YOUTH OLYMPIC GAMES- inspire admiration for your character by IOC president

Youth Olympic Games


GRAMMAR

Aug 15, 2010, STRAITS TIMES

'Inspire admiration for your character'

IOC president tells young athletes to strive to be role models for others

By Leonard Lim

Cheering along with the spectators were (from left) IOC president Jacques Rogge, President S R Nathan, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, at the start of the opening ceremony of the Youth Olympic Games last night. --PHOTO: SPH-SYOGOC/BRYAN VAN DER BEEK

GRAMMAR

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the given word.

The world's future sporting heroes 1. _________(issue) a challenge last night: to win with character.

International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge's speech to mark the 2. ________(open) of the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) was not the usual spiel about 3. _________(breach) personal barriers and setting records, but about striving for a more noble ideal.

It was in line with the Belgian's vision for 4. ________(institute) the YOG, an idea he 5. _________(moot) back in 2001.

The former sailor said of the YOG in his speech: 'You will learn the difference between 6. _________(win) and being a champion.

'To win, you merely 7. ________(be+ to +cross ) the finish line first.'

But it entails more to be a role model, and the 3,600 athletes 8. ___________(be+only+look) to look over their shoulders for a glimpse of some in the audience. Pole-vaulting legends Sergey Bubka and Yelena Isinbayeva were among the sporting celebrities present.

Dr Rogge could well 9. ____________(be+describe) the multiple Olympic medallists when he said: 'To be a champion, you have to inspire admiration for your character, as well as for your physical talent.

'You have 10. __________(to+ compete) in the spirit of fair play, respecting your opponents and the rules, without doping or any other unfair advantage.

'If you can reach that pinnacle, if you are ready to serve as role models for your generation, then you will all be champions irrespective of your rankings.'

The YOG, which caters to athletes aged between 14 and 18, aims to prepare them for the future, he said.

It includes a simultaneous culture and education component alongside the sports programme, where the athletes come together for workshops and forums on issues such as sportsmanship and the danger of using drugs.

'The experience here 11. ________(be+help) prepare you for life beyond the field of play,' DrRogge said.

Organisers hope the interaction among athletes from the 204 National Olympic Committees - possibly the highest number at any IOC events in recent history - through the workshops 12. _________(be+ lay) the foundation for better understanding among different cultures.

It was a topic 13. __________(broach) by the Games' organising committee chairman and IOC vice-president Ng Ser Miang as well, in his speech just before Dr Rogge's.

Mr Ng hoped the athletes 14. _________(be+ bring) home more than just their medals and memories of Singapore.

'We hope they will build strong and abiding bonds of friendship, and learn that the power of sports and the ideals of Olympic values can help us build a more united and peaceful world,' he said.

Fittingly, more than 100 white balloons shaped like doves - a symbol of peace - were released into the air by performers in an item which had ended minutes before.

The parallels were not lost on Brazilian rower Tiago Braga.

The 18-year-old said with a smile: 'I'm hoping that through the Youth Olympics, with so many young athletes 15. ________(come) together, that all countries in the world will be unified



ANSWERS

GRAMMAR

1. were issued 2. opening 3. beaching 4. Instituting 5. had mooted 6. Winning 7. Have to cross 8. had only to look 9. have been describing 10. to compete 11 will help 12 will lay 13 broached 14 would bring 15 coming