[h=2]Time to scrap the flawed Foreign Sports Talent scheme[/h]
November 9th, 2012 |
Author: Contributions
Lee Bee Wah
Language proficiency a KPI for national table tennis
players
SINGAPORE – After the Republic’s top paddlers were criticised by some for
being unable to speak in English in post-Olympic interviews, the Singapore Table
Tennis Association (STTA) is set to make proficiency in the language a Key
Performance Indicator (KPI) for the men’s and women’s national teams, this
newspaper has learned.
http://www.todayonline.com/Sports/E...iency-a-KPI-for-national-table-tennis-players
Following the above, in a morning radio live, STTA President Lee Bee Wah
still did not respond directly to most calls that came in on air, that she has
missed the point time and again, and for side stepping the vital questions.
The callers told her that it is not English language that matters to
Singaporeans, but it is the fact that most Singaporeans felt it was cheating for
gold by using a foreign player to play for us. They would rather cheer and
support a true blue Singaporean who tries his/her best but failed to get a
medal.
This Foreign Sports Talent is a national shame and waste of tax payers money.
The premium British Council English courses run into thousands of dollars, and
of course, the PRC paddlers will like it, as there are no exams and they are not
paying for the lessons. While our poor students are still struggling in schools
and paying own tuition fees.
Lee Bee Wah keep harping on the same answers: “Certainly we have not given
up…..otherwise, why did we start the PCF table tennis program in 2009 for 6-year
old kids? Why did STTA fought so hard for Isabelle and Xuejie to represent
Singapore in SEA Games? Why did STTA introduce Crocodile Challenge Cup just for
Singaporeans?”
However, she swiftly sidestepped over the questions on why can’t we have true
blue Singaporean players now, giving them a chance to represent Singapore and
putting all our $millions into training Singaporeans rather than giving them to
foreigners like yourself?
We are often criticized for “employing foreign mercenaries” and brought
shames to the sports by winning medals at all cost. Lee Bee Wah has forgotten
that Sports is about Sportmanship, Gentlemently Conduct, Respect To All,
Inspiring others and Overcoming one’s limitation. It doesn’t matter if you win
or lose, history has shown many sportsmen and sportswomen won people’s heart
even if they lost the race or the competition. Sportsmanship is an aspiration or
ethos that the activity will be enjoyed for its own sake, with proper
consideration for fairness, ethics, respect, and a sense of fellowship with
one’s competitors. Lee Bee Wah has clearly failed in this respect with the
foreign sports talent scheme.
In Confucian and Taoist ideology, in ancient China, athletics and sporting
events were meant to foster individual virtue (德) and social harmony (和),
composed of rituals (禮) intended to support the established social hierarchy.
(LaoZhi)
And others have said:
“The foreign talent scheme has failed miserably,” Mr Loh who is president
of the Singapore Athletic Association (SAA), admitted in an interview with this
newspaper. (Ref: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/301635/1/.html)
“We seem to be relying exclusively on foreign-born talent to rake in the
medals while the local potential serve as sparring partners and ball pickers.” –
Patrick Tan (Ref: http://www.askmelah.com/foreign-sports-talent-scheme/)
“Maybe people value my football abilities more across the Causeway than
in my own Singapore.” Fandi Ahmad, former Lions star, who is joining the Johor
FA team as adviser but holds out hope for a national job. (Ref: http://www.askmelah.com/foreign-sports-talent-scheme/)
The more we hear of free funds going into FT, the more Lee Bee Wah and others
like her get more budget from our taxes to fund their unethical whims.
When foreign-born athletes win trophies and bring glory to our country, we
question their ‘Singaporeanness’ and we do not feel proud of their achievements.
When they do not perform, we criticise their ability, send them home, and
question the whole idea of the Foreign Sports Talent (FST) scheme.
It is high time that the flawed foreign talent scheme be scrapped once and
for all. Let’s level the playing field for our own sportsmen and sportswomen.
Let the genuine pride of winning returns and let sports unite all Singaporeans,
regardless of colour, race and religion, like it once was. I miss the days of
Fandi Ahmad, C Kunalan and Junie Sng.
.
Green Lantern
.
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Lee Bee Wah
Language proficiency a KPI for national table tennis
players
SINGAPORE – After the Republic’s top paddlers were criticised by some for
being unable to speak in English in post-Olympic interviews, the Singapore Table
Tennis Association (STTA) is set to make proficiency in the language a Key
Performance Indicator (KPI) for the men’s and women’s national teams, this
newspaper has learned.
http://www.todayonline.com/Sports/E...iency-a-KPI-for-national-table-tennis-players
still did not respond directly to most calls that came in on air, that she has
missed the point time and again, and for side stepping the vital questions.
The callers told her that it is not English language that matters to
Singaporeans, but it is the fact that most Singaporeans felt it was cheating for
gold by using a foreign player to play for us. They would rather cheer and
support a true blue Singaporean who tries his/her best but failed to get a
medal.
This Foreign Sports Talent is a national shame and waste of tax payers money.
The premium British Council English courses run into thousands of dollars, and
of course, the PRC paddlers will like it, as there are no exams and they are not
paying for the lessons. While our poor students are still struggling in schools
and paying own tuition fees.
Lee Bee Wah keep harping on the same answers: “Certainly we have not given
up…..otherwise, why did we start the PCF table tennis program in 2009 for 6-year
old kids? Why did STTA fought so hard for Isabelle and Xuejie to represent
Singapore in SEA Games? Why did STTA introduce Crocodile Challenge Cup just for
Singaporeans?”
However, she swiftly sidestepped over the questions on why can’t we have true
blue Singaporean players now, giving them a chance to represent Singapore and
putting all our $millions into training Singaporeans rather than giving them to
foreigners like yourself?
We are often criticized for “employing foreign mercenaries” and brought
shames to the sports by winning medals at all cost. Lee Bee Wah has forgotten
that Sports is about Sportmanship, Gentlemently Conduct, Respect To All,
Inspiring others and Overcoming one’s limitation. It doesn’t matter if you win
or lose, history has shown many sportsmen and sportswomen won people’s heart
even if they lost the race or the competition. Sportsmanship is an aspiration or
ethos that the activity will be enjoyed for its own sake, with proper
consideration for fairness, ethics, respect, and a sense of fellowship with
one’s competitors. Lee Bee Wah has clearly failed in this respect with the
foreign sports talent scheme.
In Confucian and Taoist ideology, in ancient China, athletics and sporting
events were meant to foster individual virtue (德) and social harmony (和),
composed of rituals (禮) intended to support the established social hierarchy.
(LaoZhi)
And others have said:
“The foreign talent scheme has failed miserably,” Mr Loh who is president
of the Singapore Athletic Association (SAA), admitted in an interview with this
newspaper. (Ref: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/301635/1/.html)
“We seem to be relying exclusively on foreign-born talent to rake in the
medals while the local potential serve as sparring partners and ball pickers.” –
Patrick Tan (Ref: http://www.askmelah.com/foreign-sports-talent-scheme/)
“Maybe people value my football abilities more across the Causeway than
in my own Singapore.” Fandi Ahmad, former Lions star, who is joining the Johor
FA team as adviser but holds out hope for a national job. (Ref: http://www.askmelah.com/foreign-sports-talent-scheme/)
like her get more budget from our taxes to fund their unethical whims.
When foreign-born athletes win trophies and bring glory to our country, we
question their ‘Singaporeanness’ and we do not feel proud of their achievements.
When they do not perform, we criticise their ability, send them home, and
question the whole idea of the Foreign Sports Talent (FST) scheme.
It is high time that the flawed foreign talent scheme be scrapped once and
for all. Let’s level the playing field for our own sportsmen and sportswomen.
Let the genuine pride of winning returns and let sports unite all Singaporeans,
regardless of colour, race and religion, like it once was. I miss the days of
Fandi Ahmad, C Kunalan and Junie Sng.
.
Green Lantern
.
Rate this (4 Votes)
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