THE Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee (SYOGOC) has apologised for a printing error in more than 45,000 certificates given to volunteers and participants of the recently concluded inaugural YOG.

The error - sample signatures printed on the certificates instead of the actual initials by the Chairman of YOG Organising Committee and the President of the International Olympic Committee.

"The sample signatures were used as place holders in the design of the certificates which were sent to the printing firm by mistake due to an oversight in the checking process," said the SYOGOC in a press statement on Thursday.

SYOGOC is in the process of reprinting the certificates with the correct signatures.

The new certificates will be sent in batches to the respective recipients in the coming weeks and the exercise is expected to complete by December 2010.

The certificates comprise participation certificates, victory diplomas, torchbearer certificates and commemorative certificates.