The First Youth Olympic Games concludes in Singapore today with Egypt having won a gold medal in archery Despite taking part with a relatively big delegation, Egypt could only muster one gold medal courtesy of archer Ibrahim Sabri who won the men's individual gold, reports Inas Mazhar. For his long-range efforts Sabri was awarded a scholarship under which he will join the Olympic Solidarity Programme sponsored by the International Olympic Committee to help athletes prepare for the 2012 Olympics in London. The 10-day Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in Singapore saw the participation of 3,500 athletes representing 204 nations in 26 sports. Participants ranged between the age of 14 to 18. Perhaps because Egypt did not fare well at the YOG, its officials instead focused their attention on campaigning to host the 2017 Mediterranean Games in Alexandria. The head of Egypt's delegation Alaa Gabr together with members of the Egyptian bid committee, the National Olympic Committee and the IOC met delegates from all Mediterranean countries taking part in the Games and presented the Egyptian file, prepared by a German firm. Egypt is the founding member of the Mediterranean Games and organised the first edition in 1951 in Alexandria. The Egyptian government is seriously backing the bid. According to the official website of the YOG, the closing ceremony will contrast with the opening ceremony as many of its elements are expected to be governed by tradition than official mandate. Usually, flag bearers from each participating country enter the stadium in single file and behind them stand all the athletes without any distinction or grouping by nationality to symbolise bringing all the athletes of the world together as "one nation". After the athletes enter the stadium, three national flags are hoisted on flagpoles one at a time, while the corresponding national anthems are played. The flag of Greece will be atop the centre pole to honour the birthplace of the Olympic Games. The flag of the host country will be on the left-hand pole, and the flag of the country hosting the next Summer or Winter Olympic Games on the right. Following the flag raising ceremony, the president of the organising committee will deliver a address, followed by the President of the IOC Jacques Rogge who formally closes the Olympics by saying more or less the following: "I declare the Games of the Olympiad closed and, in accordance with tradition, I call upon the youth of the world to assemble four years from now to celebrate the Games." The Olympic flame is then extinguished. Next, the Olympic flag that was hoisted during the Opening ceremony is lowered from the flagpole and carried from the stadium as the Olympic anthem is played. After these traditional practices, the next host nation will introduce itself with artistic displays of dance showcasing elements of that country. By Inas Mazhar
