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Singapore gets Youth Olympics
21/02/2008 16:35 - (SA)
Singapore - Thousands of Singaporeans cheered and waved the national flag on Thursday after they won the right to host the 2010 Youth Olympic Games.
The Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong called the result a "dream that will become reality".
Lee said: "We dared to dream; we worked hard to pursue our dream despite the odds and now the dream will become a reality."
Under a shower of confetti, dozens of students dressed in the Olympic colours danced on the steps of the City Hall following the IOC's announcement that was made in Switzerland and seen in Singapore via a live broadcast on two large screens.
Following the IOC's announcement, the crowd erupted in cheers as students leapt for joy and pumped their fists in the air.
In a postal ballot of IOC members, Singapore received 53 votes against 44 for rival candidate city Moscow.
The Southeast Asian city-state, unlikely ever to host a full-scale Olympic Games due to size restrictions, has already begun construction of a venue that will be used as an Olympic Village for the 2010 Youth Games.
The 5 000-bed university residence, costing about $423m and located within 30 minutes of all sports venues, will be completed in February 2010.
- AP
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