- Title: GERMANY: OLYMPICS - Flame for Youth Olympics arrives in Berlin
- Date: 25th July 2010
- Summary: OLYMPIC FLAME BEING LIT AT BRANDENBURG GATE OLYMPIC FLAME
- Embargoed: 9th August 2010 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Germany
- Country: Germany
- Topics: Sports
- Reuters ID: LVAC2ICO3YH4KHFJWDWDNYP4XPYZ
- Story Text: The Olympic Flame reaches Berlin on its way to Singapore for the Youth Olympic Games.
It's on its way to the very first Youth Olympic Games - and the Olympic Flame made quick a stop in the German capital Berlin on Saturday (July 24).
Dozens of German athletes, including basketball star Dirk Nowitzki, celebrated the event as part of the so-called Youth Olympic Day in front of the city's landmark Brandenburg Gate. The event was also used to wish the German team luck as they set off for Asia.
On Friday (July 23) the flame was lit in Athens and was sent to Berlin, the city which is representing the whole of Europe, on Saturday morning, when it landed at Tegel airport.
The flame was then taken by boat along the river Spree, through the centre of the city to the event at the Brandenburg Gate.
German basketball star Dirk Nowitzki said he was looking forward to taking part in the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
"We had so much fun in Beijing that I, and the basketball team would like to go to London. So hopefully we will play a good European Championships next year so that we can fulfill the dream of the young people, and we have now a lot of young people in the team," Nowitzki said.
The first ever Youth Olympic Games will kick off on August 14th in Singapore. The idea behind the games came from IOC President Jacques Rogge, who wanted to encourage young people around the world to become more enthusiastic about sports.
From 14-26 August some 3,6000 athletes aged between 14 and 18 from more than 200 nations will battle it out for the medals. Altogether 26 different sports categories are on the programme. Germany is sending 70 athletes to Singapore.
The first Youth Winter Olympic Games will take part in the Austrian city of innsbruck in 2012. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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