Singapore won the right to host the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in 2010 at the 119th International Olympic Commitee Session in Guatemala City on 19 July 2007. It beat Moscow, Russia, 53 votes to 44. The Games cost Singapore a whopping US$284 million. It opened on 14 August and closed on 26 August. It was declared open by then-President SR Nathan.

The Olympic torch was lit in Olympia, Greece on 23 July 2010. It then travelled to five cities across five continents before arriving in Singapore for the Opening Ceremonony. The torch was taken throughout the island. During the Opening Ceremony, the flame moved in the cauldron like a vortex, thus giving it the nickname of "vortex cauldron". It was designed by Dr. Tsai Her-Mann, a fellow and resident inventor at the Singapore Science Centre. 

A total of 603 medals were awarded during the Games. Although the Organising Commitee did not keep an official medal tally, social media helped them do so. China came in at the top of the medal tally with 30 gold, followed by Russia with 19 and South Korea with 11. Singapore came in 62nd with 2 silver and 5 bronze.