Homework Post: Random Issue-Robust training system key to long-term success in sports

Despite the fact I would really prefer to write a Daily Digest instead of doing this tiring essay for homework now, I guess it wouldn't help to put it off any further, especially since it is already late. Mrs. Nathan, once more I seek your understanding in the delay in my post.

Channel NewsAsia, Singapore News

Robust training system key to long-term success in sports
By Hoe Yeen Nie, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 31 August 2008 2053 hrs

SINGAPORE: Time, talent and a system to groom athletes were key factors that led to Singapore's success at the Beijing Olympic Games, according to the president of the Singapore National Olympic Council, Teo Chee Hean.

Mr Teo, who is also defence minister, added that Singapore has always been an immigrant nation and citizens cannot close themselves off to foreigners.

Speaking to the media at the sidelines of a constituency event on Sunday, he stressed that long-term success in sports does not depend on foreign players alone.

"What we want to do for a lasting legacy is to have a system in place. So even those who have come in here, say the table tennis team for example, they would not succeed if we did not have in place a good preparation and coaching system.

"So whether you're Singaporean or somebody from outside Singapore who wants to be a Singaporean and be part of the Singapore dream, we'll have a system which will bring you up, bring you to the peaks of excellence," he said.

Article extracted from http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/372920/1/.html on 1/9/2008, Channelnewsasia.com


MY REFLECTIONS

It is indeed a good thing to see Singapore finally winning at the Olympics, especially as many say, 'after a long 48 years', and is cause for celebration, as I believe Singapore has done. However, in the eyes of some citizens, this victory was not claimed by a true Singaporean, and as such is nothing to rejoice about.

I agree that it is not entirely due to the efforts of Singaporean-born Singaporeans that we have our success today. Singapore, to quote the Defense Minister Mr. Teo, "has always been an immigrant nation and citizens cannot close themselves to foreigners". Take for example, Lee Jia Wei, our star ping-pong silver medalist. She, for one, is China-born. Yet, she would probably know more about Singapore in comparison to some locals. My main reason for claiming this―the government has taken care of citizens like plants in a greenhouse over the years, and our people may possibly have become overly pampered.

Once again, there will be those who disagree, but look around us. Many examples present themselves before us how foreigners have claimed the top seats in Singapore. For one, Singapore hires Gurhka mercenary forces to guard our key installations, along with some other more important duties. Even our NS training regimes were formulated by Israeli invited by the Singapore Government as part of an exchange programme. Why all foreigners? Simply put, these foreigners know more and have far more experience in these fields than we do, and we need this knowledge to protect ourselves.

Take this from another aspect of Singapore. We are an island nation which mainly relies on trade to sustain itself, even during the British times when Sir Stamford Raffles just founded Singapore as a British colony. Even now, a portion of Singapore's economy comes from international trade. Being a nation without natural resources, we generally require foreign investors as well to keep the economy going. As can be seen, Singapore would have gone into non-existence if it had not relied on foreign 'assistance'.

Yet, all these 'assistance' would be irrelevant if we did not have our locals to sustain the basic framework. Without the government and the citizens, before and now, there would still be nowhere for any foreigners to come in to provide their services. Once more, I quote from the article, "whether you're Singaporean or somebody from outside Singapore who wants to be a Singaporean and be part of the Singapore dream, we'll have a system which will bring you up, bring you to the peaks of excellence", as spoken by Mr. Teo. I thus conclude my case that Singapore may not have been the product of Singaporean hands alone, but it definitely started with Singapore-something that every citizen here should be proud of.

And with that, I conclude the end of this assignment. I will try to post a 'Daily' Digest tomorrow, so here's a poem for now. To my classmates, see if you can guess who it is.

He is THE three-ear.
He has no face nor a mind.
He is real sour.

Enjoy the haiku =P

(Note to reader not in my class: if this description resembles you I really have no comment)
(Note to reader in my class: if this description resembles you, have a nice time fuming. This is revenge what you did to me for the S.S. project=P) *ROFLMAO*


Signing Off,
xXdaSimXx
Monday, 1 September 2008
2250hrs