Changi Airport ready for 2010 Youth Olympic Games

Assigns dedicated immigration lanes for athletes while putting up sports carnival and live screening of games across terminals.

As preparations for the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games (Singapore 2010) enter the final stages, Changi Airport is all geared up to receive and welcome athletes, officials, media and guests attending the very first Youth Olympic Games. Changi Airport Group (CAG), an Official Sponsor of Singapore 2010, together with the Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee (SYOGOC), has put in place a series of initiatives to ensure a world-class experience for the athletes and delegates, according to a report by Changi Airport.

From 5 August, more than 8,500 visitors, including athletes and officials from over 200 National Olympic Committees as well as international media and spectators, will start arriving in Singapore for Singapore 2010, which officially begins on 14 August. Across all three main terminals of Changi Airport, special assistance booths and counters will be set up at strategic locations to provide various forms of support to all Singapore 2010 athletes, delegates and guests.

Some 350 Singapore 2010 volunteers and staff will be deployed across the terminals round-the-clock, over three shifts, to offer arriving guests a warm welcome and a friendly helping hand. They have each undergone more than 12 hours of training and orientation in preparation for their various responsibilities at the airport. The training covered facilities, services and processes at the airport and equips the volunteers and staff with the knowledge necessary to handle frequently asked questions.

Said Mr Lee Seow Hiang, Changi Airport Group’s Chief Executive Officer, “As the gateway to Singapore, Changi Airport is proud to be the first to welcome all Singapore 2010 athletes and officials. We have been preparing for this event since last year, and we will do our best to provide our guests with smooth and seamless passage and a great experience at Changi. Together with the SYOGOC, we hope to create a lasting impression of Singapore as a wonderful host of the first YOG and Changi as the best airport in the world.”

“The airport is the first and last point of contact for Singapore 2010 international guests. We aim to give every athlete, official and visitor a pleasant and memorable experience at the first Youth Olympic Games. We are therefore pleased to have Changi Airport Group as our partner and look forward to welcoming all Singapore 2010 delegates and visitors as they arrive at Singapore Changi Airport,” said Mr Goh Kee Nguan, Chief Executive Officer of SYOGOC.

Upon arriving at Changi Airport, athletes and delegates will be greeted by Singapore 2010 volunteers holding welcome messages at the arrival gate. At the Arrival Immigration area, dedicated immigration lanes will be set aside for Singapore 2010 accredited guests, ensuring speedy immigration clearance. In addition, a Singapore 2010 help desk has been set up to provide assistance on immigration and other Games-related matters. After immigration control, volunteers will be present at the Arrival Baggage Claim area to help with the collection of baggage and sporting equipment.

At all Arrival Halls, an information counter will provide general assistance to guests and to address enquiries related to Singapore 2010. Also located at each Arrival Hall, a Singapore 2010 transport desk will handle all transport arrangements. Athletes and delegates will be ferried to their respective accommodation venues by Youth Olympic Vehicles that include coaches, mini buses, as well as taxi limousines. Coach and vehicle bays at Changi Airport have been set aside for the use of Singapore 2010 vehicles.

Meanwhile, athletes with bulky sporting equipment can be assured that their prized tools will be well taken care of. They can deposit large sporting equipment such as bicycles, javelins, rowing oars and pole vaults at the Singapore 2010 Sport Equipment Handover Desk located at the Arrival Halls, where arrangements will be made for the equipment to be transported directly to the respective competition or training venues.

In addition, Changi Airport and its surrounding vicinity have been decked out in cheerful Singapore 2010 welcome decorations. Banners and stickers of all sizes adorn both the interior and exterior of the terminal buildings, including pillars and walls in the terminal halls, as well as on lamp posts along Airport Boulevard.

Celebrating the Youth Olympic spirit
To celebrate the historic sporting event in Singapore, there will be live screening of Singapore 2010 competitions at various areas across Changi Airport’s terminals, including a mini Singapore 2010 viewing stadium at Terminal 3’s Departure Transit Mall.

A month-long sports carnival themed ‘Challenge Your Limits’ will also be held at all of Changi’s three main terminals – recreating the action and excitement of Singapore 2010 and allowing passengers and visitors to be immersed in the sporting spirit.

Running from 1 to 28 August, the sports carnival includes various fun and exciting games adapted from Singapore 2010 sporting events. These games, for both adults and children alike, include trampoline bungee jumping, where participants can have an exhilarating time jumping to cross the target height; boxing, where competitors win by throwing the most forceful punches; and football, where those with the most powerful kicks score. Participants who break the pre-set targets of each game will be presented special gold medals as souvenirs.

The ‘Challenge Your Limits’ sports carnival is open to members of the public at Terminal 3 Departure Hall, near check-in Row 11, as well as to passengers in the transit areas of all three main terminals. Operating hours are noon to 10.00 pm daily.