Friday, July 16, 2010

World Cup and Youth Olympic Games

In my opinion, the biggest winner of World Cup 2010 is South Africa. I read about the pride of the people of South Africa in hosting the World Cup and the warm hospitality that they extend to their million of visitors.

I watched the opening ceremony over television and was amazed by the pride and joy of ordinary people, the speech given by Bishop Desmond Tutu and the respect given to the former President Nelson Mandela, popularly called Madiba (i.e. Grandfather). We may have read media reports about the high crime rate and lawlessness in that country, but the people were able to project a different image to the world during this historic event.

Singapore is now hosting the Youth Olympic Games. I am worried that, in spite of the the hundred of millions of dollars that are being spent on the games (which is three times over the original budget), there is so little excitement among the people of Singapore. There was even a media report that the ticket sales is poor, and that the schools have to be asked to buy the tickets.

I hope that our leaders and the organisers of the Youth Olymic Games realize that this is not just their show, and that it belongs to the people of Singapore. Time is running out. Let us use the remaining time to engage the people.

Tan Kin Lian
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3 comments:

michael13 said...

When the people are happy, they can be expected to do 'wonders'. There is a saying about the endurable 'Love and Marriage' - "We fall in love by chance, stay in love by work and fall out of love by choice". Pray that both the government and the people take all the necessary steps to repair their relationship by listening to each other's voices and concerns. The prayers are the powerful way of acknowledging ones' weaknesses because they 'invade the impossible'.

July 16, 2010 8:21 AM
Unknown said...

Every time Singapore hosts an international event, people are inconvenienced. Every time we are told our lives will be better because of the international deals, our lives seldom improve. The people don't get the glory from the success of such events. It's very hard to get excited about this things when there are no clear and direct benefits to the people.

July 16, 2010 10:14 AM
Unknown said...

Well, in the first place, the amount of self-important huffing and puffing which the government has attached to what amounts to being a global sports festival for youth borders on the ludicrous.

And with the survivalist mentality which has been indoctrinated into Singaporeans (including me), who can really blame them for feeling utterly disconnected with an event which has little to do with them?

S$387 million, ladies and gentlemen. Then again, it is nothing compared to the billions lost by Temasek Holdings.

July 16, 2010 4:12 PM

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