Asian Youth Games torch relay kicks off

By Patwant Singh, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 28 June 2009 1536 hrs

Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong receives the torch to start the torch relay at the Asian Youth Games

SINGAPORE: The Asian Youth Games (AYG) torch relay kicked off Sunday morning with the Community and Corporate Leg.

Held over two days, day one of the relay saw the torch travel through three different routes covering five districts across Singapore.

The flame lighting ceremony was held early Sunday at the Kallang Waterfront.

Deputy Prime Minister and President of the Singapore National Olympic Council, Teo Chee Hean, was at the event.

The flame then fanned out across the island in buses to arrive at the start of the three routes, named after the Olympic values of Friendship, Excellence and Respect.

At Yio Chu Kang stadium, Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong had the honour of being the first torch bearer to start the relay.

Singapore's Minister for Manpower Gan Kim Yong runs with the torch during the torch relay at the Asian Youth Games

Over at the Republic Polytechnic in the north of Singapore, other Ministers and VIPs also took part in the historic run.

Zainudin Nordin, torch bearer and Mayor of the North District: "We want to celebrate us organising the AYG, at the same to understand that sports is a really wonderful platform for us to get to know each other and for us to bond with the people together."

Shoppers and tourists caught a sight of the torch as it was carried along Orchard Road.

A total of 70 torchbearers were involved in day one of the relay.

The final torch bearer for the day was Sports Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, who ran from Marina Square to the Games Village at Swissotel the Stamford.

The torch relay will resume on Monday for the Schools leg, with the flame travelling to 45 schools around Singapore, where over a hundred runners will have the honour of carrying the torch.

The relay will end at the Indoor Stadium where three athletes will run in with the torches and light the cauldron as part of the Opening Ceremony celebrations.

- CNA/yb

From ChannelNewsAsia.com; see the source article here.

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