WhyOhGee

The verdict is out.

WhyOhGee.sg, the youth microsite of Singapore2010.sg is disappearing soon because the International Olympic Committee (aka our colonial masters) does not want to host the website. On seeking the help of other gahmen authorities, the outcome is still "No". Hence, the blood and sweat of editor Ms Amanda Zhang, who has seen the website from its birth, will face its impending doom and soon be nothing but an "Error404" in cyberspace.

Now, one of my friend had mentioned that I didn't have to work that hard during that YOG period. We didn't really have to produce 5 videos each day, as our videos are more fun and not as urgent as say, the real sporting action videos, the ones with matches, scores, well basically the videos that the Official Broadcast Station produces everyday. But you see, without pushing ourselves so hard, we probably wouldn't have gotten so many videos made. It's a whopping 70 plus videos made throughout 3 weeks, and each video has gotten a minimum of 500 views. Most of the videos average 1000 views, and for 70 videos to get 1000 views each, that's saying a lot.

Furthermore, our talent pool is made up of volunteers from polytechnics and a few from university. Most of them are 18, 19 years old, and we have about 40 plus from the video production team alone. Imagine the exposure that these 40 youths get from this project alone. Imagine having produced a 1000view youtube video at this age. Imagine meeting athletes, interacting with them and the coaches, and just having new experiences everyday. This is priceless.

Maybe I'm just a little idealistic, trying to justify the 5 videos-a-day concept (which we worked so hard till we were so bloody tired). No matter what, I look back with a real sense of pride and satisfaction. We could have done less. We could have made things easier on ourselves. But you know what? I'm so glad we didn't. It's a real once-in-a-lifetime thing. If you don't get that story on that particular day, it will never come around. Never. And for those young volunteers who survived to tell the tale, I think I learnt so much from them.

Then there's all the memories. The Miku Tashiro interview which was just so fun. The endless press conferences which I had to use the tripod to "chope" a good spot. The fireworks that was right in front of my face during the Opening and Closing Ceremonies. There are also, of course, the bad memories, but they have taught me a lot. Don't ever assume, and that you cannot trust others easily. Other than that, I've had a really good time.

And that's the whole team right there, up above on the last day. I reckoned most of them enjoyed themselves (so much so that one even showed up when he didn't have his duty on that day.)

It's just awesome to know that, I contributed to the first ever Youth Olympic Games.

Day 11

It's day 11 of the YOG, and guess what, I'm still alive!

It's just been a mad rush of things since day 1, but more often that not, God has been really kind to us. Did you see the amount of content we generated? Everyday, (almost) without fail, 5 videos are up online. Every single day. And of course, the person that should be given credit the most is Amanda, who has done such an awesome job. It's amazing how she can go off at 3 in the morning and still wake up at 8 the next day and still think of creative ideas for the videos. In case you don't know, our videos are not your typical straight-lace, CNN-type interviews. The volunteers, too, have done a good job. Most of them work hard for the videos, and it does show.

The most fun part of this entire experience is looking at the youths, and knowing we've done something good in their lives.

I'm just so proud of everything this whole team has done, well, if you've been at any event, any competition of the YOG, you'll see the significance of it.

Here below are some of my favourite and most memorable videos.

Youth Guru meets Olympian/surgeon, Lenka Wech. (Who was super spontaneous and nice during the shoot)

Miku Tashiro, the cutust Judoka ever. Who, by the way, is now a Youth Olympic gold medalist.

Tom Daley exclusive.

There are other videos which were quite well done by the other volunteers. Do watch all of our videos (60plus and counting!) at http://www.youtube.com/user/singapore2010 Watch the Felix Bach story, the Odean Skeen story, the Lin Sheng story and stories of other young athletes.

We've survived!

Grand. Great. Fantastic.

(Now I'm waiting to shoot a press conference. It's about the 1st YOG Gold medal being handed out to Japan's triathlete, Yuka Sato.)

And that above sentence was typed yesterday. After which, 5 minutes later, she had arrived in the press conference, beaming with her brand new, first ever YOG Gold medal.

Now I'm in the New Media Lab in Marina Bay Sands, waiting for the video crews to return. Everyday has become somewhat of a routine, and I've not been home for the past 3 days (staying somewhere nearer but don't worry, I'm not spending overnight in the lab). But it's been good. Videos have been churning out, work has been done even if it means staying in the lab till the wee hours and having to wake up at 9am everyday.

Well, with prayer everyday, I'll survive.

Anyway, people have been talking about the Youth Olympic Games since it's finally here. On the topic of the Opening Ceremony, there are some detractors, unsupportive, unappreciative Singaporeans out there who dismiss this event as just another "NDP parade". I feel so disappointed with these people. They just can't see the larger picture and the significance of this event. There are so many people here and so many things happening just to make it a success. And even though it's the smaller cousin of the Olympics, I find joy in taking in the fact that these youngsters are able have this world-class stage to perform at. It is truly the beginning of an evolution in the sports scene.

Every time I walk past the flame at the Float, I'm happy.

Finally finals.

We came, we saw, and we walked away with 3 very beautiful quarters, but a not-so-ideal last quarter.

We lost in the finals of Women's Open, and it would be nice to describe the strategies that our coach used, and to go on and discuss about the game, the whole team and the entire season. But me being busy-bee me, with a backlog of the Japan Diaries to write about, I think I'll just owe this one.

It'll be fun to talk about it when the Youth Olympic Games is over. Now, all my mind is thinking about are the volunteers, the equipment in the Main Media Centre, and meal vouchers. Yea, not the most exciting things to think about.

On a sidenote, a really really side sidenote, you can check out a very interesting blog that keeps track of the things WE at the New Media department do in the Games. Do check out:

Whyohgee.wordpress.com

Sometimes you can even see me appearing in the photos! The author of the blog is none other than the boss of my boss, Julian. If you would like to keep track of what we've been up to, do take a look. I promise that it's really funny.

Alright then, until the end of the Games (or if I need to dry my hair before I go to sleep), you won't see me much in cyberspace.

(Or in real-life, for that matter.)

Toodle-do, people! Have a good August and please do support this amazing event because frankly, it will be ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME for all of us Singaporeans.

And also, do support the inaugural Youth Olympic Games because you hate to admit it, but you've got that "Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah" stuck in your head.

Basketball Fever