English Blog Entry 3

Article: I’m sorry, Singapore
Link to article: http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_273461.html
Adapted from: The Straits Times, Saturday, 30th August 2008

“I sincerely apologise,” said Ms Lee Bee Wah, president of the Singapore Table Tennis Association, on 29th August 2008, Friday. Just 5 days after the women table tennis triumphed and took silver in the recently-concluded Olympics held in Beijing, China, Ms Lee threatened to sack team manager Antony Lee and national head coach Liu GuoDong as she had been angry after Singapore top male table tennis player Gao Ning had to play without a coach on the sidelines during the Olympic Games as his assigned coach had been held up at an earlier match which overran.

Spreading like bush fire, her remarks resulted in a major confusion among the people. This turned out to upset the celebration mood of the Singaporeans and she was forced to make a public apology, which would supposedly mark the end of this crisis. However, it did not mean that this controversy was entirely over and done with.

Firstly we must think that was it really worth it to let these relatively small matters become such a major disturbance? Just because of some bad management and carelessness on the coaches and team manager’s part, was it really wise to threaten to kick them out of the nation team, overlooking all of their achievements and contributions to Singapore, especially when the female table tennis team had just won silver? Her remarks had definitely added oil to the flames of criticisms of the coaches and team manager.

Secondly, she had proved herself to be irresponsible as she was unable to consider the impact of this commotion on the Singapore team, Singapore table-tennis association, the people of Singapore, as well as Singapore itself, before making her remarks. This was especially embarrassing as the commotion had started not in Singapore, but in Beijing itself, so called “outside the doors of another country”. And this made it seem as if she was venting her own personal frustration, and her thoughtlessness also showed her incompetence in handling national affairs. What would representatives of other countries think when they saw her blow her top?

Also, her comments caused quite a great stir locally. Her remarks had hit hard among fellow Singaporeans, and were a pain to the table-tennis enthusiasts and common people alike who were still celebrating the success of Singapore team in 48 years. This had left a deep scar in the field of Singapore sports which would not be fully healed until a long time later.

This event had given us a glimpse of the so-called “sports politics” in Singapore. I could not deny the fact that the head coach and team manage had indeed placed priority on the female table tennis team, because they had higher chances of winning a medal in the Olympics. In theory, they should have the same emphasis so as to be fair. Maybe that was why Ms Wee flared up at them. However, it was not entirely the coaches’ fault. In fact, who wouldn’t?

However, Ms Lee made the right move as she tried to cover up her “mistake” by apologising to the entire Singapore, even though she had already lost the trust from many Singaporeans. It seemed that she finally understood that a lot was at stake.

But this is “sports politics”. One wrong move and you’re out, sooner or later.

Adapted from: The Straits Times, Saturday, 30th August 2008

“I sincerely apologise,” said Ms Lee Bee Wah, president of the Singapore Table Tennis Association, on 29th August 2008, Friday. Just 5 days after the women table tennis triumphed and took silver in the recently-concluded Olympics held in Beijing, China, Ms Lee threatened to sack team manager Antony Lee and national head coach Liu GuoDong as she had been angry after Singapore top male table tennis player Gao Ning had to play without a coach on the sidelines during the Olympic Games as his assigned coach had been held up at an earlier match which overran.

Spreading like bush fire, her remarks resulted in a major confusion among the people. This turned out to upset the celebration mood of the Singaporeans and she was forced to make a public apology, which would supposedly mark the end of this crisis. However, it did not mean that this controversy was entirely over and done with.

Firstly we must think that was it really worth it to let these relatively small matters become such a major disturbance? Just because of some bad management and carelessness on the coaches and team manager’s part, was it really wise to threaten to kick them out of the nation team, overlooking all of their achievements and contributions to Singapore, especially when the female table tennis team had just won silver? Her remarks had definitely added oil to the flames of criticisms of the coaches and team manager.

Secondly, she had proved herself to be irresponsible as she was unable to consider the impact of this commotion on the Singapore team, Singapore table-tennis association, the people of Singapore, as well as Singapore itself, before making her remarks. This was especially embarrassing as the commotion had started not in Singapore, but in Beijing itself, so called “outside the doors of another country”. And this made it seem as if she was venting her own personal frustration, and her thoughtlessness also showed her incompetence in handling national affairs. What would representatives of other countries think when they saw her blow her top?

Also, her comments caused quite a great stir locally. Her remarks had hit hard among fellow Singaporeans, and were a pain to the table-tennis enthusiasts and common people alike who were still celebrating the success of Singapore team in 48 years. This had left a deep scar in the field of Singapore sports which would not be fully healed until a long time later.

This event had given us a glimpse of the so-called “sports politics” in Singapore. I could not deny the fact that the head coach and team manage had indeed placed priority on the female table tennis team, because they had higher chances of winning a medal in the Olympics. In theory, they should have the same emphasis so as to be fair. Maybe that was why Ms Wee flared up at them. However, it was not entirely the coaches’ fault. In fact, who wouldn’t?

However, Ms Lee made the right move as she tried to cover up her “mistake” by apologising to the entire Singapore, even though she had already lost the trust from many Singaporeans. It seemed that she finally understood that a lot was at stake.

But this is “sports politics”. One wrong move and you’re out, sooner or later.