Vivian : "We underestimated YOG's budget!"

[Papsmearer]

Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, says the government underestimated the cost in hosting the recent inaugural Youth Olympic Games (YOG).

The initial estimate for the inaugural YOG was S$104 million, but the total cost overshot the original budget by three times to S$387 million.

I would have said the budget was closer to $500 million. Vivian the chindian has conveniently left out the cost to those who "volunteered" such as school children and NSmen. Their labour were free, because they were shanghaied into the YOG free labour force. If they had to hire the same people, easily $500 million.

Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday, Dr Balakrishnan responded to questions from several MPs on the YOG budget and said: “Our initial budget estimates during the bid phase were inaccurate. This was the first-ever Youth Olympic Games. Quite frankly, both the IOC (International Olympic Committee) and us were starting from scratch.”

They really expect sinkies to believe this drivel? The IOC has huge experience in hosting many Olympic events. Summer, Winter, Paralympics, etc. You think they don't know what they want exactly, and whatthe requirements are?

He added that the requirements and cost for several major functional areas in hosting the Games were under-budgeted and the finalised specifications and standards for the YOG events were only determined after Singapore won the right to host the Games.

That is why in many cities where it is hosted, a referendum is held, where the citizens vote to have it or not. And during the referendum, allthe costs is revealed, and every detail of the bidid made known. That is why parties that want to host an Olympic event must do their calculations very sharply, and not suka suka like Balaoverbudget.

When it became clear that initial cost estimates were wrong, Dr Balakrishan said he was confronted with two questions.

Firstly, if Singapore had known it would cost so much to host the Games, should the Republic have still bid for the Games?

And secondly, did Singapore get value for money from hosting it?

Dr Balakrishnan said the answer to both questions was “yes”.

So, in other words, not to lose face to the IOC, the PAP decided to spend close to $400 million? People woudl respect the PAP more if they just come out and say that the budget estimate is wrong and due to the costs, we will decline to host it. People will appreciatethe fact their tax money is being looked after, rather than pissed down the toilet this way.

“Hence we shared this information before the Games, and also ensured that we exercised strict fiscal discipline.”

He cautioned that blindly cutting the budget and delivering a sub-standard Games would not have been the right decision.

“To put things in context, we should look at the two most recent Olympic Games and the next,” he said.

“The YOG was about one-third the scale of the Beijing Summer Olympic Games 2008 which featured 11,000 athletes but Singapore’s projected spending for the YOG was about 10 per cent that of Beijing’s expenditure, which came to S$3.9 billion, excluding capital expenditure.

“Based on recent reports, the provisional budget for the 2012 London Olympics now stands at S$19.2 billion, including infrastructure.”

Agian, Vivian the chindian is living in some fantasy world. By no stretch of the imagination can the YOG be compared with the Beijing Summer olympics. I also noticed he did not mention the Vancouver Winter Olympics, these 2 are the most recent games. The budget for these games will definitely be higher than YOG not because of the number of atheletes, but the sheer number of visitors attending these real olympics means the security budget portion is already a lot higher.

Dr Balakrishnan said that, at the end of the day, Singapore delivered an inaugural YOG that received high praise from the International Olympic Committee, the international federations, athletes and guests, and that, most importantly, Singaporeans were proud of the collective achievement.

:oIo:

When u give 3rd world kids and delegates from Zimbabwe, Cuba, etc. free 5 star hotels, all the food they can eat and free airfare holiday here, are u going to receive anything other than praise from them?

 

[Maximilian Chua-Heng]

I'll worry if the YOG didn't go over budget.

All IOC sanctioned multi-sports events always go over the budget.

It's the norm, dudes. Get over it! :p

 

[Papsmearer]

I'll worry if the YOG didn't go over budget.

All IOC sanctioned multi-sports events always go over the budget.

It's the norm, dudes. Get over it! :p

Sigh, another brainlesss clot in this forum. I am sick and tired of pointing out obvious flaws in your comments. In other IOC events, organizers have the best and most detailed budget, and stick as closely to it as possible. Yes, it does go over budget and mostly due to economic and security measures, and yes they do try to budget for it. In the case of the YOG, They know before hand they were going over budget!!, Yet they still carried on, instead of pulling out. U see the difference? If the organizers of the montreal olympics knew before hand it would be a financial disaster, do you think they will still do it? Not likely. Fucking PAP want to save face even if it costs the taxpayer $400 million. Not acceptable, and we are damn well fucking not going to get over it.

 

[Ramseth]

Colombia won the bid for World Cup 1986 and decided to pull out after over-budgeting concerns. They hadn't enough money to revamp the rundown stadia and clean up the sleazy environment. Though losing face, that was a responsible act to their people and to the world. Standby backup Mexico took over hosting World Cup 1986.

 

[Papsmearer]

Colombia won the bid for World Cup 1986 and decided to pull out after over-budgeting concerns. They hadn't enough money to revamp the rundown stadia and clean up the sleazy environment. Though losing face, that was a responsible act to their people and to the world. Standby backup Mexico took over hosting World Cup 1986.

Agreed lah. Just sick and tired of all these fuckers like Vivian the Chindian trying to defend what is indefensible and having otherwise logical forumners like Maximillian justify the overun. WTF

 

[Equalisation]

When u give 3rd world kids and delegates from Zimbabwe, Cuba, etc. free 5 star hotels, all the food they can eat and free airfare holiday here, are u going to receive anything other than praise from them?

.... eerrr...after so long, ..... where the fxxk is Vanuatu ???

 

[congo9]

Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, says the government underestimated the cost in hosting the recent inaugural Youth Olympic Games (YOG).

The initial estimate for the inaugural YOG was S$104 million, but the total cost overshot the original budget by three times to S$387 million.

Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday, Dr Balakrishnan responded to questions from several MPs on the YOG budget and said: “Our initial budget estimates during the bid phase were inaccurate. This was the first-ever Youth Olympic Games. Quite frankly, both the IOC (International Olympic Committee) and us were starting from scratch.”

He added that the requirements and cost for several major functional areas in hosting the Games were under-budgeted and the finalised specifications and standards for the YOG events were only determined after Singapore won the right to host the Games.

When it became clear that initial cost estimates were wrong, Dr Balakrishan said he was confronted with two questions.

Firstly, if Singapore had known it would cost so much to host the Games, should the Republic have still bid for the Games?

And secondly, did Singapore get value for money from hosting it?

Dr Balakrishnan said the answer to both questions was “yes”.

“Hence we shared this information before the Games, and also ensured that we exercised strict fiscal discipline.”

He cautioned that blindly cutting the budget and delivering a sub-standard Games would not have been the right decision.

“To put things in context, we should look at the two most recent Olympic Games and the next,” he said.

“The YOG was about one-third the scale of the Beijing Summer Olympic Games 2008 which featured 11,000 athletes but Singapore’s projected spending for the YOG was about 10 per cent that of Beijing’s expenditure, which came to S$3.9 billion, excluding capital expenditure.

“Based on recent reports, the provisional budget for the 2012 London Olympics now stands at S$19.2 billion, including infrastructure.”

Dr Balakrishnan said that, at the end of the day, Singapore delivered an inaugural YOG that received high praise from the International Olympic Committee, the international federations, athletes and guests, and that, most importantly, Singaporeans were proud of the collective achievement.

:oIo:

How to undeer estimate the budget from $104 million to $387 million ? you mean all these highly paid scholar cannot count ? I still cant believe it ...

I think the devil lies in the detail !!! Can Vivian Bala open up the books and let the public have a good look ?

 

[saratogas]

One good reason why we need to have NSmen... Cheap labor!

I would have said the budget was closer to $500 million. Vivian the chindian has conveniently left out the cost to those who "volunteered" such as school children and NSmen. Their labour were free, because they were shanghaied into the YOG free labour force. If they had to hire the same people, easily $500 million.

 

[po2wq]

it cud have been worse! ...

imajin if it had ballooned 2 1b ... :o

 

[loloba]

The fact that even PAP MPs are questioning YOG speaks volumes about it.


I just hope they need not dig into the national reserves, a budget is a budget anything outside the budget has to be agreed. Hope they don't have to cut on other project like our welfare aka Singapore Shares which was given before election by our dear leader GCT. There goes my Singapore Shares!!!!!

 

[halsey02]

.... eerrr...after so long, ..... where the fxxk is Vanuatu ???

A former islands colony ran jointly by France & Britain in the Pacific Ocean, under a condominium ( not the housing one) of New Hebrides. Upon Independence from their colonial masters, they are known as Vanuatu.

Of course all these kids are happy to be here...Zimbawee, Ghana, New Hebrides , Trinidad & Tobago.....

 

[halsey02]

Stranger when budgeting the POOR in SINGAPORE, their estimates is perfect to a 'T"...

YOG initial budgets inaccurate

Projected expenditure had tripled, from $104 million to $387 million. -myp

Thu, Sep 16, 2010
my paper

BY CHRISTINA NG

THE Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, yesterday admitted that the initial budget estimates for the inaugural Youth Olympic Games (YOG) were wrong.

Calling the estimates "inaccurate", he said that this was the first YOG and that both the International Olympic Committee and Singapore were "starting from scratch".

The projected expenditure for the Games was $104 million, but it more than tripled in July to $387 million.

He said: "We had underestimated the requirements and costs for several major functional areas in hosting the Games."

He was responding to questions from Ms Irene Ng (Tampines GRC) and Mr Zaqy Mohamad (Hong Kah GRC) on why the actual expenditure of the Games was more than initially budgeted and how other Games conducted on a similar scale compared.

In a reply to Non-Constituency MP Sylvia Lim's question to elaborate on why the original budget was so low, he said that the last time Singapore hosted an international multi-sports event was in 1973, when the South-east Asian Games was held here.

Adding that he was giving an explanation and not "an excuse", he said: "We didn't think at that point in time that we were going to host a Games which was at world standard with world-class timing systems and information systems."

Costs of technology alone were projected at about $97 million.

He said that large sums also went towards the upgrading of sports venues and equipment, as well as in providing live broadcast of the Games and putting up the opening and closing ceremonies. Still, he said he was convinced that the Games would bring value to Singapore.

Dr Balakrishnan added that Singapore reaped multiple benefits as a result.

For instance, the Games was watched by over two billion viewers, and global viewership helped to feature and advance the Singapore brand over 14 days.

He also added that the Games is testament that Singapore is capable of developing youth athletes who are able to "compete head-to-head with the best in the world".

The Singapore Tourism Board had earlier estimated that the Games would bring in some $57 million in additional tourist receipts.

He said: "Singapore will now be remembered as the country that hosted the world's first Olympics for youth. The investment is an amount that will give us value for money in terms of positioning and marketing ourselves, and making sure we are on the international community's radar screens."


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Total amount spent: $387 million

Breakdown of spending:

$97 million: Technology
$76 million: Upgrading of sports venues and equipment
$45.5 million: Live broadcast plus staging of opening and closing ceremonies
$7 million: Journey of Youth Olympic Flame across the globe, starting in Greece
$44 million: Logistics $18 million: Security
$14.3 million: Operational requirements $5.4 million: Culture and Education Programme
$79.8 million: Miscellaneous costs such as medical services and training of volunteers

 

[Maximilian Chua-Heng]

I don't see any flaws in my comments dude.

What's wrong with the ruling regime wanting to save face and carrying on, based on your argument?

That's the modus operandi of the ruling regime, absolutely nothing out of the ordinary, that's my point.

Went Overbudget? Wanting to save face? They're the norms dude.

I'll worry if neither of the above didn't happen.

Sigh, another brainlesss clot in this forum. I am sick and tired of pointing out obvious flaws in your comments. In other IOC events, organizers have the best and most detailed budget, and stick as closely to it as possible. Yes, it does go over budget and mostly due to economic and security measures, and yes they do try to budget for it. In the case of the YOG, They know before hand they were going over budget!!, Yet they still carried on, instead of pulling out. U see the difference? If the organizers of the montreal olympics knew before hand it would be a financial disaster, do you think they will still do it? Not likely. Fucking PAP want to save face even if it costs the taxpayer $400 million. Not acceptable, and we are damn well fucking not going to get over it.

 

[klongtoey kid]

Stranger when budgeting the POOR in SINGAPORE, their estimates is perfect to a 'T"...

YOG initial budgets inaccurate

Projected expenditure had tripled, from $104 million to $387 million. -myp

Thu, Sep 16, 2010
my paper

BY CHRISTINA NG

THE Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, yesterday admitted that the initial budget estimates for the inaugural Youth Olympic Games (YOG) were wrong.

Calling the estimates "inaccurate", he said that this was the first YOG and that both the International Olympic Committee and Singapore were "starting from scratch".

The projected expenditure for the Games was $104 million, but it more than tripled in July to $387 million.

He said: "We had underestimated the requirements and costs for several major functional areas in hosting the Games."

He was responding to questions from Ms Irene Ng (Tampines GRC) and Mr Zaqy Mohamad (Hong Kah GRC) on why the actual expenditure of the Games was more than initially budgeted and how other Games conducted on a similar scale compared.

In a reply to Non-Constituency MP Sylvia Lim's question to elaborate on why the original budget was so low, he said that the last time Singapore hosted an international multi-sports event was in 1973, when the South-east Asian Games was held here.

Adding that he was giving an explanation and not "an excuse", he said: "We didn't think at that point in time that we were going to host a Games which was at world standard with world-class timing systems and information systems."

Costs of technology alone were projected at about $97 million.

He said that large sums also went towards the upgrading of sports venues and equipment, as well as in providing live broadcast of the Games and putting up the opening and closing ceremonies. Still, he said he was convinced that the Games would bring value to Singapore.

Dr Balakrishnan added that Singapore reaped multiple benefits as a result.

For instance, the Games was watched by over two billion viewers, and global viewership helped to feature and advance the Singapore brand over 14 days.

He also added that the Games is testament that Singapore is capable of developing youth athletes who are able to "compete head-to-head with the best in the world".

The Singapore Tourism Board had earlier estimated that the Games would bring in some $57 million in additional tourist receipts.

He said: "Singapore will now be remembered as the country that hosted the world's first Olympics for youth. The investment is an amount that will give us value for money in terms of positioning and marketing ourselves, and making sure we are on the international community's radar screens."


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Total amount spent: $387 million

Breakdown of spending:

$97 million: Technology
$76 million: Upgrading of sports venues and equipment
$45.5 million: Live broadcast plus staging of opening and closing ceremonies
$7 million: Journey of Youth Olympic Flame across the globe, starting in Greece
$44 million: Logistics $18 million: Security
$14.3 million: Operational requirements $5.4 million: Culture and Education Programme
$79.8 million: Miscellaneous costs such as medical services and training of volunteers

Vivi is not lying when he said the Games was watched by 2billion viewers... but he lagi smart never say which Games? Beijing OG watched by 2billlion, cannot argue... but YOG?? Not a single news here in China on YOG, so how to achieve 2billion leh??

 

[Velma]

He better be prepared to say after GE

"I underestimated the people's support for the Opposition!"

 

[Maximilian Chua-Heng]

In a reply to Non-Constituency MP Sylvia Lim's question to elaborate on why the original budget was so low, he said that the last time Singapore hosted an international multi-sports event was in 1973, when the South-east Asian Games was held here.

The SEA Games was last held in Singapore in 1993 leh.

 

[Papsmearer]

Vivi is not lying when he said the Games was watched by 2billion viewers... but he lagi smart never say which Games? Beijing OG watched by 2billlion, cannot argue... but YOG?? Not a single news here in China on YOG, so how to achieve 2billion leh??

Vivian the chindian is again pulling numbers out of his asshole. I want to know where he got this 2 billion viewers from. YOG not even broadcast in neighbouring countries like Malaysia and Indonesia, other than S'pore, where else was this broadcasted? Also, spend $400 million only get back $57 million in tourist receipts. WTF. Also did notmention any broadcasting rights sold, and how much they earned there. Probably no one bought any tv rights, hence never report any income. And if no other countries bought broadcast rights, how is it possible that 2 billion people watch it?

 

[klongtoey kid]

Vivian the chindian is again pulling numbers out of his asshole. I want to know where he got this 2 billion viewers from. YOG not even broadcast in neighbouring countries like Malaysia and Indonesia, other than S'pore, where else was this broadcasted? Also, spend $400 million only get back $57 million in tourist receipts. WTF. Also did notmention any broadcasting rights sold, and how much they earned there. Probably no one bought any tv rights, hence never report any income. And if no other countries bought broadcast rights, how is it possible that 2 billion people watch it?

Vivi better bore his a*hole with a hydraulic jack for more numbers and 'explanations' coz he's going to see stars in his next GE battle soon... and they are not the 5 stars, mind you..

 

[NoNewsGood]

This was a good opportunity to upgrade Sg (otherwise inferior) sports facilities to Olympic standards.

After YOG, these sports facilities will still be here for us to enjoy.

 

[jw5]

The honourable ministar should provide the list of items and the amount spent against the amounts budgeted for those items, for comparison purposes.
He should also provide a list of contracts and the suppliers/contractors of amounts more than $10 million each and a list of smaller contracts he deems appropriate to disclose to parliament.

As for the comment below, in addition to making a gemeral statement, he should provide a list of benefits and the approximate $ values and how the money will be used to benefit ordinary Singaporeans.
"Singapore will now be remembered as the country that hosted the world's first Olympics for youth. The investment is an amount that will give us value for money in terms of positioning and marketing ourselves, and making sure we are on the international community's radar screens."