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Update from Youth Olympic Games (26/8/10)
Today is the last day of competition. At 4.30pm today everyone left the village in a long train of coaches to go to the Floating Marina in the City for the Closing Ceremony. Plenty of fireworks, lights and loud music. There was the hand over of the Olympic flag to the country holding the Games in four years time, which is China, and the flame was put out. The Youth Winter Games are being held in 2012 in Innsbruck. This first ever Youth Olympic Games have been a great success and thoroughly enjoyed by all who participated. Singapore have done a great job with over 20,000 volunteers helping out throughout the various facilities. They will be a hard act to follow. It is 12.30am now, after ceremony it was back to the village for something to eat and then back to accommodation. Not looking forward to my long flight home tomorrow (well we leave the village tomorrow for the airport but my flight doesn't go until 1.40am on Saturday). Should be a long tiring time. »
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Update from Youth Olympic Games (25/8/10)
Jenni says: "What a day! Breakfast at nine, then did some washing and at 11am went to meet the Malta CdM to travel by official car to the Team events at the Judo. Jeremy was representing Malta in the Belgrade Team. His team made it through to the finals, so I spent the afternoon shopping in the many excellent Malls in Singapore and then at 6pm made my way back to the International Conference Centre for the finals of the Judo teams. The finals were very exciting and Jeremy's team won through to the play off for gold and silver. Unfortunately they had to settle for silver in the end, but all the Malta team were 'over the moon'. They came to Singapore with just four athletes and were going home wtih a silver medal. Out we went for a celebration meal and then caught another official car back to the village.
Great day - wonderful to be part of a medal winning team - tomorrow its the Closing Ceremony - time has gone very quickly, it hardly seems possible that we are nearing the end of this fantastic Youth Olympic Games." » -
Update from Youth Olympic Games (24/08/10)
Jenni says: "Another early start and off to Sentosa Islands. An absolutely boiling hot day - very, very humid - too much really! We travelled to Sentosa Island via MRT - Singapore's very efficient railway system - and finally over to the island by monorail. The island itself is totally dedicated to fun and adventure. It is similar to Disney World but not yet finished, still a lot being built. There is a Universal Studios, an Aquarium, good beaches and lots more besides, but it was just too hot.
This evening I went to see a couple of ARMS (Athlete Role Models) - the two athletes on tonight are very famous indeed,: Sergy Bubka, Olympic Champion High Vault and Alex Popov, Olympic Champion 50m & 100m Free. There were lots of questions and their English was very good - a really interesting session. » -
Update from Youth Olympic Games (23/08/10)
Jenni says: "After breakfast went with the Maltese officials to finalise arranagements for leaving Singapore. Six and a half thousand people moved into the Youth Olympic Village over a period of 5 days, but now those same people will be leaving over 2 days. Should be fun!
After lunch went by taxi into the city (360 taxis are provided for the use of officials). We visited the new Marina Bay Sands Hotel which has a swimming pool on the roof. It took us 15 seconds to get from the first floor to the 57th floor to the Skypark. During our trip up here it started raining and then thunder and lightning - this meant the place was closed and we were asked to leave - although we did get our money back. It's a fantastic facility, it doesn't seem as if you are on the roof so high up - it's very luxurious - would love to have a swim in the pool, but only residents at the hotel are allowed to.
Tomorrow we're off to Senosa Island - will tell you all about it tomorrow." Read more » -
Update from Youth Olympic Games (22/08/10)
Jenni says: "Up early in the morning for our trip to Malaysia, that is John and Monica Sammut and myself. We travelled to Malacca, about four hours' journey from Singapore, plus all the excitement of the border crossings. This meant everyone off the bus for the Singapore border crossing, then back on the bus to the Malyasian border crossing and off the bus again to go through their customs. We had to go through the same on the way back, with thousands of other people doing a day trip to Malaysia. Malacca itself is so completely different from Singapore - let's say I'm glad that I visited it, but I won't be going again!" »