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Minister says sorry
Sep 24, 2010
By Jonathan Wong
Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports Vivian Balakrishnan apologised on Friday for the recent gaffe that saw wrong signatures used on more than 45,000 certificates. -- ST PHOTO: SHAHRIYA YAHAYA
MINISTER for Community Development, Youth and Sports Vivian Balakrishnan apologised on Friday for the recent gaffe that saw wrong signatures used on more than 45,000 certificates that were given to YOG participants, volunteers and torch-bearers.
Addressing a packed room of about 150 partners, sponsors and individuals who were involved in the Games at last night's appreciation dinner, he said: 'Now we all make mistakes. But let's put things in perspective. This is a major embarrassment but this is not a disaster.'
Instead of the signatures of International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge and Singapore YOG organising committee chairman Ng Ser Miang, sample signatures used during the initial design were mistakenly sent for printing.
The errors in printing should not diminish the contributions of all those involved in the success of the Games, Dr Balakrishnan added.
'So on behalf of the organising committee, I say sorry. But I also say, far louder, a big thank you to all of you who made this Games possible.'
Sep 24, 2010
By Jonathan Wong

Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports Vivian Balakrishnan apologised on Friday for the recent gaffe that saw wrong signatures used on more than 45,000 certificates. -- ST PHOTO: SHAHRIYA YAHAYA
MINISTER for Community Development, Youth and Sports Vivian Balakrishnan apologised on Friday for the recent gaffe that saw wrong signatures used on more than 45,000 certificates that were given to YOG participants, volunteers and torch-bearers.
Addressing a packed room of about 150 partners, sponsors and individuals who were involved in the Games at last night's appreciation dinner, he said: 'Now we all make mistakes. But let's put things in perspective. This is a major embarrassment but this is not a disaster.'
Instead of the signatures of International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge and Singapore YOG organising committee chairman Ng Ser Miang, sample signatures used during the initial design were mistakenly sent for printing.
The errors in printing should not diminish the contributions of all those involved in the success of the Games, Dr Balakrishnan added.
'So on behalf of the organising committee, I say sorry. But I also say, far louder, a big thank you to all of you who made this Games possible.'