Bolarinwa keeps his head while all around him fluff their lines

Posted: Saturday 14th August 2010 | 17:33

By Tom Reynolds, Sportsbeat, in Singapore

"If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs...you'll be a man, my son." - Rudyard Kipling

David Bolarinwa proved at the Lee Valley 100m Open Sprints earlier this month that he is all but a man by setting the fastest time for an under-18 in the world - clocking 10.39 seconds.

ON PARADE: Flags from over 200 nations are paraded at the opening ceremony of the Youth Olympic Games in Singapore (Reuters)

But if he needed reminding of his new-found status it came at the glittering Youth Olympic Games opening ceremony in Singapore.

Kipling might have been referring to Victorian stoicism rather than the procession of the 204 competing nations' flags in Marina Bay but never have his words rung truer.

While the whole event passed off with precision, a genuine subtlety and no little flair (and fireworks). But the entire evening threatened to come to a halt with the arrival of the flags, carried by each team's chosen representative, on the floating stage in the heart of the harbour.

I won't bore you with the details but it was a basic format; into the arena, turn left or right (following your guide, complete with your country's name on a sign), wave excitedly, hand over the flag to the aforementioned guide and exit stage left or right.

However, the Singaporeans amazing eye for detail had not banked on athletes' failure to follow basic instruction.

The Czech Republic's flag ended up fully 100 yards from its signage and the flag bearer had to stroll sheepishly back across the stage to be re-united with his guide.

Finland went the same (wrong) way and a flawless evening was threatened with ridicule.

And then, enter Bolarinwa. Smiling, he waved the flag in excited fashion, without lapsing into a Boris Johnson, followed his leader, deposited the Union Jack and made his exit. Job done.

There will be many more difficult challenges for Bolarinwa and the rest of the 39-strong British team over the next 12 days.

But if more can follow the south London 16-year-old sprinter's opening ceremony lead then maybe the rest of the team can make the journey from boy to man over (and girl to women).