Friday, July 2, 2010

Special Olympics champ to bear YOG torch

TODAY FRIDAY JULY 2, 2010, PAGE A2, HOME
From
http://myepaper.mypaper.sg/ebook/web_php/fvbrowserjs.php?urljs=http://myepaper.mypaper.sg/ecreator/sphopf/mya020710cnd_opf_files/mya020710cnd.js&ver=Gen
By
PAMELA CHOW, pamelac@sph.com.sg



PHOTO: WINNER: Ms Cheng Siew Peng beat joint pain to pursue her passion for running.
(PHOTO: SPECIAL OLYMPICS SINGAPORE)

TODAY FRIDAY JULY 2, 2010, PAGE A2, HOME



Though Ms Cheng Siew Peng was born with joint laxity in her right knee, which can cause great pain when she moves, due to loose joints, the rare syndrome did not stop her from pursuing her great love of running.

At the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Shanghai, China, the 21-year old took home one gold and two silver medals.

Next month, she runs again in Singapore as a relay torch bearer for the Youth Olympic Games (YOG).

I’ll get my whole family to watch the relay on television,” added Ms Cheng, who will be running an as-yet-undetermined leg of between 100m and 200m. She is one of 2,400 torchbearers chosen either by the YOG organising committee or via balloting to carry the Youth Olympic Flame Torch in a six-day relay around Singapore.

The YOG Olympic flame will be lit in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on July 23. The aluminium torch, 60cm tall and weighing 1kg, will then travel to one city in each of the five continents, before reaching here on Aug 6.

Its arrival will be marked by games and music-and-dance performances at the National University of Singapore.

Tantalisingly, it was yesterday revealed that the route the torch bearers will trace as they weave around Singapore will mimic a certain shape.

Mr Teo Ser Luck, the Senior Parliamentary Secretary at the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports, said that the detailed route will be revealed soon.

An array of events, from carnivals to cheer leading acts, will cap the end of each day of the relay.

The public will witness the lighting of a community cauldron with the Flame, which will then be passed to the next day’s relay starting point by a safety lantern.

During the relay, presenting partner Coca-Cola will give out cheering kits and ice-cold beverages to torch bearers and spectators.

The completion of the relay will kick off a grand celebration at Marina Bay Promenade on Aug 13 before the Games begin the next day. But, in a way, the celebrations have already begun.

Yesterday, pupils from five primary schools in the South 7 School Cluster ran a mini torch relay, visiting each school in an event meant to enthuse students about the YOG and promote the Olympic values of excellence, respect and friendship.
By PAMELA CHOW, pamelac@sph.com.sg

TORCH STOPS
  • Aug 6: Torch arrives at National University of Singapore, where a welcome celebration will be held.
  • Aug 7: Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus Toa Payoh, Raffles Institution, Nanyang Polytechnic
  • Aug 8: St Andrew’s Village, St Patrick’s School, Institute of Technical Education (ITE) College East
  • Aug 9: Break for National Day
  • Aug 10: Greendale Secondary School, Serangoon Junior College (JC), Meridian JC, Temasek Polytechnic
  • Aug 11: Hwa Chong Institution, West Spring Secondary School, ITE College Central (Yishun Campus), Republic Polytechnic
  • Aug 12: Safti Military Institute, ITE College West, Unity Secondary School, Singapore Polytechnic
  • Aug 13: Nanyang Girls’ High; Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee Headquarters; Marina Bay Promenade, where a final celebration will be held.


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