Expect the unexpected? An evaluation of the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games

Abstract

The Youth Olympic Games (YOG) was an initiative launched by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 2007 with adapted sports targeting young people between the ages of 14 and 18. Singapore was selected as the first host city for the Summer YOG in February 2008, with the inaugural event taking place from 14 to 26 August 2010. Through the YOG, the IOC aims to create an event for young people to participate in sport, to learn about Olympic education and to share experiences with their peers. To this end, a unique feature of the YOG is the inclusion of an extensive Culture and Education Programme (CEP) to introduce young people to Olympism and Olympic values of respect, excellence and friendship, alongside the sports element of the event. The decision to de-emphasise the competitive aspect of sport and to encompass a cultural- and educational-based component at the Games invited criticism from various corners of the Olympic Movement. This paper provides an overview of the YOG and its CEP. With the inaugural YOG brought to a close, the Games was declared a success ‘beyond expectation’ by the IOC President. This paper critically analyses the promises of the YOG CEP, focusing on the extent to which the CEP has met its intended goals. The evaluation offers possible implications for development of the CEP for future editions of the YOG.