Astro Spectacular

The 110-minute extravaganza on the Marina Bay floating platform will be led by young talent, who will display the “can do” spirit of youth, and show the world what it means to chase a dream, overcome odds and adversity, to come of age and blaze a trail. It is a show dedicated to the 3,600 athletes who will be competing in 26 events over the next 12 days.

We bring you live-blogs on the highlights of the extravaganza, featuring 7,000 performers, mostly under 18, with lights and lasers, fire and water effects, watched by 27,000 spectators in the stands and millions more on television sets in Singapore and around the world.

Let the show begin.

7.30pm

Every seat on the colour-coded stands is already filled with the lucky 27,000 spectators who have been able to get tickets to the opening ceremony. As they wait for the countdown to the show to begin, they are taking in the stunning view of the waterfront skyline, with high-rise office towers, top-class hotels and iconic landmarks such as the Singapore Flyer, the Esplanade and the newly-opened Marina Bays Sands, competing for their attention.

Taking centre stage is the 32-metre tall cauldron, which is built to resemble a lighthouse. Designed by Randy chan, the cauldron can withstand temperatures of up to 300 deg C.

Twelve core containers form a ring on the stage, which resembles a reflective, black mirror, and can hold as many as 250 performers. The highest container is 24m tall, about the height of an eight-storey building.

On the stage are also six giant LED screens, the smallest measuring 10m by 5.5 m, which is about the size of 65 sets of 46 inch TV put together. Just off the main stage is a reflecting pool, which took eight hours – and 200 tonnes of water – to fill.

As the crowds wait eagerly for a multi-sensory spectacle to unfold, youth hosts and audience leaders are showing them how to use the interactive kit each spectator has been given when the opening ceremony gets underway. The kit comes with a heart-shaped clapper, dove stick and a miniature Singapore flag.

The audience are being taught some dance moves, including a cascade movement called the “Marina Wave”. A two-minute video, titled “Destination”, zooms in on various places in Singapore, showing Singaporean youths dancing on the streets, and reaching the floating platform.

A flash mob emerges and takes over the stage and seating gallery. Decked in street clothes, the performers start dancing and lead the spectators to join in the dance movements they had picked up minutes earlier. YOG mascots Lyo and Merly appear and join in the fun and merriment.

President S.R Nathan and Mr Jacques Rogge, President of the International Olympic Committee, arrive, waving to the spectators. The crowd waves back Singapore flags and those of the other nations involved in the event.

8.11pm

The countdown begins.

A group of Singaporean children runs onto the stage and starts playing a game. They invite a group of visitors to join them. While playing, the children discover the sound of a universal heartbeat.

They beat their left chests and cue the audience to clap and to join in the heartbeat percussion. The screens show young drummers from across five continents beating various types of drums.

Chinese drummers and dhol players positioned around the Bay and amid the spectators, join in, performing in harmony with their counterparts across the world. The sounds of unity and brotherhood reverberate around the arena.

The rhythm of drumming leads to a 20-second countdown. On the dot of 20.10, spectacular bursts of fireworks shoot from the roofs of various buildings around Marina Bay into the night sky, signalling the start of the opening ceremony.

The fireworks are synchronised to the music being played, complemented by light, water and laser effects. Camera flashes from the rupturous audience add to the dazzling pyrotechnics display.

Malay performers begin the dance and cultural display.

8:14pm

This segment, titled Selamat Datang, welcomes all the YOG athletes to the Singapore inaugural games.

Chinese performers dance with lanterns to the music of Ke Ren Lai which means arrival of guests), Indian performers in traditional peacock costumes, move to the tune of Bum Bum Bole (an Indian childhood song), and Malay performers dance with tepak sireh (traditional brass container) and bunga mangga (traditional floral displays which are used to welcome special guests), to the beat from the kompangs.

Chinese lion dancers appear at the front of the stage as the lights beat in time to the music.

Blending tradition with modernity, they are followed by Eurasian and Peranakan performers – all homegrown artistes, including Dharni Ng, 23, who introduced beatboxing to Singapore in 2004 by busking on the streets, and is ranked 5th in the world in the Beatbox Convention championships.

The beat-boxer arrives on stage via a lift as the young dancers appear.

The group performs an umbrella dance, which breaks into street dance and hip-hop music, to the delight of the audience.

On the reflecting pool, 750 youths holding lighted tubes are forming five white Olympic rings, depicting a man-made Fountain of Youth. Meanwhile, the performers on stage form the world ‘WELCOME’.

Olympic ambassadors including Michael Phelps and Jared Leto from 30 Seconds to Mars send out “best wishes”; Jackie Chan tells everyone to just “Go for it!”

8.21pm

A marching band strikes up and marches across the stage, performing “Five Stars Arising” … Eight Singapore Youth Award holders – Mr Koh Seng Leong (Sports & Adventure category, 2009), Dr Valerie Teo Hui Ying (Sports & Adventure category, 2007), Ms Lee Huei Min (Arts & Culture category, 2004), Ms Lina Chong Lin Lin (Community & Youth Services category, 2009), Ms Eunice Elizabeth Olsen (Community & Youth Services category, 2006), Mr Leonard Tan (Entrepreneurship category, 2010), Mr Clinton Ang (Entrepreneurship category, 2007) and Dr Tong Joo Chuan (Science & Technology category, 2009) – carry the Singapore flag across the stage.

8.24pm

A choir leads the audience to sing the Singapore national anthem, Majulah Singapura. The Singapore flag is raised. As the last note of the national anthem fades away, a fog starts to envelope the stage, bringing the audience back to Singapore’s past.

8.29pm

The next segment chronicles the arrival of the earliest immigrants to Singapore. Explorers, missionaries, merchants and coolies who arrived with little more than hopes and dreams of a better life. Their stories of travel and establishment are told in festive songs and dances by energetic young Singaporeans of all races.

The performance opens against a backdrop of Singapore as a port city with containers arriving along with early settlers.

Dressed as early immigrants, dancers perform with their luggage. The luggage “pops-up” into buildings, like how Singapore’s early immigrants built the country, capturing their spirit of tenacity and enterprise.

Industrial percussionists next perform on stage and the Ring of Containers. They symbolise Singapore’s rapid industrialisation from a sleepy seaport to a thriving metropolis in one generation.

The big containers open to reveal a city that has been built. The performance climaxes as the Singapore skyline lights up before the audience, unveiling a “pop-up” city, and drawing cheers from the awed spectators.

The Singapore story unfolds through the music of the eras, from the 1940s to today. The screens play a video montage of Singapore from the past to the present.

More fireworks go off as the buildings around Marina Bay are lit up.

8.36pm

The lights dim and the city then goes to sleep.

All eyes now shift to a seven-metre storybook titled “Champion” on stage, which opens to show a boy in his bedroom. He aspires to become a champion boxer and shadowboxes in his dream.

A monster appears as an animation on the screens. Representing his inner fears and insecurities, it attacks him.

As YOGhurt – a nine-piece girl band in silver metalic space-like outfits – sings about the search for hero, the boy transforms into a “hero” and defeats the tiny monsters.

A giant 12-metre big Monster appears. The boy summons his silat warriors, then his kalari and wushu fighters but they are defeated by the giant.

In an all-out bid, the boy mounts an air strike as kites fly through the air above the stage, backed by the warriors, he finally overcomes the Monster with his slingshot.

This segment was created to depict inner fears and struggles, and unity in strength.

8.46pm

The ‘Don’t play with Fire’ scene opens with a mother warning her little girl prancing on the stage with a flaming torch. A group of fire

performers moving across the reflecting pool and swinging their lit torches further drives home the message, followed by another display of pyrotechnics.

She’s followed by a group of fire performers moving across the reflecting pool and swinging their lit torches.

8.50pm

The spotlight is now turned on the Reflecting Pool. A school of Carp, formed by 450 performers, is swimming against the tide. When they leap over the Heaven’s Gate, lightning strikes, depicted by fire performers walking across the Reflecting Pool.

This segment, called Playing with Fire, which is based on an ancient Chinese legend, shows that it takes determination, risk and courage to achieve one’s ambitions.

The Dragon, which embodies courage, strength and wisdom, and symbolises a reward for turning danger and adversities into opportunities.

A young girl sits in the head of the Dragon, waving to the crowd as the music reaches a crescendo.

The school of carp transforms into a dragon, as pyrotechnics flare its head and tail.

Now a video of youths from around the world share their views about sports and the inaugural YOG takes over the large LCD screens around the stage.

9.57pm

The Ring of Containers lights up, showing performers with LED-lined semaphore flags, flashing an distress signal which reads “S.O.S Urgent. For your immediate attention”.

The World Youth Orchestra of the Singapore Games, made up of 105 musicians from five continents, enters the stage on trolleys.

Led by Darrell Ang, currently the young associate conductor of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, the musicians play across boundaries of race and religion, showing it is possible for the world to come together to solve common problems.

The music for this segment is composed to give voice to different instruments from around the world, which include the Chinese flute, Australian didgeridoo, Indonesian gamelan, jazz trumpet, Africa kora, Middle Eastern oud and piano accordion.

Showing a world in crisis, a 3-D animation beams images of famine, natural disasters and war, highlighting the nature of these challenges, and how they can be overcome through concerted international effort; created by a team of young Singaporean animators.

9.02pm

Music continues in this segment, titled “Bud”. Rain falls and a crystal lotus bud is brought to the stage.

The rain symbolises rejuvenation and fresh hopes; the lotus bud, which rise through water and mud to bloom, symbolises the spirit of hope and overcoming adversity, a parallel to what Singapore, a young nation with few resources, has come a long way in nation building through sheer imagination, grit and hardwork.

Performers in bud and floral costumes dance amid a Garden City in its full glory. The bud then opens to reveal a globe made from flowers, symbolising a brand new world.

The globe opens, with Marcus Lee from Ex-Dee, a seven-piece rock band, and Lian Kim Selby, 19, singing “A New Story”, which was specially commissioned for the opening ceremony.

Spectators are also treated to a water ballet on the Reflecting Pool. This is followed by a fashion show, with 100 models parading designs of wearable art, crafted from recycled materials, such as badminton rackets, shuttlecocks and foam wraps, by 80 fashion students from Lasalle College of the Arts.

9.10 pm

Show-time is over. It’s now the turn of the young Olympians as they take to the stage in a parade of flags from their countries.

An athlete from each National Olympic Committees, followed by a placard holder, walks through a “portal” in the centre of the stage and proudly presents his or her country’s flag. The name of each NOC and the Youth Olympic Games-DNA are projected on the portal.

Home to the ancient Olympic Games, the Greece flag is first to enter. As the host nation, the Singapore flag will come last.

9.42pm

Led by Singapore’s Tabitha Nauser, five young singers from five continents perform the theme song, “Everyone”, which was written and produced by local record producer and composer Ken Lim to reflect the spirit of the young Olympians taking part in the Singapore YOG.

Singers include Jessica Mauboy from Australia – who rose to fame in 2006 as a contestant on Australian Idol, becoming the runner-up of that season.

They are joined by cultural dancers and eight aerial dancers who symbolise doves.

9.46pm

The official opening ceremony begins now.

Chairman of the Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee, Mr Ng Ser Miang, who is the first to speak, will thank President of the International Olympics Committee Jacques Rogge for entrusting the challenge of the inaugural games to Singapore and for his “vision and gift to the youth of the world”.

Calling the opening ceremony a “historical moment” not just for Singapore but for the Olympic movement and young athletes around the world, he hopes the young Olympians will take part in activities and discussions on global and social issues as well as learn how they can make a positive impact in their community through the Culture and Education Programmes, besides competing in the Games.

9.53pm

“Most importantly, we hope that through these activities they will build strong and abiding bonds of friendship, and learn that the power of sports and the ideals of the Olympic values can help us build a more united and peaceful world,” added Mr Ng.

He also thanked Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and the Government of Singapore for their “wholehearted support”, and the over 20,000 who have volunteered to help directly in these Games, as well as the many thousands more who have given their support in various other ways.

IOC chief Rogge, speaking next, also thanked Singapore for its hospitality and staging a “remarkable” show. In particular, he hailed the volunteers, without whom “nothing would be possible,” said Mr Rogge. “They are the real heroes of the games,” he added.

President Nathan declares the YOG open.

Impressive fireworks punctuate his announcement.

9.59pm

The Olympic flag is carried on stage and handed over from eight Olympians – Tan Howe Liang (Weightlifting/Singapore), Yelena Isinbayeva (Pole Vault/ Europe), Yang Yang (Short Track Speed Skating/Asia), Tan Eng Liang (Waterpolo/Singapore), Frankie Frederiks (Athletics/Africa), Patricia Chan Li-Yi (Swimming/Singapore), Tao Li (Swimming/Singapore) and Sergey Nazarovych Bubka (Pole Vault/Europe) – to eight Singaporean young athletes.

The Olympic flag is raised as the Olympic Anthem is sung in Greek by a choir.

This is followed by the athletes, officials and coaches taking their oaths.

Caroline Chew, a member of Singapore’s equestrian team, takes the oath for the athletes.

Syed Abdul Kadir, one of Singapore’s greatest-ever boxers, does it for the officials, and David Lim, former national swimmer, now a coach and a swimming judge, takes the oath for the coaches.

10.11pm

The moment which everyone is waiting for.

Preceding the arrival of the Youth Olympic Flame, a video tracks the journey of the torch from Athens, Greece on July 23 to Singapore on Aug 5.

Meanwhile, gliding across the Marina Bay is a 27-metre Phoenix, which symbolises rebirth and new beginnings. The brightly lit Phoenix, perched on a vessel, is escorted by dragon boats, with drums beating.

Kompangs, Chinese drums and dhols greet its arrival at the stage of the floating platform, accompanied by 200 dragon boat rowers.

Six youth torch-bearers carry the Youth Olympic Flame to the Reflecting Pool, in a relay along a bridge, lined by multicultural performers waving pom-poms.

In a few moments, the athlete who will light the cauldron will be known: He is 16-year-old sailor Darren Choy.

Holding high the flame, he runs across the Reflective Pool, climbs a flight of steps up to the cauldron and lights it at 10.16 pm, sending the flame ablaze and leaping from the lighthouse .

Another spectacular display of fireworks brings the historical opening ceremony to a close.