What are the mascots of the first YOG and what do they both symbolise?
The two mascots of the Singapore 2010 YOG are Lyo and Merly : “Lyo” is an abbreviation of “Lion of the Youth Olympics”. He is based on the national symbol of the city-state of Singapore, the lion. Star sign : Leo Dream : to win a gold medal in an international basketball championship. Motto : “Never say Never” Favourite food : chilli crabs/very spicy chicken rice Hobbies : jamming on his electric guitar ; learning new things ; and playing sport, especially basketball The name “Merly” comes from the French word “mer” (meaning “sea”) and the letters l and y, corresponding to “liveliness” and “youthfulness”. She is based on the merlion, a mythical sea creature with the head of a lion and the body of a fish – a product of local folklore.