A towering flame was lit in the heart of Singapore Saturday, signaling the start of the inaugural Youth Olympics. IOC President Jacque Rogge said the event would inspire young people around the world to take up sport but also teach them the importance of fair play, team work and living healthy lives. A jubilant crowd of 27,000 packed a stadium overlooking Singapore's Marina Bay to cheer on the 3,600 athletes from 204 countries as they made their way across a huge outdoor stage. The two-and-a-half hour ceremony was filled with fireworks, towering puppets and colorful dance performances that emphasized the youthful theme of the games while showcasing Singapore's transformation from a dreary trading port to a modern metropolis. “Tonight we open a new chapter in the history of the Olympic movement,” Rogge told the crowd. “From this moment on, young people around the world have a chance to participate in a global event that combines sport, education and culture.” The Youth Olympics, which finish Aug. 26, officially starts Sunday with the women's triathlon. It will continue for 12 days and feature athletes ages 14 to 18 competing in 26 sports. Hours before the opening ceremony, Rogge said he was “thrilled” with the way Singapore has organized the games in just two-and-a-half years. He said all preparations were complete for the games, although he admitted mistakes will probably be made over the next 12 days that can provide lessons for the future. “I feel like a father waiting in delivery room for birth to happen,” Rogge said. “I'm optimistic, but I still want to see the baby being born.” Despite the widespread publicity and optimistic tone from Singapore, the Youth Olympics have struggled to win over fans. Ticket sales have been sluggish despite an $8.9 million government publicity campaign featuring large billboards around the city that encouraged neighborhoods to celebrate the games. In an online poll last month on Channel NewsAsia's website aimed at getting a gauge of public interest, 88 percent of 6,400 respondents voted, ‘I'm not interested at all,' in the games. There have even been reports that children were forced to attend events ahead of the Games, something the organizers have denied.
