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Singapore athlete chosen for oath

 

Singapore athlete chosen for oath

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AOC
Singapore athlete chosen for oath

As Singapore's lone equestrian athlete at the Youth Olympic Games (YOG), Caroline Chew has to watch her fitness and diet. Now, she also has to look after her voice.

As Singapore's lone equestrian athlete at the Youth Olympic Games (YOG), Caroline Chew has to watch her fitness and diet.

Now, she also has to look after her voice.

The 16-year-old from Hwa Chong Institution will take centre stage during the YOG opening ceremony next week to deliver the Olympic Oath on behalf of all the 3,600 athletes.

The famous oath - written by the father of modern Olympics Pierre de Coubertin - is a symbolic gesture of sportsmanship that has been a regular feature at the Summer and Winter Olympics.

It is usually taken by an athlete from the host nation - a tradition that has continued since Belgian fencer Victor Boin recited it at the 1920 Summer Games in Antwerp. At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, it was delivered by table tennis star Zhang Yining.

Come Aug 14, all eyes will be on Caroline, a well-spoken teenager who has been a panellist on television shows and a youth conference speaker for her school.

But with millions expected to tune in to the opening ceremony, this is her biggest public speaking challenge.

'I hope my voice doesn't shake or forget my lines,' she said, referring to the embarrassing fate which befell American hurdler Edwin Moses at the 1984 Games.

'But it'll be an honour, so hopefully I can rise to the occasion.'

Owing to her training schedule and studies, Caroline will get to attend only one rehearsal before the opening ceremony. But she has already started memorising the 54-word oath, which pledges to uphold the Olympic spirit of competition and fair play.

'Language has always been an intuitive thing for me,' said Caroline, who has aced her English oral tests in school. 'But I'll probably practise it in front of a mirror first.'

The reigning national showjumping champion is now taking extra care to keep her voice in top condition. That means plenty of liquid and forgoing her favourite food like chicken curry and hamburgers.

But Caroline, who won the young riders' class at the Malaysian Open World Cup last week, has not forgotten her priorities.

'It's really exciting to be picked to take the oath, but I'm more focused on the actual competition,' she said.

'Most of my time is still devoted to training. In the meantime, I'll try not to get a sore throat.'

Terrence Voon
SYOGOC

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