Beyond the many wrestlers, officials and more than 250 media people at the recent World Wrestling Championships in the City of Herning, representatives from the Singapore Youth Olympic Games 2010 organising committee turned up. Caroline Yeo and Jason Townsend attended the event as observers to see which ideas and initiatives could be implemented at their own event in 2010.

Caroline Yeo, Venue Manager for wrestling and judo at the Singapore Youth Olympic Games 2010, says: “We have come this far to look further into the whole set up at the World Wrestling Championships as wrestling is not a very big sport in Singapore and we have had no prior championships or tournaments to learn from. I do like that the arena is not too big, because it makes the atmosphere more intimate and gives the spectators a spacious view of all competition mats. The podium is well set up, the score boards show the results at all times and the enthusiastic speaker further enhances the atmosphere in the arena”.

Caroline Yeo rounds off: “I am very delighted about the Youth Camp. It is a super idea, maybe not for our event, but it is likely that I will consider it in other contexts.

In terms of accommodation Caroline Yeo is fond of the camping area close to the arena, and at the Singapore Youth Olympic Games 2010, a similar solution will be implemented. She says: “We are making a Youth Village for the young participants, not with caravans, but with youth hostels, which will be their home in the event period. Also, I like the Fan Zone initiative close to the event, where the athletes can meet and have fun before and after the competitions”.

Caroline Yoe and her colleague, Jason Townsend, attended the World Wrestling Championships 2009 the entire event week. Another aspect, which Caroline highlights, is the organisational structure, owing to which unexpected problems could be solved immediately.

The wrestling competitions in Singapore are scheduled 15 – 18 August 2010. Between 100 and 120 youngsters aged 16-17 years are participating. The Singapore Youth Olympic Games 2010 are taking place between 14 – 26 August.

Also, the coming hosts of the European Wrestling Championships 2011 Dortmund were present at the World Wrestling Championships 2009 in Herning. They had come to gain experience for their own event preparations 2011.

The Danish organising committee is very pleased with the two visits from Singapore and Dortmund, respectively. Press and Marketing manager at the World Wrestling Championships 2009, Mads Bang Aaen, says: “We are flattered and proud that both the European Wrestling Championships 2011 hosts and the Singapore Youth Olympic Games 2010 hosts have picked out our event. Indeed, it demonstrates that Denmark’s reputation as a world class sports event host is good. And we are proud to say that we have received a very positive feedback on our new initiatives at the World Wrestling Championships 2009 in Herning; the Youth Camp, the Fan Zone and the “camping village”. So we do understand and recommend that Dortmund and Singapore implement the initiatives, partly or in full, at their own two major wrestling events in 2010 and 2011”.

For further information:
Mads Bang Aaen, Press and Marketing manager at the World Wrestling Championships 2009, +45 2897 7842.