IOC Vice President Thomas Bach raised alarm bells on YOG’s spiraling costs

IOC Vice President Thomas Bach raised alarm bells on YOG’s spiraling costs

August 22nd, 2010

One of the Vice Presidents of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Mr Thomas Bach has raised alarm bells on the spiraling costs of the inaugural Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in Singapore which has exceeded more than three times its initial budget to a shocking $387 million dollars.

“The financial requirements of the games should not limit future host candidates “to the same relatively small, exclusive circle of (developed) countries capable of holding Olympic Games,” Thomas Bach said. (read article here)

There were some concerns that the sky-rocketing costs of hosting the YOG may deter developing countries from bidding for future games.

In contrast, the twelfth Island Games – a biennial mini-Olympics for island communities to be staged in the Swedish-speaking island of Aland for roughly the same number of athletes last year cost only S$4 million dollars.

“A country which is able to organize Olympic Games should therefore not be considered as a host for Youth Olympic Games,” he added.

Mr Bach is the second IOC Vice President to express his doubts about the YOG. Another Vice President Mr Richard Pound boycotted the event completely.

“It would be hypocritical to spend even more of the IOC’s money to come to something in which I do not believe”, says Pound. Instead of going to Singapore he went on vacation. (read article here)

Mr Pound also doubted that the YOG will be a hit among the youth, contrary to what IOC President Jacques Rogge had proclaimed.

“Will the Youth Olympic Games get one more — what we call ‘a couch potato’ in America — into the swimming pool or on the track?” said Dick Pound. All the people involved are minors. They are still doing sports,” he quipped sarcastically.

Despite the exorbitant costs of hosting the YOG, Singapore Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports Dr Vivian Balakrishnan said he would still bid for the YOG at the present cost.

“I think this is not a trifling amount. But it is an amount that will give us value for money in terms of positioning ourselves, in terms of marketing ourselves, in terms of making sure we are on everyone’s radar screen the next time they make an investment decision,” he said during an interview with BBC News.

[Source: BBC News]

The beleaguered Dr Vivian has come under fire of late from Singaporeans for bursting the YOG budget and a litany of comical screw-ups tarnishing Singapore’s reputation in the world.

An online citizen set up by a school teacher to demand a public apology from Dr Vivian has garnered more than 300 signatures in one day alone.

[Please sign the petition demanding a public apology from Dr Vivian Balakrishnan for mismanaging the YOG here.]

http://sgforums.com/forums/10/topics/404587?page=7