bus services will Raffles Avenue, Bayfront Avenue and also be affected during the YOG. Esplanade Drive. During the preview, the operating For SMRT, bus service numbers hours for the North East Line train serv- such as 75, 77, 106, 167, 171, 700A, 857, ices will be extended with the last North- 960 and 961 will be diverted at various bound train leaving Dhoby Ghaut station times on Aug 7, 14, 21, 22 and 26 due to at 12.20am, said SBS Transit. road closures in the Bras Basah-Marina However, there will be no change Bay-Shenton Way area. in operating hours for the last South- Meanwhile, on Monday, SBS Tran- bound train leaving Dhoby Ghaut Sta- sit will operate 48 more trips on the tion at 11.50pm. North East Line from noon, while SMRT a banner showing a dream that appeals to one’s sense of humour was spotted in the vicinity of the For the Sengkang and Punggol LRT, will add 165 train trips. Padang, where this year’s national day Parade will be held on Monday. tying in with this year’s ndP theme “Live our dreams, Flag our Flag”, banners and posters of 60 different slogans of dreams the last train will be timed to depart But some bus services are expected contributed by singaporeans were put up at various locations around the island. the organisers hope only when the last North-bound train to experience delays along the routes singaporeans can reflect upon the nation’s achievements within a short span of 45 years and be inspired arrives at the respective train stations. of the National Day Parade mobile col- to work towards their own dreams. Photo by OOI BOON KEONG During the Opening Ceremony, 72 umns. ¢ seCurIty boost In aug and sePt ¢ MoM Identifies 3 areas to FoCus on ‘Remember the past, be ready’ Security measures will be stepped up island- Raising the quality of the workforce. Leveraging SINGAPORE — Remember the success- Finance Minister Tharman Shan- wide in august and September. on the ageing workforce. Enabling progressive ful lessons of the past and be ready mugaratnam said: “We are a formidable a police spokesman said this is in view of workplace practices. to adapt to the challenges and oppor- team in Singapore when we come to- the high-profile events taking place such as These are the three key areas that need to be tunities of the future — that was the gether, regardless of race, language and National Day, the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) focused on to prepare the nation for the future, said message government leaders have for religion to pursue common objectives and the Formula One Grand Prix. Manpower Minister Gan Kim Yong at his ministry’s Singaporeans at various National Day for ourselves and our families.” Both the National Day Parade and the YOG National Day Observance Ceremony on Friday. observance ceremonies on Friday. Acting Minister for Commu- have been gazetted as a special event under To enable workers to acquire specialist skills Joining the staff at the Istana were nication, Information and the Arts the Public Order act. and competencies, the Ministry of Manpower President SR Nathan, Prime Minister Lui Tuck Yew looked back further, The public can expect to see high-visibil- (MOM) will work towards deepening the continu- Lee Hsien Loong and Senior Minister to the strides Singapore made since ity police patrols and checks at checkpoints, ing education and training system. Goh Chok Tong. “the ’50s and ’60s”. tourist and shopping belts, financial dis- On the ageing population, Mr Gan said with At the Treasury Building, Deputy Noting Singaporeans’ pride in the tricts, key installations and MRT trains and re-employment legislation coming into effect in Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean and country’s achievements — including stations. 2012, MOM has been reaching out to companies several ministers were joined by economic development — he said: “But access controls and security checks will to help them be re-employment ready. private sector representatives who we also need to ask ourselves if we also be implemented at the event venues. about 64 per cent of private firms have were asked to reflect on the lessons are as proud of Singapore in areas like The police urge everyone to remain vigi- implemented measures to let their employees from the recent downturn. kindness and graciousness?” lant during this period. continue working, he added. s RAMESH.