The first Youth Olympic Games mascots unveiled for Singapore 2010!

The Singapore 2010 Organising Committee unveiled the first Youth Olympic Games mascots on Saturday 21 November 2009: Lyo (pronounced Leo) and Merly.

Lyo is short for “Lion of the Youth Olympics”. A sports lover, he is fun-loving and hopes to inspire young people to keep fit and enjoy sport for life. He symbolises young people’s boundless energy, their determination to live life to the fullest and zeal to strive for excellence.

Merly got her name from “mer” (meaning the sea) and “ly” stands for liveliness and youthfulness. A passionate advocate of environmental protection, Merly believes that everyone has a role to play in working towards a sustainable future. She also wants to encourage young people to play an active role in their communities and promote respect for one another.