By Christopher Ong

GROWING up in South Korea, Lee Dong Yeop, 16, played Yut, a traditional board game similar to Ludo.

Little did he know that his North Korean neighbours were playing the same game.

It was only here in Singapore that the Fiba 33 basketballer learnt that the game was one of 'many common interests' that the two countries shared.

His was just one of several eye-opening experiences for Asian Youth Games athletes taking part in the Culture and Education Programme.

Based at the Games Village at Swissotel The Stamford, the CEP is an opportunity for the over 1,200 athletes to participate in educational workshops and cultural tours.

The CEP started last Tuesday and will end tomorrow with the official closing of the Games.

As part of the programme, cultural booths of AYG-participating countries were put up by 108 schools. The booths, which were rotated from Tuesday to Saturday, offered athletes a chance to learn about other cultures.

Like Dong Yeop, Maldivian swimmers Shajan Aminath and Yoosuf Saamy Ali, both 15, found the booths interesting.

Shajan especially liked the Thailand booth's classical dance costume and replica Loy Krathong floats. Saamy was so impressed by the former that he gamely posed for photos with it.

He enthused: 'It's good for youths to know more about other countries.'

More than 50 schools have also sent students to view the exhibition.

Said Regent Secondary's Noor Hazyra, 13: 'I learnt about how Iraq has a rich language and literary heritage. It's been very informative.'

There were also workshops on health and nutrition, and on the Olympic values of Excellence, Friendship and Respect. Evening performances with ethnic and contemporary music and dance items also featured.

The students manning the booths said they gained from mingling with the AYG athletes.

Victoria School's M. Devanand, 14, who helped out at the Brunei booth, explained: 'It improved my social skills.

'Even when the athletes didn't speak the same language as me, I tried to interact with them by demonstrating the sepak takraw game at our booth.'

This article was first published in The Straits Times.