YOG Relay embarrassment
August 17th, 2010 | 
Author: I was formerly a Physical Education teacher and I fully support the idea of the Olympic Games, albeit at a junior level. However I need to voice my concerns about at least how the Web team for the SYOGOC screwed up.
When the Straits Times first mentioned that the relay runners’ names were available online, I went to the SYOG website to grab the runners’ lists right away to scan for famous athletes as I was previously a competitive runner.
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I managed to spot Hicham El Guerrouj and Frank Fredericks and Alexander Popov (I know who Popov was, because I was interested in swimming and triathlon). Most of the relay runners from Singapore had photos – be it students, or community or volunteer kind of people. I’m fine with that.
What was appalling on the website was that, there were no photos of especially Hicham El Guerrouj, who I believe is still the current world record holder for men’s 1500m and Mile for the past 11 years… and in place of his photo, it was a blank outline (kind of like MSN contacts without a photo)! Same thing happened for other non-Singapore relay runners, even if they were nominated directly or indirectly by the International Olympic Committee!
To confirm some identities, I also tried to look at the photo of a relay runner who has a fairly common name (and I thought might be an long lost acquaintance) – and I had to wait out for the website to go one-by-one from a runner to the next, just so that I can see the photo and ascertain the identity, as I lost the contact of this friend years ago. Good thing was, it was indeed him – but the time spent just waiting for the website to auto-load to his profile, I believe I spent at least 4 to 6 minutes waiting, just to verify the identity by means of a photo. There wasn’t an option to click upon the profile to cut the wait – it was really testing my patience!
The morning before his scheduled run/relay, I was working on my computer up to 3am planning the route of advancement to where I suppose El Guerrouj would be dropped off, do his bit of the relay, and get back onto the bus – all just so that I could take a photo of him (and the other athletes I mentioned).
From the information given, I had to deduce roughly by my own logic where he’d be dropped off, because the website didn’t give further information about what relay runner tag number he was assigned, nor which lamp-post he’d be getting his turn.
I had to deduce by logic, as there were 29 runners for the 2.2km stretch of Serangoon Road, which means each runner would take up only 75 meters – that was quite a challenge because I have no guarantee that was exactly going to be his spot for sure for me to get there ahead of time!
So came Friday morning – the route was baffling, to put it bluntly. I have absolutely no idea why the relay would have to go from Nanyang Girls’ to Newton Circus, go past Newton Food Centre, come out by Winstedt Road and go around once more to go onto Bukit Timah Road again.
In fact, I had absolutely no clue that the relay would go “express” and give the long stretch of Bukit Timah Road a miss, only to resume at Serangoon Road! If not for the fact that I was on my mountain bike, I would have missed all opportunity of taking any photos! Because of this and the fact that Serangoon Road was tricky for me with my mountain bike, I did my evaluation and had to give Popov a miss, and had to pray really hard that I could get El Guerrouj and Fredericks.
The AETOS folks controlling the traffic weren’t too eager to have me on my mountain bike on the opposite side of the one-way Serangoon Road. I was supposed to cycle only on the pavement – but with curious bystanders stopping to look from it, how on earth could I cycle through this crowd? And no, I don’t think I could run all the way with my camera from Newton Circus in the first place!
Fortunately for me, El Guerrouj was dropped off at the junction of Balestier Road and Serangoon Road with relatively lesser traffic, however there was not a single soul lining up to take a photo with him, because I think even if there were any fellow fans, they wouldn’t know where is the exact spot he’d be dropped off as I encountered in my preparations.
I managed to get my photos of him, as well as with him. I remember I was feeling my heart beating very fast – not because of the fact that I was able to meet him in person, but because I had to do a strenuous and stressful leap-and-bound style of cycling just to be able to ensure that I got to see him! I also got to take my photos with Fredericks… everything was over so fast!
My greatest joy was my luck to be able to take photos of, as well as with, these two great Olympians. However, I was embarrassed somewhat that their names were not even publicized in the newspapers – be it their arrival, or participation in the relay – hence leading to zero supporters for El Guerrouj, apart from myself. Fredericks had some students from Hong Yi Primary cheering him on, without a clue who he was – I explained to them their great luck of meeting a great man after Fredericks departed.
Some of my running friends were totally shocked when I posted the photos that I took with these two great men on my Facebook account – because they weren’t even aware of these athletes’ presence in Singapore. Initially I’d thought Guo Jingjing was coming and probably would be a torch relay runner – but nope, she wasn’t.
Maybe I missed a fact somewhere along the lines. And no, no photos with Popov, because he was dropped somewhere earlier along Serangoon Road – where I couldn’t possibly get to in advance because I didn’t have a single clue where he’d be dropped as well. The Straits Times had goofed up big time by not even mentioning (unless I really missed seeing it) these two men’s participation.
If anyone ought to get shot, I’d volunteer to nominate the SYOG Web Development team. But then again, if they were volunteers, I can’t hold it against them. But for the amount of time that has gone by since the confirmation of the YOG bid, it’s still far below my personal expectations.
I want to comment nothing on politics and YOG apart from that the execution phase of the relay made me really concerned. I sure hope the rest of the event runs without a glitch though!
I had to add in the last bit about politics although i’m frustrated by a long-lost scholar acquaintance of late; to the extent that I got totally repulsed by his behaviour when I mentioned that i’m working in insurance. perhaps I’ll leave that for another day, but in all honesty. I don’t know who’s the blokes volunteering or bring arrowed to do the website. international BIG NAMES can actually get NO MENTIONING at all in both ST and the YOG website. I was practically hunting for the BIG NAMES in FINE PRINT by myself! :-p
If the website were run by volunteers, ok, I will accede some leeway (in fact, lots) for not knowing Who’s Who in sports. If it were NSF boys being arrowed for it, I pity them, because i observed how the NDP were run, as I was official photographer from 2004-2007. Sad in a way that high up in the decision-makers’ workflow, that saf or ex-saf people have to be roped in to do work they were never supposed to do.
iIm not too sure, but it jolly well could be some high-up-there personnel, but below the chief decision maker, who’d volunteer the raw masses of SAF NSF boys for this event. I do pity the nsf boys, because this wasn’t what they asked for, like the photos that I took at NDP, the unearthly hours the 1SIR and 40-something-SAR boys had to be there, to lay down tarpaulin etc…
I wish I could write better and formulate my thoughts clearer when I write. the only thing that my various thoughts about the local system is that the leaders, in an attempt to make singapore a BIG red dot, is to let it achieve world’s pioneer status in everything. My goodness, how many guiness world records do we need?
While the authoritarian methods in the 50/60s might have eradicated secret societies by large; this might have rendered most people into weaklings, kind of like raising a fierce dog, overtime, the many generations of offspring will be domesticated.
Yours Sincerely,
Ngoh Seh Suan, AFP
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Posted in 
“While the authoritarian methods in the 50/60s might have eradicated secret societies by large; this might have rendered most people into weaklings, kind of like raising a fierce dog, overtime, the many generations of offspring will be domesticated.”
.
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The authoritarian methods in the 1950s and 1960s have eradicated the secret societies, and now there is only ONE GODFATHER who will dictate with HIS VOICE to be heard, and with HIM setting the price for HIS continued service to protect this Red Dot.
With the kingpins and the many secret societies all gone, the Pro Alien Party and the various government agencies are beginning to takeover all the rackets to extract money from honest citizens.
Are the methods not dissimilar – when one who cannot pay up get thrown out of the homes, or the homes are confiscated when their arbitrary laws are broken, or get hauled up to be beaten in some dark rooms under a spotlamp ?
In the 1950s, who will dare to talk back and confront the secret societies guys wearing black ?
Now in 2010, who will dare to talk back and confront the guys wearing blue protected by the Big Brothers in the Pro Alien Party ?
In the 1950s, the Secret Societies set the rules and their laws, and will arbitrate any disputes with a fee imposed.
Do we not have similar practices today, where the Laws are FIXXED to protect the law makers, while everyone else will pay and pay for any justice that we can only hope will come our way at not too high a price ?
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I just want to say that, PAP govt is not capable of organising such a big event because they are not humble enough to learn.
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It was never about sports to begin with. How many of the heavy weights up there in SYOGOC know who’s who? That’s not their priority. Their priority is to put up a “good show”. The end justify the means.
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That is the problem with top-down manufactured support.
If it is spontaneous support, these Olympic stars would not be overlooked!
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retribution for those who ill treatment towards the weak will come soon..just sit tight PaPies Lackey..
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It’s business and the creation of false or astro support, through the ministry of truth…aka straight jacket times.
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I kind of feel that what old Lee said about complacency is correct, very true. The only thing is it is not the complacency of the common Singaporeans that caused all these social ills we are all facing.
It is the complacency of the people around him, chosen by him, working alongside him, his cabinet colleagues, the people who ’serve’ him.
Perhaps the elites truly believe that we are the best, wanting to be No. 1 in everything, including the biggest pizza in the world, the most numbers of Qigong practitioners in the world. These people think that success comes automatically when they are ‘Singaporean’ because to them, being a Singaporean we will always become No.1.
Our leaders are wasting too much time chasing for meaningless No. 1’s. Little did they realised that we are starting to become laughing stock to the rest of the world. Can you imagined this ‘kept’ minister (‘kept’ because he is a minister without portfolio) dressed himself as Zorro, walked and behaved like the character that be, but all along utter nothing constructive but garbages?!!
This YOG truly shows the world, we are only No. 1 when we work together as a nation. Not as a political party alone. I would rather have opposition members rule for now, make mistakes, learn from there and emerge as compassionate Singapore leaders then the current batch where everything is measured by money.
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Why do we always have incompetent individuals on the very top of ladders in singapore?
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Ngoh Seh Suan, its a blessing in disguise for you. Now you have two very unique photos that you could be very proud of passing to your children.
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To Mr E,
Intutively it may feel so lah, the truth is that many get to the ”top” by being a yes man/woman. In the case of Singapore, esepcially resoundingly true among the incumbents is this lah: whether one is an intellect or not or whether one is academically ”equipped” on not – is irrelevant is a mere projection. Reality is and what matters (the ”key”) is singing to the chorus and being a puppet; and of course, it is ESSENTIAL that one eschews principles,ethics , sense of justice and so on so forth. That is the ”key” that unlocks the doors to the corridors of power and $$$.
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Because they have spend time, far more than enough, since the time of our independence to plan, safeguard, strategise, trial run, set their own rules and evict opposing forces to make sure that they hold their power even if that do not perform.
Beauty is that they can “look” like they are performing well, by just presenting every quarterly and annually to the people, a statistical report of end results, achieved by what means, we do not know.
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NEPOTISM, that’s why.
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YOG is nothing more than a big joke, spending millions, wonder if they did really spend millions or maybe lost them to some bad investment, what benefits hv YOG on us, more tourist came ? how come students are offer free tickets to watch something they’re not interested in? where are the tourist who is suppose to spend big bucks to stimulate our economy, with YOG? if indeed we spend millions for YOG, wat benefits hv we really received?giving ways, lost of sleep by students, in my opinion it hv cause more disruptions to most daily livelihood than benefit us
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@atobe
If a person cannot pay for his house, despite having bought it, should he expect to be treated as a guest? Or perhaps live in the house for free?
If you are able to talk back, not listen to, and generally disobey the police, then of what use will they be?
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“Mr. E:
August 17, 2010 at 3:44 pm
Why do we always have incompetent individuals on the very top of ladders in singapore?”
Its typical in dictatorships to employ people based on loyalty rather than merit or ability to perform the job.
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Heyy Seh Suan, I was formerly a competitive runner as well, and I still keep a close watch on the international athletics scene. Would you mind if I asked a big favour from you and ask for the photos of El Guerrouj and Federicks?
Gosh I had no idea that they were in town. If i knew, I would have spared no expense at going down for a shot at seeing them.
Do you know if they will be present during the YOG athletics competitions? I would pay good money just for a chance to take a shot with them
:D
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Sound good. Its also my favorite topic.That’s great andthanks for the fine sharring.
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Yet another embarrassment when the canvas roof falls apart at YOG basketball venue.
http://sg.yfittopostblog.com/2010/08/18/canvas-roof-falls-apart-at-yog-basketball-venue/
And to top it up, look at the crowd size.
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All those jokers working and controlling the operation of the YOG could not even seprate the rocks from the gems. All they care was to make themselves looking good like operating robots…. LOL
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Gd piece that shows incompetence of organising committee and MSM in communicating info that could interest S’poreans abt games.
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sorry TR admin, where’s the long post/reply i put up at 2+am this morning? saw it briefly, and it disappeared!
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Erm, NDP is under the helm of SAF for as long as i remembered. Its the way of showing how the Military falls under Civilian rule in Singapore, and not a separate entity.
But the men of SAF did their job well especially for YOG. Too bad that there’s a big time conflicting interests amongst SYOGOC, SSC and MCYS.
Getting three ministerial level organisation to work together, one can imagine what a horror it is, and the cockups that occurs.
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@Mage
You bring up a good point. I wonder how many problems stemmed from miscommunication between the myraid departments. That it took so long just to clarify that SFI served not ALL volunteers but only a few… I can just visualise some faceless civil servant desperately calling up all the departments trying to find the receipts.
Then again, correct me if i’m wrong, but don’t most military forces fall under a civillian leadership? I’m not sure, but for example, is the US Secratary of Defence supposed to be an ex soldier etc?
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What a pity!
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