YOG 2010: Blatter watches Iran and Turkey open Youth Olympics

From Tom Reynolds, Sportsbeat, in Singapore

FIFA president Sepp Blatter watched Turkey and Iran kick-off the first-ever Youth Olympic Games in Singapore.

TUSSLE: Turkey's Karatas Eda (left front) fights for the ball with Iran's Khalaji Fatemeh and Farmani Soghra during the Turkey versus Iran girls' preliminaries match of the Youth Olympic Games (Singapore Press Holding)

Iran's participation in the inaugural event, which IOC President Jacques Rogges hope will be his legacy to the Olympic Movement, was in doubt after Fifa refused them permission to wear a uniform in line with their nation's Islamic dress code.

But following personal intervention from Blatter, the world governing body finally approved an altered kit that swapped the proposed headscarf for a cap that covers the hair, but not the ears and neck.

He watched from the stands of the Jalan Besar Stadium as Turkey raced into a sixth minute lead when Eda Karatas fired home.

Team-mate Eda Duran restored parity just a few minutes later with an own goal before Iran took the lead through Shahin Aflaki, all before mid-way through the first half.

Iran's Fatemeh Adeli then netted another own goal to put Turkey on level terms before two goals in the final ten minutes - through Feride Serin and Kubra Aydin - sealed the 4-2 victory for Turkey.

Meanwhile, Rogge has been forced to defend the skyrocketing costs of his vision.

It was originally anticipated the event would cost no more than £19 million ($30m) to stage but by the time Singapore won their bid that cost had risen to £48m ($76m).

Last month the Singapore government claimed the final bill would be £184m ($287m) - nearly ten times the original estimate.

"Very soon, the Youth Olympic Games will become as much an indispensable fixture of the Olympic calendar as its grown-up brothers," said Rogge.