About 3,600 athletes aged 14-18 will start in the inaugural Youth Olympics competition, that on Saturday. Indonesia will be represented by the nation's young athletes competing against their peers from around the world.
But the Youth Olympics are sporting not only to the 26 contests. A simultaneous cultural and educational program is designed to inform the participants about the Olympic values and global issues.
The concept is the idea of the International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge, who has championed the idea since 2001, when he for the first time in his position.
The present 14 to 26 August will strive as a springboard for young athletes to participate in future Olympics, but also include encouraging youth sport and spend less time in front of computers and monitors.
"The message of the Youth Olympic Games is clear: This is not only competitive, but to learn and exchange experiences," Rogge said recently.
"Above all, we want to have these young people, a wonderful time at the Singapore games to have an Olympic experience that moves with them to share with them and with their friends around the world."
It is important that our young athletes to participate in such competitions in order to learn the spirit of sportsmanship and strive for excellence.
Sports provide an ideal platform for young people to imbibe these values and represent the dream of one day their country at the Olympic Games.
Indonesia has 14 young athletes in the Youth Olympics in seven sports. Badminton and weightlifting present the best hope for a medal, and of course we are pressing all the success.
But for these athletes to compete on a level with other nations, we must first give them a chance.
Unfortunately, sport is not a high priority for the government and Indonesia lacks sports facilities, quality coaches and well-defined training programs.
It takes detailed planning and substantial investment in our youth to develop Olympic champion. Indonesia, the talent pool in view of its considerable population, but we do not have the ability, that talent and groom young athletes from an early age to be determined.
Often promising athletes were left to their own resources, or a generous private sponsors to pay for the training and other costs.
Indonesia is now considered an emerging economy, but lagging the country in international sporting events.
Sport, in accordance with art and culture helps to lift the image of a country and its influence on the international stage and are therefore worth the investment.
We hope the government starts its attention on developing young athletes by investing in sports facilities and training programs.
Only then will the nation with a long line of Olympic champions and a litany of our own sports legends will be rewarded.
The concept is the idea of the International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge, who has championed the idea since 2001, when he for the first time in his position.
The present 14 to 26 August will strive as a springboard for young athletes to participate in future Olympics, but also include encouraging youth sport and spend less time in front of computers and monitors.
"The message of the Youth Olympic Games is clear: This is not only competitive, but to learn and exchange experiences," Rogge said recently.
"Above all, we want to have these young people, a wonderful time at the Singapore games to have an Olympic experience that moves with them to share with them and with their friends around the world."
It is important that our young athletes to participate in such competitions in order to learn the spirit of sportsmanship and strive for excellence.
Sports provide an ideal platform for young people to imbibe these values and represent the dream of one day their country at the Olympic Games.
Indonesia has 14 young athletes in the Youth Olympics in seven sports. Badminton and weightlifting present the best hope for a medal, and of course we are pressing all the success.
But for these athletes to compete on a level with other nations, we must first give them a chance.
Unfortunately, sport is not a high priority for the government and Indonesia lacks sports facilities, quality coaches and well-defined training programs.
It takes detailed planning and substantial investment in our youth to develop Olympic champion. Indonesia, the talent pool in view of its considerable population, but we do not have the ability, that talent and groom young athletes from an early age to be determined.
Often promising athletes were left to their own resources, or a generous private sponsors to pay for the training and other costs.
Indonesia is now considered an emerging economy, but lagging the country in international sporting events.
Sport, in accordance with art and culture helps to lift the image of a country and its influence on the international stage and are therefore worth the investment.
We hope the government starts its attention on developing young athletes by investing in sports facilities and training programs.
Only then will the nation with a long line of Olympic champions and a litany of our own sports legends will be rewarded.
