The 1st Youth Olympic Games, Singapore 2010 Commemorative Postage Stamp August 14, 2010

Abrief history of the 1^st Youth Olympic Games is described as under:-

1. The 1^st Youth Olympic Games, Singapore is a new venture of the OIC initiated to involve youth of the world to compete at Olympic level. This is a unique character of these Games that the Youth who were previously deprived of their participation at higher level have been provided good opening to show their prowess and skills in the arena of sports at world level.

2. The city of Singapore will host the 1^st Youth Olympic Games from 14 to 26 August, 2010. Around 3600 Athletes will compete in Twenty Six (26) Sports comprising 201 events. The sports in the programme are identical to the “London 2012 Olympic Games”. The events, however, differ significantly from the Olympic Games in order to match the age groups and interests of the young Athletes. Depending on the sports/disciplines they complete in and their gender, athletes participating in the Youth Olympic Games sports competitions must be 15,16,17 or 18 years old on the 31^st December in the year of Youth Olympic Games.

3. The qualification system for each sport and discipline, which was prepared in close collaboration with each international Federation, strives to guarantee participation of the best Athletes in their age category and to respect the principle of universality. The participation of all 205 National Olympic Committees is the key factor in ensuring the universality of the Youth Olympic Games. In each individual sport, a specific number of places for National Olympic Committees (rererred to as “Universality places”) will be reserved to ensure that at least four Athletes per National Olympic Committee have the possibility to participation in the Youth games, Singapore.

4. So far Pakistan Hockey Team has qualified for participation in the Youth Olympic Games Singapore. For four universality places One Swimmer has qualified whereas the cases of three others of Judo, Taekwondo and Weightlifting are under process with the respective International Federations. Apart from this, some of the Federations like Boxing and Wrestling are competing in the qualification tournaments and if any of the Athletes qualify he will become part of the Pakistan Contingent.

5. Singapore, 2010 comprises individual and unique characters that signify harmony among the diverse participants. With the passion of fame referenced as the dot of “I” it showcases the spirit of Youth and the unmistakable colour and energy of Singapore, even when used alone. Taking cues from the painterly nature suggested in the icon, the lettering of Youth Olympic Games is casual and characterful, adding attitude to the overall emblem.

6. The symbol represents the flame of passion, the star of champions and the crescent of tomorrow.

To commemorate the 1^st Youth Olympic Games, Singapore 2010, Pakistan Post is issuing a Commemorative Postage Stamp of Rs.8/- denomination on 14, August 2010.