Youth Olympic Games.

RESEARCH:

The Ancient Olympic Games was a series of competitions held between representatives of several city-states and kingdoms from Ancient Greece, featuring mainly athletic but also combat (fighting against) and chariot (a two-wheeled horse-drawn vehicle) racing events.

During the Olympic games all struggles against the participating city-states were postponed until the games were finished. One of the most popular myths identifies Heracles and his father Zeus as the direct ancestors of the Games.

According to the legend, it was Heracles who first called the Games "Olympic" and held them once every four years. Heracles built the Olympic stadium as an honor to Zeus. Completing it, he walked in a straight line for 200 steps, calling it a "stadium" which later became a unit of distance.

The Olympics were of religious importance, featuring sport events which includes sacrifices honoring both Zeus and Pelops, the divine hero and mythical king of Olympia. Pelops was famous for his chariot race with King Oenomaus of Pisatis. The winners of the events were admired and immortalized in poems and statues. The Games were held every four years, and this period, known as an Olympiad, was used by Greeks as one of their units of time measurement. The Games were part of a cycle known as the Panhellenic Games, which included the Pythian Games, the Nemean Games, and the Isthmian Games.


ORIGINS OF YOG:
The Youth Olympic Games (YOG) are held every four years. The Youth Olympic Games features athletes, age ranging from 14 to 18. The idea for such an event was introduced by International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Jacques Rogge in 2001. On July 6, 2007, the IOC members approved the Youth Version of the Olympic Games.

- http://en.wikipedia.org/wikiYouth_Olympic_Games/

Picture credits to Redsports.sg.

YOG CYCLING:

Cycling is divided into four main events for the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games: BMX, Mountain Bike, Road Race and Time Trial, testing the speed and endurance of athletes as they speed through the course. Each team consists of three Junior Men and one Junior Woman, with the three Junior Men required to compete in one discipline each (BMX, MTB and Time Trial) while the Junior Woman has to compete in all three disciplines. All male riders also have to compete in the Road Race.

- http://www.singapore2010.sg/public/sg2010/en/en_26sports/en_cycling.html

Charity bazaar.

Raising Funds For The Childrens' Cancer Foundation.

On Monday, 2nd August 2010. ESSS Secondary two students raised funds through the Charity Bazaar to help aid the Childrens' Cancer Foundation (CCF). Every sec 2 classes had their booths set up, selling many different things like cupcakes, curry and drinks. Some even organized mini games to be played like wrestling, mini soccer, smash the ball.

In 2E1's booth, they had the Song Dedications Programme which attracted many students. The music brought life to the whole atmosphere, lifting up every single person's spirit.While in 2E2's booth, they had games like wrestling, "Are you smarter than 2E2?" quiz game and lastly, knocking down all the cans with a ball.

Talking about creativity.. 2E4 sold Korean Pop things, Domokun bag, pencil case and such. As we all know that the Fifa World Cup just ended, 2E5 sold cupcakes which has soccer team names and logos on it. Example, Manchester United.

Well, in my class we sold fruity cocktail, which is a mix of fruits and soda water. Paying only $1 for three tries, our " Smash the ball " game, most students came to vent their anger by hitting the mothball with a hammer.

This Charity Bazaar had helped raised quite a large sum of money for the Childrens' Cancer Foundation.

Climate Change

Climate change is a change in the distribution of weather over periods of times that range from decades to millions of years. It can be a change in the average weather or a change in the distribution of weather events around an average. Climate change may be limited to a specific region or may occur globally.

Without action to reduce these emissions, the global average temperature is likely to rise by a further 1.8-4.0°C this century, and by up to 6.4°C maximum. Even the lower end of this range would take the temperature increase since pre-industrial times above 2°C which many scientists believe that it is irreversible.
Climate research at the Earth Institute spans multiple disciplines. While climate scientists study the effects of increased temperatures and atmospheric carbon dioxide on the world’s oceans and weather patterns, engineers are seeking ways to produce cleaner energy and provide steady supplies of fresh water. Social scientists, policy experts and lawyers are studying human behavior in the face of change as a way to improve how we make decisions, and the policy and legal tools we can use to implement measures that address the climate challenge. The Columbia Climate Center integrates research from throughout the University and across disciplines to translate the best climate knowledge into practical solutions.

Racial Harmony Day.

Racial Harmony Day falls on 21st July, which is today. Our school, East Spring Secondary is celebrating it differently from the past few years. This year, students could come to school, wearing their traditional costumes. Our secondary ones and threes set up booths during recess.

One of our students, Shahirah from class 4E3 shared with us about her thoughts on Racial Harmony Day.

How do you feel about Racial Harmony?
I feel that it's a very good celebration as it makes us realize how important it is for the races to live in harmony.

What do you think about your schoolmates wearing ethnic costumes?
I think that it is very funny-looking because it's my very first time seeing them wearing their own ethnic costumes.

Do you feel proud wearing your own traditional costume?
Yes, I do feel proud wearing it in school today as it displays my race and culture.

Do you enjoy Racial Harmony day?
Yes, I enjoy Racial Harmony Day very much because I can learn and understand more about other races.

Are you taking part in any activities tomorrow? (Mask painting, amazing race.)
No, because we have to study for our O Levels.


One of our teachers, Mr Azuan Tan also shared us his thoughts.

How do you feel about ESSS Racial Harmony Day?
I think that Racial harmony is very important for our country because of our Racial Demographics.

What do you think about students wearing their ethnic costumes?
I think it represents what ns are all about because many of them don traiditional costumes that might or might not be their culture or tradition. Therefore, showing that Singaporeans embrace each other's culture and are able to live, work & play harmoniously with one another.

Did you enjoy the stalls setup in the canteen?
Yes I certainly enjoy it mainly because of the vibrancy shown by the respective classes and the energy level was very high.

Which stall you enjoy the most?
I enjoyed 3E4's. Because their stalls were enable to sell local delicacies that shows the true spirit what Racial Harmony is all about.

How much do you know about Racial Harmony?
Enough. Racial Harmony was celebrated because it's important for Singaporeans to remember the past and not repeating the mistakes that arise from the Civil Strive that occurred decades ago. Remembering this day is very important because we are in a precarious situation and we shouldn't let this past mistakes come up again, or else we would suffer.

Did you enjoy Racial Harmony?
Of course. Overall, I enjoyed it. It was really delightful seeing all my students embracing each other's cultures and traditions. Showing that East Springians are racially harmonious lot.

Thus, Racial Harmony is important for everyone to remember the past and not repeat mistakes.