How costs of YOG tripled - Dr Vivian Balakrishnan

SINGAPORE - He broke Olympic protocol when he decided to sell extra tickets for some Youth Olympic Games (YOG) events. He was prepared to allow legitimate ticket holders to occupy seats reserved for games officials even without getting approval from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) first.

But, Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, was ready to take the risk to ensure that the Games venues were filled.

He told Parliament yesterday: "I broke rules and we have stepped on some toes. But I did it because I did not want to deprive Singaporeans of the opportunities to watch these Games."

He admitted that the estimated YOG bill of $387 million was "not cheap", but said spending on the MCYS programmes was not cut back. Extra funding was obtained from the Ministry of Finance.

On the legacy of the YOG on Singapore, Dr Balakrishnan said one of the key benefits was the international branding of the Republic. Future YOG flags will bear the Singapore 2010 logo.

Local businesses also benefited from the Games, with about 70 per cent of the budget awarded to local companies and another $46 million to overseas companies with local subsidiaries.

Ordinary Singaporeans would benefit from the upgraded or new sporting facilities.

"Our main focus now, now that the Games are over, has to be to make sure that the full benefits of organising and hosting these games for Singapore are reaped," he said. MORE