YOG Merchandise Licensee embarrassed Singapore
September 2nd, 2010 | 
Author: While the inaugural Youth Olympic Games (YOG) has concluded, trading for one of its rare Olympic pins is just starting to heat up.
map pin set
Among the Olympic pins for the YOG is the Singapore 2010 Map pin set, whereby the five related pins come together to form the shape of Singapore on a map. Each of these limited edition pins comes with a serial number on its packaging, and only 2010 pieces of each pin are available for sale.
In a huge embarrassment to host country Singapore, pin no.5 in the set is found to spot a glaring spelling error. The word Village has been misspelled as “Villoge”.
With one of the pins in the set taken off the rack, collectors can no longer obtain a complete set to form the shape of Singapore on a map. This has significantly affected buyer interests for the other four pins. In a sense, the less than 200 complete sets sold are now truly “limited edition”.
pin no. 5
In fact, complete sets of the Singapore 2010 Map Olympic pins have been transacted on auction sites for as much as $250. Given that the other four pins are still on retail for $85.60 in total, this means that pin no.5 is being valued at $164.40, close to 10 times its supposed retail price of $16.90.
Given the spelling error and the small number outstanding, this pin is posed to become a sought-after collector’s item among the Olympic pin collecting community and to appreciate significantly in value over time.
This error of ignorance was made by the Chinese merchandiser – Beijing Huajiang Culture Development Co., Ltd. (Honav). The Chinese company was appointed by the SYOGOC as the YOG Master Merchandise Licensee in July 2009.
The fact that the Master Merchandise Licence was awarded to a PRC-based company runs counter to the words of the MCYS minister. In his justification for the $387 million spent on the YOG, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan claimed that local companies especially had benefited from business opportunities from the YOG.
Such a school boy spelling error would not have occurred under a Singapore company. A local company is also more likely to do a better job of capturing the culture of Singapore through the products they design and manufacture.
We quote from the SYOGOC press release in July 2009 “As the inaugural Youth Olympic Games, Honav is dedicated to developing a high value collection with products focusing on the ‘first’ concept.” Honav has definitely done so with the Singapore 2010 Map pin no.5 – the first Olympic pin with a spelling error, and add to that showcases Singapore’s standard of English to the world!
Edmund
Posted in 
You cannot blame Chinese vendor from getting the names incorrect, English is never their first language. And most Chinese vendors always make such errors in their websites, publications etc, its very common in China.
I believe they are made at extremely low price if they are made by Chinese vendors. How come these pins are so expensive? Are they trying to recoup the $400M?
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Auntie Lucy, “Wah piang! Vleg spell like that one meh…so embarrassing!”
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what did you expect really. they specifically didn’t tell you what local business benefit for a reason.
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MSM = SINGAPORE: Payments made using Visa cards amounted to $154 million over just 12 days of the Youth Olympic Games here. That is a 38 percent increase compared to the same period last year, ..
But last August 2009 was a terrible year !!!!
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What the hell is going in with such a silly mistake? Didn’t the organiser or person in charge proof read instead of relying on China counterpart to do all the vetting?
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just be grateful that our country’s name wasn’t misspelt…
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Well,we are going to be aprt of PRC.
LHL will be the “VILLOGE’-chief.
IT’S JUST A ’small’ MISTAKE,’LET’S MOVE ON’????
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Promote SMEs but outsource most of the jobs to foreign companies.
PAP is double-faced and a betrayer, no doubt about that.
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Why the contract was awarded to Beijing Huajiang Culture Development Co., Ltd. (Honav)?
Because SYOGOC thinks they are cheaper and faster and hoped that they are better.
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Guess what our multi-million dollar salaried meeneester will say?
It was a learning experience?
It has happened. Let’s move on?
I was caught off-guard?
It could have been worse?
Sports is not about “petty politics”?
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Hmmm,
Visa is a YOG sponsor, and the only card accepted at YOG venues and shops.
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This is what you get with an Ah Tiong company – English at PRC standard!
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sure got mistakes lah
Bashing Vivian Bala
Singapore soon out to go MP
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you never know if the Beijing based company is related to some high ranking official in Beijing…and the rest is up to your imagination as far as connection and corruption is concerned….
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Why not to a China company ?. We have no talent here. All so stupid !!!
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What a glaring mistake made !!!
Cheap doesn’t mean good !
Well, you reap what you sow !
This is another case of double headed snake.
Say one thing, do another !
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If you look at the image, it’s almost impossible to tell that it’s an”o”. I also tot there was on;y one ‘l”.
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What a joke? What not give it to local company? It’s all fault of YOG organiser. They should be responsible for disgracing our country. And why it never publish in our local newspaper? Where is the accountability and transparency? With so many mistakes and faults, can you still call YOG a success.
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Such pins can easily be made in Singapore by a local SME!!Why need to go so far and get screwed??Somemore never check!!The YOG commitee sleeping?
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So, what was SYOGOC’s explanation for this cock-up? That no amount of engineering can prevent such freak incidents? Act of God?
Anyway, VB already said he make no apology for getting all the ‘talents’ he could get — apparently including those that can’t erect a canvas roof properly, can’t market a $387m event internationally, can’t anticipate poor local show-up for events/concerts, can’t prepare food without poisoning someone, ….. can’t spell.
As usual, move on, move on ….
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Truly made in china! If u have bought similar products from china, u will notice it happens quite often. Well done singapore! Our English has degraded all of a sudden (and worse than singlish now)….
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found one auction here….
http://cgi.ebay.com.sg/Singapore-2010-Youth-Olympic-Games-Map-Pin-inc-Villoge-/180554330099
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First to host YOG and so many blunders!!
Lim Swee Say: Cheap, Cheaper, Cheaperest policy is not working!!
PAP IS KILLING SINGAPORE AND ITS NATIVES!! PAP IS NOTHING BUT A
CROOK!!…..NATIONAL THIEVES!!!!
PAP SURE LOSE
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every company buy their corporate gifts direct from china nowadays. you mean YOG should spend more to give to local company? if that is that is the case lets balloon the budget even more as this give local company more business.
btw there nothing to be embarrassed about. even APPLE/BMW have to recall their product and this was discovered quickly. The shamming of singaporean by TR has not ended after the YOG
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Singapore is Doom , Doom by this bunch of nickumput and the yes
men/woman serving them . Knn Doom i tell you all .
Spelling error for a word that a primary school student can spell .
And this bunch of nickumput are setting policy for Singapore .. Shit!
Kah Pui …
An as the old fart will say
” No amount of spelling test can prevent spelling error “
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Even if the mistake has been made, the people who receive it should have checked – but complacency or negligence is to be blamed.
Anyhow – those congratulations to those 200 or so collectors – you have something special – just like misprints on stamps, these “mistakes” make the set more valuable. Unless VB wants to buy up all the 200 sets to cover up this mistake…..sell him for a peanut each – how about that!!! Cheers!
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This definitely a spelling error…Vuval Oops! Vivian , Sori !
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@Barrick: September 2, 2010 at 9:30 am
>>”every company buy their corporate gifts direct from china nowadays. you mean YOG should spend more to give to local company? if that is that is the case lets balloon the budget even more as this give local company more business.”
I am sure these are sold at a profit to customers, and not at a loss, so even if the budget balloons some more (I cannot imagine how much it can balloon by, definitely not 300%) they will be able to recoup by selling at a higher price.. As it is I am already very sure that those pins are sold at much much more than the cost price..
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With all these cheapo stuff being produce at low cost, I still cannot understand where the 390mil gone to?
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atleast they got the map right!
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The Govt have to reflect on how their spending benefits local companies instead of foreign companies. From making a pin to making a submarine, we let our money flow out of Singapore!
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@Barrick, September 2, 2010 at 9:30 am
Another justification for failure. Thks, you just provided the explanation why Singapore can’t/shouldn’t do better than others. Like that we can justify EVERY screw-up henceforth. Pls go slap Mr “Cheaper, Better, Faster” in his zorrofull face.
Also, didn’t think pins could have the same complexity level as Apple or BMW products. Wah, better buy the pin sets, man.
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They were cheap so they got the contract.
It is really difficult to compete with China companies.
Just based on price.
But who did the proof reading, in Singapore. Aiyo…
maybe a Filipino….lol. just for laughs.
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I am not happy that the govt spent close to $400 millions on YOG. Those money can be used for helping the poorer Singaporeans for example by subsidizing hospital patients and school children etc. Our govt should get the priority right and stop trying to host glamorous international event. We Singaporeans don’t want to become famous in this way.
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THE MULTIMILLION $ MINISTER IN CHARGE OF YOG SHOULD BE SACKED IMMEDIATELY.
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How is this the fault of SYOG? It’s obviously the China supplier fault!
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Btw if you want the local companies to create these pins, it costs damn a lot more. Why would you want to expend more?
Anyway Im qutie sure that there is a Singapore company which acted as the middleman and benefitted from the china order.
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seriously u have nthing better to post abt. every1 makes mistakes including, quite obviously, you. ugh if ure so displeased why not prove tht u can b better hm?
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haha is that for real, simple spelling mistake can not be detected before production or it is a foreign language? hahaha incompetent. hahaha
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its Hungry Ghost month, who’s burning incense pap…paper?
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HAYOO!:
It is not just manufacture, but also the research, design, manufacture and retailing of the YOG merchandise.
http://www.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2BNews/Sports/Story/A1Story20090716-155181.html
To save small by getting the lowest bid, the SYOGOC ends up losing big on Singapore’s reputation and lost revenue.
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Such a small thing became huge mistake. YOG should support local companies.
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Hey Mickey Mouse Reporters; check out who’s who are in this Beijing Huajiang Cultural Culture Development Ltd business ? Any relatives of well known Singaporeans ?
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You mean Singapore not competent Pin makers and must find “Ah Tiong” Pin Maker?
How sad…… Mr Vivian, can you please explain why?
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well, effectively speaking, there’s something wrong with the way our GeBiz Tender system is working. ABOLISH it. Singapore Govt and its StatBoards have a way of working with the cheapest and “milking” the better ppl for ideas – thus they don’t have to pay. We’ve to ABOLISH it.
Likewise, why are we paying so much for incompetent leaders when they cannot deliver. After all we are not paying peanuts here.
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You mean there is not a single pin making company in Singapore that could have taken this order and help our local SME economy?
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theforgoterngeneration
even my company’s local talent make a typo on print postcard. you wanto take a ministry to task over a typo.
yes its a fault no doubt. but the way some ppl alway blew things out of proportion are reasons why opposition always never gain support.
btw, 99% of local corporate gifts company order from china/malaysia. FYI
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Aiyoh, if so much money like almost $400m can award to outside country business and NOT own country in Singapore to stimulate economy, it clearly shows impropriety. Imagine what these MIW leeches will do with the $60b required to build more MRT. I never can fanthom why need $60b for MRT when both the resort world and MBS combined cost only S$10b.
Get ready for massive legalised corruption.
Lim Pei smell a MIW dead rat eating something fishy Swee Swee, has spoken
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WOW. World class level country cannot spell the word correctly? You mean, people at YOG never check when they put the item on sale? I thought, Singapore has the best Quality checks? Everything is always at a premium rate. So, what are we exactly paying so much for? Penny for thoughts!
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@Barrick – you hve earn the “Daftrest ” award !
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Chinese design is known to be old fashioned and not up to par as seen here. For such a major event, YOGS should have the pride to keep the creative work in Singapore and manage the production work in PRC.
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Everything is made in China here
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