Youth Day extravaganza in July to mark SG50

By Kash Cheong, The Straits Times, 30 Apr 2015

THIS Youth Day, more than 53,000 performers and spectators will gather to celebrate Singapore's 50th birthday, in the largest youth event among the SG50 activities.

Called Youth Celebrate, this Youth Day extravaganza on July 26 will see some 3,700 students from primary, secondary and special schools as well as tertiary institutions perform at the Singapore Sports Hub. Over 50,000 students, parents and teachers are expected to turn up to cheer them on.



"It will be a very befitting gift for the nation to see our youth's vitality and sense of humility (in performing for others)," said Education Minister Heng Swee Keat, announcing the event at Crest Secondary's cross-country day yesterday. The school's students joined ultramarathoners Lim Nghee Huat and Yong Yuen Cheng for about 4km as they ran 50km for the 14th day straight.

Part of a series of events to mark the Sports Hub's first year, Youth Celebrate will kick off with activities at the OCBC Aquatic Centre. About 500 school representatives will wear red and white floats to form Singapore's largest floating flag in the pool there. There will also be diving and synchronised swimming performances.

At the National Stadium, 50 primary school pupils will pit their skills against 11 former national football players for a charitable cause.

Nine hundred choir students from 23 schools will sing pop songs such as Firework and Roar by Katy Perry, as well as local tunes like Chan Mali Chan and Singapura O Singapura.

A 400-student marching band will spin colourful flags and perform stunts with their drumsticks, while a 250-strong uniformed group will perform a freestyle drill, or marches with hand movements to pop tunes.

Spectators will form part of the show by creating multi-coloured patterns with light sticks programmed to change colours.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will attend the event and seal a time capsule containing items that symbolise Singapore's sporting aspirations.

Students have been practising hard for the show. National Cadet Corps member Choo Jing Si, 15, from Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary, said: "It's been an enjoyable experience so far. I get to go out, meet more friends from other schools."

Nanyang Girls' High School student Celeste Chan, 16, will be dancing to classical music with 75 others. "It will be cool to snap a picture of me in my costume. I can show my future children that I was part of this historic SG50 celebration," she said.

As we celebrate SG50, we recognise the achievements and aspirations of the next generation as Singapore looks forward to...
Posted by Ministry of Education, Singapore on Tuesday, April 28, 2015