DAVID BACK TO SCHOOL BUT HE'S THE TEACHER!!

Monday, 16th August
David's last workout before his 100m heat on Wednesday saw him back at school today, but it was he who was teaching the lessons!

David and coach John Powell visited the Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) in Dover Road, Singapore, to take advantage of their excellent training facilities.  It was a great sign-off for David before the competition begins in ernest at one of Singapore's most prominent educational establishments.

David trains in ACS sports hall this morning

"We were both really impressed with what ACS had to offer," said John after the session, "it was just a pity that a really heavy rain storm prevented us from training outside.  But they have such a huge hall we were able to use that as if it were an indoor track - spikes and all.

"The athlete's village is a fantastic opportunity for young people to get the experience of what a real major Games can be like, and networking opportunities with other athletes from all over the world are priceless.  ACS though just provided that window of opportunity to take a few hours out in different surroundings - and promote cultural relations between the school and TeamGB."

Several of the 2900 pupils at the school looked in on the World's number one 100m sprinter under-18 as he trained, and there were a couple of photo-calls afterwards, along with a brief charity lunch.

Later in the day David will visit the world famous Raffles Hotel.

MEDIA MANIA FOLLOWS MANIC MORNING!

Sunday 15th August

David sets out his blocks at the Bishan Stadium where he will launch his
Youth Olympic 100 metres challenge on Wednesday!

David met the world's number two today for the first time, and lined up alongside him in a blocks session taken by technical officials in a dress rehearsal for Wednesday's heats, and the result was GB 1, Jamaica nil!

The Jamaican false started at least three times - and by some way too - and struck the onlooking Trackspeed1 coach John Powell as being "obviously very talented, but undisciplined and incredibly rough around the edges".  He also pointed out that both Jamaicans had best times taken from the same meeting in March this year, whereas David peaked with a world lead time only last week!

David on the other hand was totally focussed, and got on with his session even when others were trying to predict the gun and being recalled by a nauseating electronic beep.

"David was as focussed as I would expect him to be," said John.  He was clearly the best at the track by a country mile in terms of getting on with his session.  I think reality is kicking in now, so we'll hide away at a remote track tomorrow for a calm final confidence-boosting session before a rest day on Tuesday.  He runs Wednesday morning.

"The only slight worry today was the organisation of the technical side of things.  The IAAF representative asked me what I thought of the locally manufactured electronic starting gun, and I confessed I thought it was way too blurred.  I think the Singaporeans may have a bit of a wake-up call on the way, because the powers that be were far from impressed, and were calling for actual guns to be brought back.  It's not something we'll dwell on though - it's someone else's problem, and David and I will be focussed on only one thing from here on in."

It was confirmed this afternoon that qualification for the unique structure of four finals, will see the fastest 8 times qualify for the main 'A' final on Saturday evening.  The next slowest go into a 'B' final, the next 8 into the 'C' race, and slowest 8 into the 'D' event.

Straight after training, David was whisked off to the main press centre in Singapore for a press conference alongside Lord Sebastian Coe, Lord Colin Moynihan, and Olympic Gold medalist Amy Williams.

David sits alongside Lord Sebastian Coe at the BOA press conference earlier today.

What could have been a really daunting experience for a sixteen-year-old proved yet another hit with the gathered media, with a variety of questions fired at the fastest under-18 man in the world.  He was subsequently interviewed on Eurosport!  It will be the last the media see of him though, as he now focusses with his coach on the business in hand.

The Eurosport interview!

The opening ceremony proved a spectacle to behold last night, with a massive worldwide TV audience, and 27,000 people present in Singapore Marina.  David's big moment carrying the Union Flag for Great Britain onto the set went without hitch.

Fireworks light up the night sky in Singapore Marina during the
opening ceremony last night

Singapore Marina awaits the main event last night

The show rolls on with some spectacular dancing...

204 nations display their flags at the climax of the ceremony

DAVID TO LEAD TEAMGB IN FRONT OF MILLIONS!

Friday, 13th August

David is the toast of TeamGB as he takes charge of the national flag

David Bolarinwa was awarded the ultimate honour tonight, and was presented with the Union Jack flag by Vancouver Winter Olympics Champion Amy Williams in front of Lord Moynihan, Chair of the British Olympic Association.  He will make history in leading the whole of TeamGB out onto the opening ceremony tomorrow night (Saturday 14th).

Millions of TV viewers worldwide, plus a capacity crowd in the Singapore Marina, will witness what is expected to be a spectacular opening ceremony to the first ever Youth Olympic Games.  For full details and quotes from David - go to http://www.olympics.org.uk/news.aspx 

A visibly shocked young man became the toast of TeamGB before he has even run a step, at a reception held by British High Commissioner in Singapore, HE Paul Madden.  He flew a giant-size Union Jack in front of the entire team on the steps of the Singapore mansion with all other 38 members of the team gathered behind him.  A TV interview followed, during which an emotional call home was put on speaker as he told his mother what had just happened.

"I think everyone had to swallow hard at that moment," said coach John Powell, "it is a terrific honour, and when David was trying to explain to his mum what had just happened it was a real mix of humour and emotion."

David phones home in front of the cameras with BBC Blue Peter
presenter Helen Skelton egging him on

David will soak up his first experience of an Olympic atmosphere at the ceremony before he returns to training on Sunday morning to get on with the real business end of the trip.

"We're going to the competition stadium Sunday morning for a blocks sessions under starting officials, so that will be a great opportunity to see what it will be like on Wednesday when the heats go off," said John.  Monday we're training at a local school facility, and Tuesday it's chill-out time before we get down to business on Wednesday."

Earlier in the day today David had completed another speedy training session at the village complex training facility, and emerged really upbeat as he had finally shaken off all the after effects of traveling 7600 miles and traversing seven time zones.

"I felt fast today for the first real time since we've been here," he said, "and that makes me feel a whole lot better."

More pictures from the celebrations in Singapore...

David received the Union Flag from Vancouver Gold medalist,
Amy Williams

Coach John Powell with David after the 16-year-old's big moment!

John Powell with Lord Moynihan after the celebrations

David takes charge of the Flag surrounded by TeamGB

GETTING FOCUSSED!

Friday, 13th August

Blue Peter cameras home in on David and presenter 

Helen Skelton at the Singapore training track

It's a busy time in singapore for Trackspeed1's DavidBolarinwa, who has had his fair share of media interviews, aged just 16, and today it was the turn of the Blue Peter cameras to focus in on the world's number one under-18 100m sprinter in Singapore - but not before the morning training session.

"Today was a far better day," said coach John Powell.  "David trained really well this morning, and at last he seems to be getting over the jet lag and disruption to eating and sleeping habits.  is cold has gone, and things were far more upbeat today.  He looked really good on the track.

"I don't think people back home in the UK have been told just how big this event is.  Singapore have been preparing for these Games for 3 years, and the city is at fever pitch now with the opening ceremony tomorrow (Saturday).

"The first ever Youth Olympic torch is doing its rounds on the island, having been carried around five continents, and will be carried by around 2400 bearers along 240 kilometres of road. We have representatives from 205 countries here, there are 18 Olympic venues, and 26 sports, encompassing over 5000 competitors and officials.  It's absolutely huge here, and it's attracted over 2000 media representatives all over the world.

"All in all it's a fantastic opportunity for David and many like him to experience a big stage, and go through the whole preparation thing at a major Games a long way from home.  After all, in 2016 we hope to be in Rio!"

David, Helen Skelton (Blue Peter) and coach John Powell 

This evening David, John, and the rest of TeamGB will attend the British High Commissioner's reception for the team, and tomorrow, although a rest day for David, he will be back at the training track to meet Lord Sebastian Coe, who has now flown out to witness the first ever Youth Olympic Games - the first new Olympic initiative in 80 years!

Above, David's interview with Helen for Blue Peter develops at the main

training venue for the Youth Olympic Games track and field athletes (below)

HEAT IS ON IN SINGAPORE!

Thursday, 12th August
As David's progress moved a day closer to next Wednesday's 100m first round, today's training session proved a tough workout with the humidity factor and 35-degree heat draining all the athletes at the training track.

David drives out of the blocks at the NTU training track

"The only people who seemed unfazed by the heat were the Kenyan squad running countless laps on the grass inside the track," said coach John Powell.  "We knew the climate was going to be challenging, and what will ultimately determine alot of Western European performances next week will be how well - or not - the athletes acclimatise, and adapt their bodies to seven time zones east, and the consequent impact of this on eating and sleeping.

"I was melting standing still, so you can imagine what it was like for the athletes.  Second night blues had obviously kicked in because there weren't too many happy faces this morning.  As bodies adapt though, I know we'll be ready to roll next week.  We're going to train a little earlier tomorrow to hopefully avoid the worst of the heat."

David's second workout of the trip was positive in that he had almost completely shaken off the cold that had haunted him since the weekend.  Powering out of blocks under the watchful eye of his coach, it was a fruitful but exhausting experience that will see him move one stage closer to getting in tip top shape for next week's competition.

No details have yet been released about qualification conditions for the 100 metres from heat to final, and  these probably won't be known until after a technical meeting on Sunday.  There are, however, a maximum of 32 competitors in the event, with four finals labelled D,C,B and A, hence guaranteeing every athlete two runs.  Which final will of course depend on performances in the opening round.

Tomorrow, David hits the track once more before a well earned rest day on Saturday, with a reception for team and coaches at the British High Commission tomorrow evening.

TUNING UP IN THE ORIENT

Wednesday, 11th August
David and coach John Powell hit the track for the first time today after flying the 7600 miles from London in readiness for the first ever World Youth Olympic Games in Singapore.

His first training session was a fairly tame affair, with the main objective to shake off any lingering effects of the long flight over.

David relaxes after his first session in Singapore

"David's looking fine," said John, "although he's caught a cold which doesn't exactly help, but that will be long gone by race day next week, I'm sure.  It's all about a bit of revision on the track now - a bit of work on block starts and some rapid turnover stuff to get him to next Wednesday's start line ready to fly!"

The Youth Olympics are huge in Singapore, and both coach and athlete were greeted at the airport by a frenzy of activity and publicity.  The city is shrouded in banners and posters advertising the Games, which Singapore were awarded over fellow finalists Russia by the International Olympic Committee.

"It's a huge deal over here," said John, " and when the opening ceremony goes ahead on Sunday I doubt Singaporeans will be talking about much else!"

DAVID SIGNS OFF IN THE UK

Sunday, 8th August
Today was the final training session on home soil for David before he flies east for the Youth Olympic Games.

A good session as assessed by coach JP, with blocks and a 150m sprint looking pretty good.  It was pretty much perfect conditions with brilliant sunshine at Crystal Palace, with training partner James Ellington continuing his comeback from a serious hamstring injury running at the same time.

"We're pretty much there now", said coach John Powell.   "We have sessions planned in Singapore, and the good news is that it seems a venue has been found where I will be able to work with David in person, so that can only be good news.  The last few sessions will hopefully see David arrive at the start line on Wednesday 18th in tip-top condition."