Singapore launches first Youth Olympic Games with a style and enthusiasm that London will find hard to match

You have never seen such pride and enthusiasm as Singapore have shown for the first Youth Olympic Games which started this week. The opening ceremony was breathtaking and stunning. It was set across Marina Bay with the spectacular business district buildings as a backdrop and using the award winning water stage as a spectacular reflective setting along with more creative use of containers more often seen in the famous Singapore port itself as a stage. The whole country has been gripped with excitement and are extremely proud that Singapore should be the first to hold these games. It is the ultimate brand endorsement that the Olympics have endorsed Singapore’s legitimacy.
There are of course fireworks every night to celebrate the Olympics, they love celebrating with fireworks here! Along with Singapore flags, fireworks must be the most bought item in Singapore! But they use them creatively and in appropriate ways interspersing hours of ceremony which itself was enthralling and dynamic and which made your spine tingle.
It is entirely appropriate that the inaugural Youth Olympic Games chose Singapore. They are one of the world’s youngest nations and one of the fastest growing economies in the world. They also have youth at their heart and youth is so much more a part of accepted society here. They embrace youth like most countries like the UK seem to fear and stigmatise youth. They are such a youthful nation that the honour of having the Olympic Games was seen as a great endorsement of their youthful policy towards life. London will find it very difficult to do half the things well that Singapore are doing for these Youth Games. From transport to infrastructure Singapore has got the Olympics just right but they also have on a more emotional level. Will people on London feel the pride and passion that people in Singapore feel?