Singapore has started One Year Countdown for the First Youth Olympic Games (YOG) on 14 August 2009, with the joining of more than 5000 people including enthusiasts, supporters, volunteers and officials in the countdown. The countdown was launched by Professor S Jayakumar, Senior Minister and Co-coordinating Minister for National Security to mark 365 days to the first Youth Olympic Games (YOG).

The ceremony was also attended by Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon, Minister of State for Community Development, Mr Christophe Berthaud, General Manager of Swiss Timing, Mr Ng Ser Miang, Chairman, Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee (SYOGOC) and Mr Teo Ser Luck, Mayor, North East District and Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Community Development.

The One Year Countdown event signifies that the country is just one year away from the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games. The event, kicking off from the Countdown Clock set against the historic City Hall, also depicted Singapore's eagerness and arrangements to host the first YOG.

Mr Goh Kee Nguan, Chief Executive Officer of SYOGOC said: "Today signifies our one-year mark from the YOG and we are excited to see the crowd that turned up for this evening's celebration. We thank everyone, who is here tonight, for coming onboard with us on the Singapore 2010 journey."