The Youth Olympic Games!

Hello! Singapore is the host for the world's first youth olympic games! Well, I was quite excited when I found out we would be missing lessons to cheer the torch runners. Of course, it was not just because I could miss lessons, but because I wanted to feel the atmosphere and the enthusiasm of us, Singaporeans, towards such a big event.

I often come upon forums that talk about the Youth Olympic games. To my utmost horror, many of the posts were by Singaporeans, complaining that they get no benefits and whatsoever from this event, and that the government is not helping them! I definitely beg to differ. The government has done so much for us, letting us have a green country to live in, a stable and strong economy and so much more! Anyway, getting back to the topic, I feel that the Youth Olympic Games does benefit Singapore in many ways. Not only does it attract tourists to come to Singapore, which would affect the economic growth of Singapore, but also let Singapore be known as the first country who hosted the Youth Olympic Games.

Okay, now I'll talk about the Torch Runners coming into Hwa Chong. I waited impatiently, anticipating a strong, muscular youth with the torch held high in his hands, running with pride. However, after hours of waiting, sadly, the result was absolutely anti-climatic. Yes, there was a muscular, strong teenager. He was holding the torch. But, the torch was not even lit! Instead, a man in his 40s or 50s was walking with something which somewhat looked like a lantern, which was lit. It was so anti-climatic that most of the Sec 1s and Sec 2s around me didn't know if that was the moment we should cheer and clap.

Overall, I felt that the moment that we had been anticipating was a big disappointment and letdown. We wasted around 1 and a half hours of curriculum, just to see a middle-aged man carry a "lantern" for around 10 seconds. To be honest, I would rather spend that 1 and a half hours learning something new and interesting.

All the student's excitement, anticipation was only to be responded with this. After talking to several friends about this extreme letdown, the most common comment of wall was that is was Anti-Climatic. Sadly, however much I like the Youth Olympic Games, I would have to agree.

Well, that's what I felt. Even though it was anti-climatic, it would definitely be something worth remembering. 20 years from now, I would be one of the many students of Hwa Chong that witnessed the first Youth Olympic torch, and would also be one of the many students who felt that this incident was such a disappointment.