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[h=2]Foreign sports talent policy and political repercussion to PAP[/h]
August 3rd, 2012 |
Author: Contributions
Feng Tianwei purportedly bestowed her bouquet of flowers to PRC fans after winning the Bronze medal. (Photo HWZ).
The ongoing London Olympics Games 2012 has already been riddled with several controversies; ranging from the notoriously, malfunction of the official timer that cost South Korean fencer Shin A Lam’s opportunity for a gold medal achievement to the disqualifications of eight women’s doubles badminton team players from Indonesia, South Korea and China.
Team Singapore is not spared either. Swimmer, Joseph Schooling was involved in a controversy over the unapproved wear of a banned brand of swim cap and goggles. However, there is one particular controversy that has already caused tremendous disquiet and furore among concerned Singaporeans, that would have ripples of greater social and political repercussions for Singapore and its government than the controversial issue over the banned cap and goggles.
At the conclusion of the medal presentation ceremony for the women’s singles table tennis competition, many Singaporean observers was confounded when they witnessed Singapore’s representative, bronze medalist, Feng Tianwei, a naturalised Singapore citizen, acknowledged and unsolicitedly bestowed her bouquet of flowers towards the Chinese national flag-waving, adoring fans; simultaneously oblivious of the presence of the Singaporean audience at the auditorium. Was it her moment of madness or sheer ignorance?
A poll conducted by Yahoo Sports revealed that 77% of respondents do not take pride over a foreign sports talents winning a medal for Singapore. A netizen commented that “The difference between local athletes and foreign imports is that the former do it for national pride, while the latter plays for the money.”
Godfrey Roberts, Sports Editor of The New Paper, wants Singaporeans to cheer for our foreign-born talents. It is a fair comment. However, incidents such as exemplified by Feng Tianwei’s insensitive action has cast a long, indelible shadow of doubt over her loyalty to Singapore flag and Singaporeans. Inevitably, it cast a darker shadow of discontent and further anger towards Singapore government’s pro foreign talents policies and its complementary foreign sports talents (FST) scheme.
The relevant Singapore authorities should attempt to directly address the disquiet and furor among Singaporeans by counseling Feng and educate her on the implications of her insensitive action. Feng herself should come forward to apologize to all Singaporeans.
Such an incident is not so easily forgotten by already indignant locally born Singaporeans. The incident would have a political repercussion for the PAP government in the next general election.
=> 60%: What repercussion? *hee*hee*
.
Gerry
The ongoing London Olympics Games 2012 has already been riddled with several controversies; ranging from the notoriously, malfunction of the official timer that cost South Korean fencer Shin A Lam’s opportunity for a gold medal achievement to the disqualifications of eight women’s doubles badminton team players from Indonesia, South Korea and China.
Team Singapore is not spared either. Swimmer, Joseph Schooling was involved in a controversy over the unapproved wear of a banned brand of swim cap and goggles. However, there is one particular controversy that has already caused tremendous disquiet and furore among concerned Singaporeans, that would have ripples of greater social and political repercussions for Singapore and its government than the controversial issue over the banned cap and goggles.
At the conclusion of the medal presentation ceremony for the women’s singles table tennis competition, many Singaporean observers was confounded when they witnessed Singapore’s representative, bronze medalist, Feng Tianwei, a naturalised Singapore citizen, acknowledged and unsolicitedly bestowed her bouquet of flowers towards the Chinese national flag-waving, adoring fans; simultaneously oblivious of the presence of the Singaporean audience at the auditorium. Was it her moment of madness or sheer ignorance?
A poll conducted by Yahoo Sports revealed that 77% of respondents do not take pride over a foreign sports talents winning a medal for Singapore. A netizen commented that “The difference between local athletes and foreign imports is that the former do it for national pride, while the latter plays for the money.”
Godfrey Roberts, Sports Editor of The New Paper, wants Singaporeans to cheer for our foreign-born talents. It is a fair comment. However, incidents such as exemplified by Feng Tianwei’s insensitive action has cast a long, indelible shadow of doubt over her loyalty to Singapore flag and Singaporeans. Inevitably, it cast a darker shadow of discontent and further anger towards Singapore government’s pro foreign talents policies and its complementary foreign sports talents (FST) scheme.
The relevant Singapore authorities should attempt to directly address the disquiet and furor among Singaporeans by counseling Feng and educate her on the implications of her insensitive action. Feng herself should come forward to apologize to all Singaporeans.
Such an incident is not so easily forgotten by already indignant locally born Singaporeans. The incident would have a political repercussion for the PAP government in the next general election.
=> 60%: What repercussion? *hee*hee*
Gerry
